Books about Massage:
Step-by-Step Guides for Beginners

1. The History of Massage: An Illustrated Survey from around the World (2002)
2. Massage: The Ultimate Illustrated Guide (1999)
3. Alternative Health Therapies: The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Massage, and Reflexology (2002)
4. The Complete Book of Massage (1988)
5. The Book of Massage: The Complete Step-By-Step Guide to Eastern and Western Techniques (2001)
6. SUPER MASSAGE Simple Techniques for Instant Relaxation (2001)
7. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Massage (1998)
8. Soft Tissue Massage for Pain Relief: How You Can Massage Away the Pain from 37 Health Conditions (2001)
9. Massage Basics:: Guide to Swedish, Shiatsu, and Reflexology Techniques (2001)

The History of Massage: An Illustrated Survey from around the World
by Robert Noah Calvert, Patricia J. Benjamin

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Book Description
The first comprehensive history of massage.
* Written by Robert Noah Calvert, the founder of Massage Magazine.
* Includes 200 black-and-white illustrations.
* The definitive resource for all students and professionals in the fields of massage and bodywork.

From the people of ancient Greece to the tribes of the Pacific Ocean, massage has been a significant element in medicine, midwifery, folk healing, and athletics. Yet the rich presence of healing touch is rarely manifest in the telling of human history. Now, for the first time, Robert Noah Calvert offers a comprehensive history of massage that spans the globe. Starting with the healing art's ancient foundations, Calvert's History of Massage leads us through Greek temples and Middle Eastern bathhouses, Chinese martial arts traditions and Native American sweat lodges, to discover the significant role of touch therapy in the life of the world's people.

With rich use of anecdote and illustrated text, the author details the cross-cultural healing and sensual applications of massage, the development of massage technologies, and the emerging trends of massage in the twenty-first century. The History of Massage is groundbreaking work that should not be missed by anyone interested in massage and its benefits for healing.

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Massage: The Ultimate Illustrated Guide
by Clare Maxwell-Hudson, Sandra Lousada (Photographer)

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Book Description
Soothing and revitalizing, massage is the supreme mind-body therapy for people of all ages.

Drawing on the unrivaled experience and knowledge of Clare Maxwell-Hudson, one of the world's foremost practitioners, Massage is the most up-to-date and beautifully illustrated guide available. State-of-the-art photography captures movement on the page, showing exactly how each stroke should be performed. A series of unique international masterclasses features routines ranging from Thai and traditional Indian bridal massage to shiatsu and Swedish massage. Beauty treatments for face and body include a facial massage for a natural face-life, and a hydrotherapy massage to boost circulation and tone the muscles. Therapeutic massage, based on the latest medical research, offers relief for a wide range of health problems. Other treatments include massage for expentant mothers, newborn babies, and the elderly. Fully comprehensive and innovative in its approach, this is the definitive guide to the wide-ranging powers of massage.

Reader Review
EXCELLENT READ, May 2, 1999
Reviewer: HappyD@netlane.com from Mandaluyong, Philippines
The success of its book lies in the illustrated (color photographs), step-by-step instructions in executing each massage technique. These photographs, combined with the instructions of the author, can help even the unfamiliar accomplish each technique with great ease. Various massage methods from the East and West are also incorporated in this book. There are also insights in aromatherapy. This book is totally a major reference material in the art of massage. In fact, it may just be all that you need. A wonderfully excellent read.

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Alternative Health Therapies: The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Massage, and Reflexology
by Denise Whichello Brown, Sandra White

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The Complete Book of Massage
by Clare Maxwell Hudson, Sandra Lousada (Photographer)

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Book Description
A comprehensive guide to massage techniques with clear step-by-step instructions. Fully illustrated for all ages with color and/or black-and-white photographs on every page. 155,000 copies sold-to-date.

Reader Review
Excellent book for beginners and therapists, January 6, 2001
Reviewer: Adam Romero from El Paso, Texas USA
This book is excellent and has every picture for every step and also shows you how to use oils, which types of strokes there are, and also talks a little about reflexology. It has all types of massage: Back,legs,arms,hands,shoulders,buttocks,stomach, and neck. Has massage for babies and pregnant women. Shows how to setup your own massage place and is excellent for beginners.

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The Book of Massage: The Complete Step-By-Step Guide to Eastern and Western Techniques
by Lucy Lidell (Lucinda Lidell), Carola Beresford-Cooke

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Amazon.com
With more than 650,000 copies sold, massage therapist Lucinda Lidell's Book of Massage has been updated with new photos and instructional drawings. Not for the prudish, as the subjects in most of the photos are completely in the buff, the book presents an intense, information-packed, step-by-step guide to traditional massage, shiatsu, and reflexology.

