Complete Idiot's Guide to Massage [Paperback]

Joan; Adamson, Eve Budilovsky (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028627083
• ISBN-13: 978-0028627083
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The essential introductory volume of massage, July 24, 2002

By 

A. R. Kugelstadt "Mineralogy" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Massage (Paperback)

So you want to bone up on knowledge and become a top-notch masseuse, eh? ...

Oh, don't get me wrong: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Massage is a great volume for people looking to learn massage... basics. It's definitely an "introductory" book, since it tries to hit all the bases of every massage technique before the back cover arrives. The result is that you feel more "educated" about what you're getting into than "enabled" to do massage.

Of course, the book has a lot of helpful techniques and teachings in it! You can certainly become a great amateur masseuse with this book's lessons and little natural skill. The muscle diagrams, in particular, are very helpful (you gotta know WHERE to massage, eh?), as well as the many warnings peppered around the book that explain why you should not paralyze your massage partner (they get upset with you) and the like. But in the end, I certainly felt like "That's it?" and will be buying a more detailed book soon.

Starting with this Guide, though, is a great idea. It eases you into massage smoothly and easily, and perfectly prepares you to start practicing on the nearest sore person or dive into more complex educational resources.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun and Informative Trip, July 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Massage (Paperback)

This is an instructive and, dare I say it, entertaining map to the world of touch therapy. The authors take us through a wide range of massage topics, including techniques, history, philosophy and more, in easy to understand terms. The format of chapters, sidebars and summaries gives us the details while reminding us not to forget the essentials. Finally, in the text and graphics, the authors remember that a little levity makes the trip that much more enjoyable. I would recommend this book both to health care professionals and those just looking for a way to relax at the end of a day that has seemed like a week. Fine, fun work.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific stuff!, June 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Massage (Paperback)

This book covers it all. It explains massage from the beginning in simple terms anyone can follow. But it doesn't stop there. It goes into vast detail, explaining why and how. I felt like an expert after I read it. It is truly accessible for those of us who might feel like an idiot at the beginning. I always felt silly when it came to giving a back rub. But now I realize the history behind the practice of massage and the value it can give to me and my partner. Because of this book, I'm quickly becoming an expert!