Deep Tissue Massage, Revised: A Visual Guide to Techniques (Paperback)

by Art Riggs (Author), Thomas W. Myers (Foreword)
Key Phrases: Stretching Strategies Figure, Working the Low Back

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Art’s passion, teaching expertise, and therapeutic knowledge blend beautifully in this user-friendly text. Every somatic therapist will gain valuable insights for energizing their practice and enhancing skills. The book is obviously a labor of love, and as the great author, poet, and artist John Ruskin once stated, 'When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.'"
—Erik Dalton, Ph.D., Developer of the Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques and founder of the Freedom From Pain Institute

"Art Riggs is masterful at teaching and explaining deep bodywork. We unreservedly recommend his materials in our workshops, and his updated Deep Tissue Massage will be an indispensable aid to practitioners, teachers, schools, and students."
—Til Luchau, Certified Advanced Rolfer, Faculty of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration and Director and Lead Instructor of Advanced-Trainings.com

“Art Riggs has created a superb teaching tool for the classroom and a matchless clinical reference manual. His book captures the background context and specific applications of deep tissue work in a word and picture, while conveying the essence and importance of attitude and approach.”
—Keith Eric Grant, Ph.D., NCTMB, Research physicist and director of the McKinnon Institute Sports & Dip Tissue Program

Product Description
Featuring more than 250 photographs and 50 anatomical drawings, Deep Tissue Massage is the standard guide to the essentials of touch, biomechanics, and positioning options for a multitude of strategies to treat all major conditions encountered in a bodywork practice.

The book is divided into three sections. “Fundamentals” covers basic skills of palpation, explaining the deeper layers of the body and presenting detailed instruction on working with these layers to release tension. This section gives clear information on the proper use of knuckles, fist, forearms, and elbows in preventing injury to the therapist. “Strategies” offers more precise protocols and treatment plans for the entire body with emphasis on client positioning options to stretch muscles rather than just kneading tissues. “Caveats” details areas in which the practitioner needs to exercise caution.

Deep Tissue Massage presents a wealth of information in a way the therapist can immediately utilize. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and includes a preface to the new edition, a foreword, an index, a Suggested Reading list, and extended sections on integrating deep-tissue massage into bodywork practice and the psychology of treating injuries.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 1 Revised edition (June 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556436505
• ISBN-13: 978-1556436505
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,667 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Alternative Medicine > Massage > Therapy
  #2 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Alternative Medicine > Massage > Techniques
  #4 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Alternative Medicine > Massage > Reflexology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent reference book for Massage Therapists, September 24, 2004

By	Natural Healthy Essentials "venusmassageLMT" (NYC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques (Paperback)

I am a NY State Licensed and National Board Certified Massage Therapist. Honestly speaking, deep tissue massage is in great demand as people stress out from work and life. About 90% of my clients come for deep tissue massage.

I have most of the reference material for Deep Tissue Massage, including this book and DVD by Art Riggs, Deep Tissue & Neuromuscular Therapy (2 sets) by Sean Riehl, Balanced Body by Donald W. Scheumann, and Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques (Vol 1) by Erik Dalton. Art Riggs' teaching material excels from them all. Furthermore, I appreciated the way how Riggs handled customer complaints. Riggs answered my email complaints personally and have turned a customer complaint into a praise. On the other extreme, I never got any email answer from Erik Dalton regarding my purchase (I did get an order confirmation from his company).

A final word, you will not regret buying the study material from Art Riggs, and don't waste money on the studying material for Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques. Most of the techniques from Myoskeletal Alignment (Vol 1) can be found in Art Riggs' Deep Tissue Massage.

Enjoy your Deep Tissue Massage

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text for beginning deep tissue massage therapists, October 14, 2004

By	Hortensia "massageprop" (PalmSprings, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques (Paperback)

I have been teaching deep tissue massage for many years. This is the first really accessible text on deep tissue massage that I have seen. The illustrations are especially helpful and the author's descriptions of techniques very useful and easy to follow. When I first read this book,I could hear my teacher's voice - it is very similar to my original training in deep tissue massage. I would recommend it to all massage therapists who want to improve their massage skills.

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book,, good reference for Nat'l boards, September 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques (Paperback)

This book is easy to understand and highly informative. I used it as a reference when I studied for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. It has all sorts of information on massage techniques, which is important of course for the exam. I was recommended the following from a mentor of mine who passed the National Certification Examination with flying colors from the help of the following:
The Ultimate Study Guide for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers by Patrick Leonardi
Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3
These 3 study guides were so thorough and completely specific for the National Certification Examination. By using these 3 study guides I had no surprise questions on the test that I was not prepared for. I passed the exam with ease with the help of these study guides. Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques helped me with the technical portion of massage on the National Certification Examination and will serve as a reference in my future massage practice for years to come.