Customer Reviews

Fascial and Membrane Technique: A manual for comprehensive treatment of the connective tissue system, 1e

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This book is primarily written for manual therapists. It introduces soft tissue release techniques, which are inspired by the French osteopathic approach to fascial contractures ('unwinding, 'indirect technique', visceral osteopathy) as well as by Rolfing method of myofascial release. The author is a leading international instructor in the Rolfing method and has written several other books about this method. Yet this book seems to me to be his absolute masterpiece. The techniques are so elegantly and clearly described, that as a reader one never ends up wondering what the author exactly means when applying the described techniques for the first time with an actual person. While being precise in terms of anatomical detail, hand positioning, etc. the author's description also include some very well chosen perceptual models and images for a further refinement of the touch perception. One of the few books in which I left my yellow highlighter aside, as the descriptions are both absolutely clear and yet also aesthetically (almost poetically) pleasing. A joy to read. Definitely one of the best tutorial books in this field.

. . . not only for Rolfers, or any other structural integrator or osteopath. It is also a MUST for the manual therapist of all schools who seriously want to upgrade their spectrum of tools for a bigger and more meaningful rate of success. It is written in plain, clear and precise language that easily directs the reader's touch to elegant and complex, but not complicated, techniques. The author's unique contribution to the field of manual therapys is to treat the container and the content at the same time so that one can harmoniously match the other, and this concept is present in many of the techniques that are taught in this book. A variety of other paradigms and approaches, like discerning when to use direct and indirect techniques, are also present in this "must have/must consult book". There are many excellent illustrations that further inform you about the territory you are intending to explore. Excellent, clear photos show the author explaining techniques on a skeleton while equally excellent photos show him demonstrating the actual interventions on a real person. The layout is also beautiful and matches the beauty of Schwind's metaphorical language when he invites you to "listen" to what the tissues and membranes, that are being treated, have to tell us about their state of disorganization and potential organization.

Monica Caspari

I was so excited when I bought this book, as the author is a Rolfer but also seems to do some of the more gentle fascia release techniques. Once I dove into the book, I was sorely disappointed. The gist of his techniques are simply "Put your hands here, and 'listen' ". That's it. LITERALLY. There is very little actual technique to be found here, so if you're looking for an in depth, structural integration kind of book, this is certainly not going to interest you.

this manual explains clearly how one goes about touching a client. What we are trying to perceive? what layer are we focusing our attention on? etc...
The beginning is especially important because it addresses the practitioner's intention and state of mind while working. He also gives us a clear set of tools to work with that we can adapt to various circumstances.
I find this book essential to my library, as I am a Rolfer and osteopath. Schwind also talkes about visceral manipulation techniques as taught by his JP Barral. HE also mentions Godard's theories about movement movement. His style is very clear and readable. Good book to have if you are a bodyworker and essential if you are a Rolfer.

Great book which every therapist should have...Language is easy to read, there are not many strange or medical terms but the whole book is written very proffesionally. There are lot of pictures and nice texts describing diffrenet fascia techniques.

Good illustration but very elaborate description of the techniques and hard to understand command to the client about positioning of extremities. Some of my clients had a terrible time to understand my direction, I had to come up with my own description.

This is not just a great book, it is essential for those who like to work quickly, with precision, and thoroughly. The concepts that Peter Schwind puts forth enable the structural worker to proceed using his own perception, which must be aggressively developed over a working lifetime, so that each session with each subject becomes a joyous burst of new and often unexpected kaleidoscope-like shifts. Preconceptions ruin and limit the pattern shifts that may be obtained. The beginning, the middle and the end are not forced; they occur as the subject being worked upon likes them to occur.

And yet, 'control' is not lost, as the practitioner's experience and wisdom are able to guide the process in conjunction with the subject's need for self-reorganization.

Attempts to use templates, or pre-ordained images, or a sequence arrived at by consensus will grate against the subject's desire for self-reorganization.

The number and duration of sessions are freed from preconceptions.

The closest analogy that comes to mind is dancing the authentic Argentine Tango.