The Book of Massage: The Complete Step-By-Step Guide to Eastern and Western Techniques

I wanted a basic book of massage techniques, this is it. I also bought another book with photos that I don't find nearly as good. This one has drawings with helpful diagrams as to direction etc. This book also covers the basics of shiatsu and reflexology but by far the most extensive section is on massage. I learned a lot just from scanning the text and studying the diagrams/drawings. This is a great book and worth the money.

I'm not interested in massage professionaly, just for my boyfriend and I to have a way to treat each other. And this was the perfect book for us to learn. It goes over the three main types of massage in a clear precise manner, describes each kind of stroke, the positions the massuesse should be in for each stage of massage, everything! This is a great book for trying at home. It would be a cool if they did it with a spiral bound though so that you could leave it open to a certain page....

I found this book to be an excellent source for learning therapeutic massage. It also had an excellent section on reflexology. This book is easy to understand (like every book should be!). I disagree with the previous review. This is a massage book focusing on the wellness and holistic perspective. It is not meant to focus on the medical prospective which is mostly giving a medication for every condition, which only masks the symptoms. Masking the symptoms of a disease is the medical prospective and does not heal patients. Massage has been around thousands of years before the modernized concept of modern medicine in America. This book includes shiatsu also. This book can teach any massage therapist and bodyworker the essence of how to let a client heal themselves through the powers of touch. I also used this book as a reference for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. In addition, I highly recommend getting these other books for preparing for the National Certification Examination:The Ultimate Study Guide for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers (Topics: Human Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology) Volume 1The Ultimate Study Guide for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers (Volume 2)The Ultimate Study Guide for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers (Volume 3) These study guide aided me in preparing for the National Certification Test. These 4 books are well worth your time. I give each 5 stars!

Use this book mainly to learn some massage techniques that will probably feel really good. It is a step-by-step guide that teaches the reader both Eastern and Western techniques so you get a good smattering of what's out there. My personal recommendation is to practice the techniques on your spouse- they'll more than likely love it and it's a great way to spend time together while relieving a little stress. I have also found massage good for back pain and additionally recommend "The Multifidus Back Pain Solution" to get strengthening your multifidus muscle found to be abnormal in a lot of people with back pain.

The Book of Massage is clearly and attractively illustrated, with numerous photographs. (Sensitive readers should be aware that there is mild nudity in the book.) The instructions are well-written, easy-to-understand, and presented in a friendly manner.Each of the three main sections of the book -- traditional massage, acupressure, and reflexology -- demonstrate the same richness and clarity of instruction. I'm personally more inclined towards traditional massage rather than the Eastern/holistic techniques. But to my surprise, I found the chapters on reflexology and acupressure to be full of useful information, and I have incorporated several of these routines into my massages.Regardless of which school of massage therapy you favor, you'll find the techniques presented in the book to be a valuable addition to your repertoire.This is a superior book on massage, and I regularly recommend it to friends. Give it a try!