Body Rolling: An Experiential Approach to Complete Muscle Release [Paperback]

Yamuna Zake (Author), Stephanie Golden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997

A revolutionary method that teaches bodywork practitioners and their clients how to feel the inner logic of the muscular system. 

Each body has its own logic, its own language of release. This internal logic is at the heart of Body Rolling, an innovative technique that uses a ten-inch ball to stretch muscles, freeing restrictions in the body, increasing blood flow, and promoting healing. Body Rolling teaches "touch and tell" anatomy; you learn to physically find the origin of a muscle and sense what it feels like for that muscle to fully release. Experiencing first-hand the interrelationships in the muscular system comes as a revelation to most bodywork therapists. Body Rolling is an excellent treatment for a number of conditions, and it can re-teach muscles to move effortlessly and painlessly. It creates structural changes that are positive, permanent, and powerful, and that prevent new injuries from occurring. 

The author explains the underlying principles of her technique, shows how to get started, and gives instructions for basic side, front, and back routines. 

Detailed chapters focus on treating specific conditions such as lower back pain, neck problems, and the effects of aging. 

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Here's a workout with one big difference from all the others: it uses a ball. Among others, the kind of lightweight vinyl ball you often see stacked up in huge cages in toy stores (perhaps the cheapest piece of workout equipment ever). Zake, a yoga teacher and bodywork practitioner, began developing her techniques 20 years ago to help herself recover from a hip injury. She believes that rolling on the ball in various ways stimulates muscles at their origins, causing them to relax and elongate; at the same time, the gentle pressure increases circulation to the muscles and tendons. This in turn helps balance the body and relieve all kinds of painful conditions in the back, neck, shoulders, and legs, as well as improving the results produced by any other bodywork techniques. Body Rolling is structured for bodywork practitioners to use with their clients, and the anatomical language is somewhat technical. Still, the exercises are well illustrated, and there's no reason readers with a certain amount of fitness knowledge can't do these routines themselves. If you really get into it, you can order more flexible, reinflatable balls from Zake's company.

Review

"My first session was a joyful experience that left me deep in thought."
(Robert Calvert, founder, Massage Magazine )

"Most massage therapists and bodyworkers eventually wrestle with the nagging question, 'Is there anything that my client can do in between our sessions to help the work we are doing together last longer?' This book offers a simple, practical solution."
(Massage Magazine? )

"A sincerely offered and thoroughly presented contribution to the field. "
(Massage Therapy, Spring 1999 )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Healing Arts Press (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892817305
• ISBN-13: 978-0892817306
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable method for loosening and repositioning the body, July 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Body Rolling: An Experiential Approach to Complete Muscle Release (Paperback)

This remarkable book promises great rewards for those willing to take the time needed to go carefully through each sequence. I studied ballet for 20 years, regularly do a series of floor exercises and do Pilates work. Yamuna Zake's Body Rolling, however, has done things for my back, shoulders, neck and feet that I've found truly astonishing. I have yet to try the other sequences in the book but expect to find the same impressive results. The book is technical; for the first few sessions, one needs to have an anatomy book close by and carefully chart out the trajectory of a particular sequence. There might well be a lot of starting and stopping as one reexamines the text and plots one's course. And above all, one should understand that this work is not about continuous rolling, but rather about finding a series of points along an identified path and STOPPING to breathe (at least one full slow breath, but more is better) every ½ inch or so. Most people are not accustomed to working this slowly; the benefits reaped will make it well worth your while. The work is progressive; at first my arms trembled from having to support my body in a particular position for so long, and my buttocks and legs longed to rest. But after a few sessions, I no longer feel that struggle--besides opening up the parts of the body targeted by the ball, this work also strenghtens arms and legs and works the buttocks. To become familiar with the work required time and patience; in return, I have a body that hasn't felt this free in many years--a loose pelvis, lower, repositioned shoulders, a free neck, flexible feet. I now find the process thoroughly enjoyable. I found this book by accident and consider it a treasure.

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A breakthrough in self-exploration, February 1, 2002

By 

JRoss (Sacramento, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Body Rolling: An Experiential Approach to Complete Muscle Release (Paperback)

This book is not for the person who wants an easy fix. But for anyone willing to put in the time it is just this side of miraculous. You will likely add inches and flexibility to your ribcage - increasing room for your lungs and other internal organs (I added 1-1/2 inches in 3 weeks). Your posture will improve, and as a result, you will likely add to your height (I added 1/2"). But best of all, you will look and feel rejuvinated. I have done yoga, weight lifting, walking, running - all the normal stuff. Body Rolling beats it all hands down for relaxing and energizing your body (and face - I added a face routine of my own based on the same principles.)

It helps to have a knowledge of anatomy, but, with one of the anatomy books she lists at the back, this can definitely be acquired as you work through the protocols. This will increase the time it takes to learn these routines - I found just working the back to take about 1-1/2 hours the first time or two. But now it takes about a half an hour. Additionally, in areas where you are very stiff, ie: the rib cage, you may end up very sore for awhile, requiring ice and heat, but stick with it, the results are more than worth it.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Massage Therapists, Body Workers...ONLY, June 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Body Rolling: An Experiential Approach to Complete Muscle Release (Paperback)

This book was not written for the lay person. It was meant for Therapists or anyone else with a good working knowledge of Anatomy. Seek out someone certified in Body Rolling if you don't have these requirements. Make your life easier. Or wait until they release a Video. The basic idea behind Body Rolling is to work from the bone to the tendon to the muscle. Working from the origin to the insertion creating length. It has great therapeutic uses. Don't judge it until you've tried it.