FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chuck Duff (847)-869-1861
Email: chuck@thaibodywork.com

MASSAGE THERAPISTS CAN SAVE THEIR HANDS, CAREERS

New DVD Introduces Thai Yoga Massage—Ancient Techniques Can Safely Rejuvenate, Extend Western Practitioners’ Careers

EVANSTON, IL, December 05, 2006 – Western massage practitioners can prevent work-related injuries and extend their careers by learning Thai yoga massage with a new DVD by internationally recognized expert Chuck Duff, CTI, CTT.

Thai Massage: An Introduction for the Mat and Table (100 minutes, $49.95 SRP) presents an instructive and accessible entry point to techniques that for more than 2,500 years have provided profound benefits, including relief of pain from arthritis, repetitive stress and overworked muscles.

“With its strong fundamentals and emphasis upon body mechanics, Thai yoga massage can help practitioners rejuvenate and extend their careers for decades in a safe and sustainable way,” says Duff.

Western therapists experience symptoms of occupational disability in their hands, arms and shoulders that affect their abilities to work effectively. A recent survey by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, an association serving the massage and bodywork profession, revealed that more than 75% of massage therapists reported significant work-related pain symptoms within the last two years.

“Many of these practitioners are now investigating the benefits of Thai yoga massage in their efforts to work more years, and without symptoms of occupational disability,” says Duff.

Filmed in his Evanston, IL, teaching studio – and incorporating footage from his recent visit to Thailand -- Duff taps his background in yoga, martial arts and therapeutic bodywork to convey the fun and kinesthetic nature of Thai yoga massage. Viewers will learn how to:

· Balance the body’s energy pathways
· Provide an emotionally calming and deeply relaxing experience for clients, while maintaining a safe and sustainable practice
· Move in an efficient, elegant and powerful way while avoiding reliance on muscular strength (a common cause of therapists’ work-related injuries)

Also included is an introduction to Duff’s innovative HandsFree Thai, Luk Pra Kob herbal compress treatments, as well an overview of Clinical Thai Bodywork – “one of the most efficient and effective approaches available for orthopedic rehab, relief of chronic and acute pain, recovery from injury, and correction of myofascially derived dysfunction,” he says.

Thai Massage: An Introduction for the Mat and Table is available from www.amazon.com, CustomFlix.com, and www.thaimassageschool.net/store.

About Thai Yoga Massage
Emerging from a strongly Buddhist tradition, Thai yoga massage is a practical expression of Metta, compassion toward oneself and others. Performed on a mat in comfortable clothes, this "lazy man's yoga" creates a therapeutic "dance" incorporating rhythmic motion, invigorating stretches, palming and thumbing along energy lines to invoke emotional calming and deep relaxation.

About Chuck Duff
Chuck Duff is an ITTA-certified Thai massage instructor, with an approach that emphasizes using the innate energies of the body to provide healing in a safe and sustainable way. His Thai Bodywork School of Thai Massage, which he founded in 2001, offers more than 250 hours of Thai yoga certification trainings, and has emerged as one of the leading programs in the United States. A lifelong yoga enthusiast and martial artist, he has a B.A. in Religion and the Humanities from the University of Chicago, focused on Buddhist Studies. He has studied Thai massage with teachers in the United States, Thailand and Canada. His previous DVD, Traditional Thai Massage: The Northern Style with Chuck Duff (180 minutes, $49.95 SRP), was released in May, 2006, and has received 5-star reviews on Amazon.

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To request more information, a review copy of our DVDs, or to schedule an interview with Chuck Duff, please call 847-869-1861 or email: chuck@thaibodywork.com.

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HandsFree Thai Massage DVD Teaches Therapeutic Massage Without Stress on Clients of All Sizes

For the original release, please visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/massage/therapy/prweb530336.htm.

Massage therapists can work safely and extend their careers by learning HandsFree(tm) Thai massage with a new DVD and course by internationally recognized expert Chuck Duff, ABMP, CTI, CTT. HandsFree Thai: The Commoner Style with Chuck Duff (130 minutes, $49.95 SRP) presents a traditional approach to Thai massage that allows therapists to work with athletes and clients of all sizes deeply and therapeutically without fear of injury or further stress. HandsFree Thai uses feet, knees and body weight along with ingenious stretching postures to provide therapeutic benefit with minimal effort.

Evanston, IL (PRWEB) June 4, 2007 -- Massage therapists can work safely and extend their careers by learning HandsFree(tm) Thai massage with a new DVD and course by internationally recognized expert Chuck Duff, ABMP, CTI, CTT.

