Self-Massage for Athletes [Perfect Paperback]

Rich Poley (Author), Tim Benko (Benko Photographics) (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 10, 2007

Massage away your aches and pains. Self-Massage for Athletes will have you feeling better fast by showing you how to apply the same strokes and techniques used by professional massage therapists. With chapters on acupressure, trigger point therapy, shower massage, and more. Clearly written and beautifully photographed, this handy guide is your invitation to join the millions of active people who already use self-massage to improve the way they feel and perform. Complete with more than 100 photos, 176 pages, and index.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rich Poley is the world's leading authority on self-massage for athletes for good reason. He enjoys running, cycling, yoga, Pilates, swimming, weight training, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, triathlon, and more. Put them altogether and he needs all the massages he can get.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Ask any serious athlete: Massage is a necessity, not a girly self-indulgence. But you can't always hit the spa whenever you're sore and tired. Instead, do it yourself. Rich Poley's book, Self-Massage for Athletes, offers quick and easy how-to's for working out the knots . . . Other benefits of self-massage: on demand service at an unbeatable price."-‒Ski magazine, December 2006

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Two Hand Press, LLC; 1st edition (February 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977608603
• ISBN-13: 978-0977608607
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #661,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You would never have thought that you can be your own massage therapist., February 6, 2008

By 

Jenny J.J.I. "A New Yorker" (That Lives in Carolinas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Self-Massage for Athletes (Perfect Paperback)

For those of you who don't know I practice yoga on a every other day basis and after reading this book it turn out to compliment each other. Although often thought of as a technique that requires two people, massage on yourself is also beneficial and can be done at any time during the day. Most people practice the art of self-massage without thinking about it, whether they are rubbing their forehead because of a headache, scrubbing themselves with a loofah sponge in the shower, or rubbing their feet after a long day you are giving yourself a mini-massage.

Author Rich Poley puts out some great instruction throughout this book with his friendly and human nature. It comes with pages and pages of demonstrative and appealing pictures in black and white. Once you read this and use the following techniques throughout the day, you will feel less tired and tense at the end of it. A primary benefit of this technique is that it can be combined with other healing methods to enhance their effectiveness. Performed slowly, and carefully, self-massage relaxes the body. Performed quickly, it lessens fatigue and revitalizes the body. It is also says, massage may also help heal an injury by bringing fresh oxygen to the affected tissues. This all depends on the techniques used, self-massage can stimulate or relax the body.

Basic moves such as Gliding, Pressing, and Pulling are beneficial towards all the massaging techniques. Once you learn them you'll discover new ways of relating to your body. I personally enjoy the arm, neck, and leg massages being that I use those parts the most. It even has face; butt, abs and chest massages which are really good because you get pleasant responses from them. You don't need any special equipments and oils with these practices just your own two hands that are priceless. I do recommend this book to anyone who's in need to relax, relate, and release.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A complete and thoroughly 'user friendly' how-to guide, April 13, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Self-Massage for Athletes (Perfect Paperback)

"Self-Massage For Athletes" offers a complete and thoroughly 'user friendly' how-to guide to the art and benefits of massage for active people engaged in sports and exercise. Author Rich Poley lays out seven simple massage strokes (nicely illustrated with more than one hundred black-and-white photographs) that together form an effective self-massage therapy for stressed and tired muscle systems. Many of the techniques cited, illustrated and recommended in "Self-Massage For Athletes" are similar to those utilized by the professional masseur. Poley also presents the 'science behind the magic of massage', while revealing ways to effectively self-massage each part of the body, use simple acupressure techniques, find and release sensitive 'trigger points', as well as the use of self-massage tools to massage the back. "Self-Massage For Athletes" is confidently recommended for athletes of any age or condition who cannot afford or otherwise have access to a masseuse, but wish to benefit from the efficacy of an effective massage after their exertions.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this book first, February 6, 2008

By 

Loren w Christensen (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Self-Massage for Athletes (Perfect Paperback)

What a wonderful book and one that's much needed by this beat up old soldier.

I've been training in the martial arts four to five days a week since 1965 and if I looked long and hard enough I might be able to come up with one square inch on my body that doesn't hurt. Excedrin has been my daily companion for a lot of years. Until now.

Self-Massage for Athletes is a fast, easy and inexpensive solution for stiff, sore and injured body parts. It didn't take much longer than an hour to learn the seven massage techniques that bring on instant pleasure and, after a few sessions, relief for what ails you.

The author's writing style is easy to follow, he supports his arguments and statements with solid data, and his how-to-do descriptions of the massage methods are a no brainer.

As a martial arts instructor for over four decades and as a weight trainer for even longer, I highly recommend this book.

Loren W. Christensen, author of The Fighter's Body and several others.