No matter which method you choose to focus on (you're advised to choose one at a time), Lidell is thorough in her explanations of the strokes and techniques necessary to give relaxing, therapeutic massage in the privacy of your own home. Detailed drawings, diagrams, and photographs help to further demonstrate how to address each individual body part.

Divided into distinct chapters for each of the three methods, The Book of Massage also includes several sections that Lidell stresses are fundamental to all types of massage. The first is "Beginning," with information such as creating the right atmosphere (a warm room and soft lighting), applying oil, and finding a comfortable position. Additionally, Lidell suggests that everyone should review sections on the human touch and anatomy, both of which oddly come at the end of the book.

As thorough as The Book of Massage may be, do not expect to walk away from it an expert. As with any skill worth learning, giving good massage takes time, study, and practice, practice, practice. -- Bree Altman
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SUPER MASSAGE Simple Techniques for Instant Relaxation
by Gordon Inkeles, Sigga Bjornsson (Illustrator)

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Book Description
Gordon Inkeles, author of the worldwide bestseller "The New Sensual Massage," shows how your can master simple, scientifically proven massage techniques that turn pain into pleasure and reduce stress.

"Super Massage" delivers instant results—anywhere and anytime—with easy-to-learn sequences that provide:

-Three minute relief from headaches
-Three minute relief from neck and shoulder pain
-Three minute relief from lower back pain
-Four minute relief from nervous tension
-Five minute after-exercise conditioning
-Ten minute super-sensual erotic massage

Reader Review
Thorough. Info you can't find elsewhere., September 7, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from Buffalo, New York
This is a remarkable book. The techniques show you exactly what to do to bring relaxation to virtually every part of the body. The explanatory material and the wonderful art/photos make the body come alive on the page. You can really feel the love Inkeles has for massage and more importantly your partner will benefit from everything you learn here. Not one wasted page in the book. Head and shoulders above other massage books. Recommended without hesitation.

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Massage (Complete Idiot's Guide To...)
by Joan Budilovsky, Eve Adamson, Bernie S. Siegel

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Reader Review
Hands down the best introductory book on massage ever!, June 14, 1999
Reviewer: A reader from A reader from Rockford, IL
Idiots everywhere, rejoice! After finishing this excellent book, you too can give a massage! In this down-to-earth tome the reader is treated to the history, terminology and easy to follow techniques of massage. If you've ever had a desire to learn about, or give a massage, you owe it to yourself to check out this book. 2 thumbs (and all the other digits) UP for this great book.

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Soft Tissue Massage for Pain Relief: How You Can Massage Away the Pain from 37 Health Conditions
by Bernard Schatz

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From the Inside Flap
If you suffer headache, backache, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or any of several dozen other clinically diagnosed pain conditions, permanent relief may be as close as your own fingers.

In this groundbreaking book, Bernard Schatz, P.T., a licensed physical therapist with more than forty years of clinical experience, teaches you how to relieve body pain in hours through a unique technique of soft tissue manipulation. He shows you how to self-treat 37 different types of body pain using simple but precise techniques. And he presents 50 actual case studies of men and women with pain who freed themselves of muscle discomfort using the soft tissue manipulation approach.

The pain-relieving techniques found in "Soft Tissue Massage" are user-friendly, easily applied, and clearly explained--ideal for many pany sufferers who have found no relief from conventional treatments.

According to Schatz, all types of pain share a common cause--injured tissues. When your muscles suffer an injury or trauma that goes unrelieved, they contract and get irritated, then sore, then rigid, then full of thick, ropy, scarlike fibers, and the result is chronic pain.

"Unless the underlying cause is dealt with, symptom, after sympton will continually appear," says Schatz.

Use the techniques presented in "Soft Tissue Massage" to address the underlying cause of your discomfort. Heal your body yourself and live free of chronic pain.

About the Author
Bernard Schatz, P.T., has been in physical therapy practice since 1957. Schatz supervised the Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, and has worked as staff physical therapist and supervisor in acute hospitals, extended care facilities, and nursing homes. In addition to maintaining a successful private practice, he owned a large rehabilitation company and served as the administrator of a home health agency. Schatz is also a talented artist, entertainer, satirist, and folk singer who has appeared on the Steve Allen and Regis Philbin shows. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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Massage Basics:: Guide to Swedish, Shiatsu, and Reflexology Techniques
by Shelley Hess, Mark F. Beck, Erica T. Miller

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Book Description
Do you want to learn more about massage or how to give one? Drawing on the expertise of leading massage educators, this book demonstrates in detail the massage movements and procedures that professional therapists use. With precise, two-color drawings and photographs, all of the common techniques used in Swedish massage, Shiatsu, and Reflexology are clearly shown and explained. From simple, relaxing movements to pressure point therapy, the steps needed to give an effective, complete body massage can be mastered quickly. Enjoy the benefits of health and well-being through massage for yourself and others with Massage Basics.

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