 

Many of these practitioners are studying our HandsFree Thai techniques in their efforts to work more years, more therapeutically and without symptoms of occupational disability -- and clients love the work, especially athletes

HandsFree Thai: The Commoner Style with Chuck Duff (130 minutes, $49.95 SRP) presents a highly effective approach to Thai massage that allows therapists to work with athletes and larger clients deeply and therapeutically without fear of injury or further stress.

"The ancient techniques of the Commoner style give Thai yoga practitioners a way to extend their careers in a safe and sustainable way," says Duff. The HandsFree Thai techniques, while traditional in Thailand, have never before been gathered together in a single, coherent sequence. Practitioners use the feet, knees, shins and other means of applying body weight together with ingenious stretching mechanics and insights from Duff's Clinical Thai Bodywork approach. The result is an incredibly effective methodology for therapists to work with any size client, improving flexibility, energy and well-being.

Massage therapists commonly experience symptoms of occupational disability in their hands, arms and shoulders that disturb their ability to work effectively. A recent survey by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals revealed that more than 75% of responding massage therapists reported significant work-related pain symptoms within the prior two years.

"Many of these practitioners are studying our HandsFree Thai techniques in their efforts to work more years, more therapeutically and without symptoms of occupational disability -- and clients love the work, especially athletes," says Duff. He has had great success teaching the HandsFree work to athletic trainers and physical therapists, who are using it to address the unique requirements of more active lifestyles.

"Chuck Duff's HandsFree Thai Bodywork has revolutionized my work with my clientele (ages 13-80), especially my athletes -- from recreational to Olympic and professional level. Using this method, there are no places where clients must request more pressure or more stretch. Simultaneously, I no longer feel the stress on my own body (back, hands or neck) -- or worry for my longevity in this career path, already at 15 years. I used to get so much pain in my fingers, wrists, and forearms -- and that has been totally eliminated by employing these techniques that are therapeutic, biomechanically sound, and beneficial for both client and practitioner. Moreover, the fluid blend of stretching with deep compression provides an energetically invigorating massage that my clients come back for regularly; one medical doctor has even resumed Aikido after a 14 year hiatus due to knee, back and shoulder pain! I feel that no other massage or yoga can duplicate this bodywork approach," according to Rob Murray, LMT ATC/L -- a Florida massage therapist, athletic trainer and Olympic athlete.

Filmed in his Evanston, IL, teaching studio, the beautifully produced DVD integrates Duff's knowledge of yoga, martial arts and therapeutic bodywork, presenting over 2 hours of treatment techniques. Viewers will learn how to:

· Give clients as much pressure and stretch as they need, safely and efficiently
· Work with balance, subtlety and sensitivity using the feet and knees
· Move in an efficient, elegant and powerful way while avoiding reliance on muscular strength (a common cause of therapists' work-related injuries)

Chuck teaches a 32-hour course on HandsFree Thai massage at his school in Evanston, IL that explores the DVD content in depth. He is also the developer of the Clinical Thai Bodywork courses -- "one of the most effective approaches available for orthopedic rehab, relief of chronic and acute pain, recovery from injury, and correction of muscular dysfunction," he says.

HandsFree Thai: The Commoner Style is available from Amazon.com, CustomFlix.com and The Thai Bodywork Web Store.

About Thai Massage
Emerging from a strongly Buddhist tradition, Thai massage is a practical expression of Metta, compassion toward oneself and others. Performed on a mat in comfortable clothes, this "lazy man's yoga" creates a therapeutic "dance" incorporating rhythmic motion, invigorating stretches, palming and thumbing along energy lines to invoke emotional calming and deep relaxation. The Commoner style is a highly efficient way of working that typifies the ingenuity of the Thai people.

About Chuck Duff
Chuck Duff is a Certified Thai massage instructor, with an approach that emphasizes using the innate energies of the body to provide healing in a safe and sustainable way. His Thai Bodywork School of Thai Massage, which he founded in 2001, offers more than 250 hours of NCBTMB approved Thai massage and Thai herbal compress certification trainings, and has emerged as one of the leading programs in the United States. A lifelong yoga enthusiast and martial artist, he has a B.A. in Religion and the Humanities from the University of Chicago, focused on Buddhist Studies. He has studied Thai massage therapy with teachers in the United States, Thailand and Canada. His previous DVDs, Traditional Thai Massage: The Northern Style with Chuck Duff (180 minutes, $49.95 SRP), and Thai Massage: An Introduction for the Mat and Table with Chuck Duff (100 minutes, $49.95 SRP) have been very well received with 5-star reviews on Amazon. Excerpts of the Thai Massage DVDs can be viewed on YouTube.

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