The Balanced Body: A Guide to Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Therapy

I have been a massage instructor for a number of years on the east coast, and I have been using Mr Scheumann's book the "Balanced Body" in the college that I teach for 3 years. In order for my review to seem pertinent, I feel as though I should give my background. I not only teach advanced tissue massage and A & P at a college, I am also a CEU provider for the NCBTMB in NMT and Myofascial Release continuing education courses. I am going to get right into the meat of Mr Scheumann's book. I find his introduction and musculoskeletal anatomy of each of the hands-on chapters to be a good review for my students who have had some previous A & P. The introduction paints a concise and vivid picture of the muscular physiology and kinesiology of the body area, and the musculoskeletal section gives the students a quick and thorough review of the muscular and skeletal anatomy that is needed for the hands-on techniques. The postural analysis tables are a quick and easy reference for any student, and the exercise and self-treatment section are simple exercises for a student to apply. Now to the hands-on treatment, the NMT techniques that Mr Scheumann describes in the book are standard NMT treatments. They are well written and easy to follow for any person who has a basic training and aptitude for massage. The NMT treatments not only treat the belly of the muscle, but the author guides the reader through treatments of the origin and insertion of many of the muscles throughout his book (a good thorough NMT treatment). As far as the myofascial release treatments that are laid out in the book, are also basic treatments that are easy to follow. In this readers opinion, myofascial release and NMT go hand in hand. A true thorough therapeutic treatment of the body can easily be achieved with these two alone. In my humble opinion, the only reason that this book didn't get five stars from me is due to the polarity and shiatsu techniques that are given in the hands-on chapter. I understand what the author is trying to achieve by bringing the eastern and western energetics and therapeutics together, but I believe the book falls short in achieving this goal. As far as, the western techniques that are offered within the text, the book gets five stars.

This book teaches you how to do it properly.Buy this one if you feel unsure about how to do the therapy.You will be relieved that you did.Only problem with this book is that it does come to an end.Like lays potatoe chips, you can't read just once.I loved it. It gave me more confidence in my hands on therapy sessions.

The Balanced Body started out as just a text book for me when I started Massage Therapy School. Over time it has become my Deep Tissue companion. The mind/body connection explorations, together with the easy to follow lessons have made learning and practicing effective Deep Tissue Bodywork a reality. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn Deep Tissue, or take their bodywork to another level.