The Book of Massage & Aromatherapy

As stress-related illness becomes an increasingly recognized term, natural relaxation techniques are gaining in popularity. For those looking to get started on a serene approach to life, The Book of Massage & Aromatherapy is as straightforward as the title suggests: it presents the hows and whys of combining two ancient healing arts. Coauthor Nitya Lacroix, cofounder of the School of Holistic Massage in London, runs regular training courses in massage--and it shows. With more than 500 step-by-step color photographs (complete with instructional arrows), this book was clearly written for a student. Its practical, hands-on approach provides a solid foundation for incorporating aromatherapy and massage into a daily routine. Starting with the basics and progressing to more advanced techniques, The Book of Massage & Aromatherapy does its best to cover the gamut. You'll find massage for headaches and insomnia, baby massage, self-massage, cellulite and detoxification massage, and more. Of course, if you just want to learn how to give a really good back rub, you can learn that, too. --Sara Nickerson