Unwinding the Belly: Healing with Gentle Touch

A friend with lots of experience studying these techniques at the Chi Nei Tsang Institute of Berkeley, gave me some sessions. I was surprised to find a book which shows me how to do this for myself. The book explains everything so clearly and presents practical information. "Unwinding the Belly" is a wonderful title for the book. It is easy for me to store some emotional stress of living in today's world in my body, especially my belly. And it is a good way to work with the body and emotions. I can only speak for myself but this book helps me a lot and continues to do so. It deserves every one of the five stars I gave it for excellent quality and simplicity of use. I intend to make these exercises described in the book part of my daily routine.

In a culture where the belly is something to be ashamed of, is supposed to be sucked and tucked in, Unwinding the Belly gently counters some of these societal taboos through self massage and breathing techniques. Allison and Steven in Unwinding the Belly, unravel all the misconceptions people have about their bellies in simple, straight forward and therapeutic language. There are exercises and the benefits are profound. A fabulous read! It is the best massage I ever gave myself! A great present for a friend!

Written in clear, compassionate manner, this book encourages us to fully engage in our own health and healing. In this fast-paced world in which we live, Unwinding the Belly offers us the opportunity to breathe deeply and slow down. The techniques and wisdom offered by the authors provides a beautiful foundation for self transformation and healing.

After reading Unwinding the Belly, I use the exercises each time I wake up at 3 or 4 am. I have a habit of waking up, thinking about problems, and trying to solve them. I lay there uncomfortable and in my head for 1 or 2 hours. Usually I do not get back to sleep. Now I do the breathing and belly exercises from this book and fall back to sleep quickly and peacefully. I'm able to be relaxed and focused on my body. I no longer feel tired or depressed during the day. I wake up refreshed and happy to be alive.

This book is an absolute gem for anyone wanting to learn or to guide others in a process of self knowing and healing. Allison Post and Stephen Cavaliere make their unique approach readily accessible, especially for those who have little or no prior training in body work. The book is well documented with easy to follow instructions, wonderful illustrations, and helpful personal stories. They teach us to be with our bodies in all aspects and help us to look closely and be with those parts of our bodily experience that we might rather avoid. As a healing practitioner I would recommend this book without reservation to my clients. In my own life, being with my body in these new ways has created in me the ability to really notice and experience my body, finding healing and wholeness in the process.