This
book explains in detail a number of
meditations one can combine with the ancient art of legitimate, (i.e., nonsexual)
massage, from the point of view of the one giving the massage, the one receiving it, and finally, both together. There are meditational exercises to be done before, during, and after the massage experience itself, from all three perspectives. There is a brief explanation of the techniques of massage, particularly written for absolute beginniners. One should have a foam pad for your friend (the massagee) to lie down on, or a sleeping bag with, perhaps, some padding. (A bed is too soft, although a twin mattress on the floor works well.) One should have a place where one can sit next to this, also padded. If one is going to be doing massage often, the author
recommends a table, which one can buy, build, or adapt oneself (he also mentions his former work, THE MASSAGE BOOK, which has plans and directions for building a portable massage table). The room should be at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit; heaters or heat lamps are helpful. He recommends olive or sesame oil or special massage
oils (one can add various scents or essential oils to this). One puts the
oil on one''s palm and begins the various strokes of the hand on parts of the body, which constitute a massage.
The meditations range from simple observation of one''s breathing without interference, to unisons of various kinds, to cosmic meditations of union with the Universe.
This is an amazing book,and one difficult to put down, whether one is much interested in massage as such, or not. The communal meditations are particularly inspiring.
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