Customer Reviews

Self-Massage for Athletes

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

"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.

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.

The title of this book should more aptly be named, "Self-Massage for People", as everyone can benefit from having their hurts rubbed. Massage is a natural form of therapy that stimulates the area and eases the pain. In that regard, this is one of the most logical and helpful self-medication books ever published.
The advice is simple and easily executed; all you need is a sore spot and a pair of willing hands. My main problem areas are the back of my neck, my knees and my lower back. After reading about the different massage techniques, I went beyond my simple rubbing to the more complex massages described in this book. The primary point of extended relief was in the back of my neck. As someone who spends a significant amount of time writing on a computer, I often suffer from severe pains in the back of my neck. When I first tried the kneading actions described in this book on my neck, the pain shot up due to the stimulation, but quickly dropped down and went away with a bit more massaging. It takes far less time and effort to cure the problem using the advanced technique than it had taken previously when all I had done was rubbed.
Massage is not a cure for all that can ail you, but as long as you are otherwise healthy and physically undamaged, it can cure most of what does ail you.

I got this book because I am in Ironman training and have been nursing some injuries. This book not a magic pill, but it does help.

The book is gorgeous and easy to read. The pictures are very nice, nothing is left to guess from the explanations. Most of the important content is in one chapter. The rest is trying to convince you that it's a good thing to do, and later in the book there's a couple of chapters that include some nice accessory information.

There are a lot of statements that could be considered "kooky," but if you are buying a book with this title you are already open to such ideas. Thankfully, the author didn't mention the obvious talk that some other reviewers and friends may joke about. There are also a lot of statements made that make you want more information as to where the source came from, how it came about, etc. While the author does have an extensive bibliography, that is not enough. I do not want to go searching everywhere to explain every sentence in the book. If you're going to make a claim that XX has been shown to be good for YY, tell me more than just that statement. In addition, the chapter with accessories, while nice to have, does not explain very much about each accessory.

For some reason - probably because of no details on the remarks as stated above, the structure of the book and the short chapters - this book read a lot like a college paper. Overall it's good information to have, and I'm going to be using this in my training. I haven't read this type of information before. I probably could've gotten the same thing in an active.com article though. If it existed.

This is an excellent book for both the serious and casual athlete. It is well-written and amply illustrated with detailed photographs that will help you to get immediate benefit from the various techniques explained by the author. While the book is extremely well-researched and documented, the writing style is fluid and practical. After just an hour or so of reading, I was able to incorporate self massage into my exercise program, resulting in less muscle soreness and fatigue right off the bat. In addition, my recovery times are significantly diminished. I also enjoyed the chapters on accupressure and helpful devices on the market to allow you to get the most out of self massage. Finally, I appreciated the fact that the author didn't try and push his techniques as a panacea and that he truthfully explained those limited situations where self massage was not appropriate.

Whether you are an athlete or not, this book can have great practical use to anyone. Although the book is designed around knowledge of athletic training in making sure your muscles are supple before or after a workout or playing in whatever activity you play in, the person who might be tense after a day at the office will find equal value in learning how to massage themselves.

Going to massage therapists might be costly, or even time consuming for some people who have a lot to do. This book teaches you how to give gentle to firm and deep massages, but with proper guidance. Letting yourself feel good, trusting and relaxed is one of the key components to a healthy body and allowing oneself to be massaged effectively. So author, Rob Poley, who is self taught in the ways of Self-Massage, realized through his own experiences, teaches how important massage is and how to do it.

I am not athletic, but I have put to work Rob's guidelines and they I feel great. I usually do them before bed and it gives me an excellent night's sleep. I know water is important after an intense massage, so depending on the level of massage you give yourself, make sure you drink some water to help rid of the toxins that are loosened through this.

In detail, the author gives all the recommended techniques for various parts of the body, as well as how to reach those tough to get to spots, like the mid-back and the like. And like reflexology, you are in effect helping your internal organs to be healthier as well as your muscles, and thus emotions and mind.

There is no debate about the benefits of massage on all levels. It is only a matter of whether you give yourself the time to relax and enjoy a great massage. You know your body better than anyone else, so who better to give a better massage?

I'm a landscaper, and I can tell you, at the end of the day I am pretty wiped. I didn't think I'd have the energy to massage myself - even if it feels good and helps my body, it's hard to find time to do one more thing.

But the beauty of self-massage is its simplicity - you have everything you need right there with you and you can do it anytime. When I am stuck at a red light, I can massage my arms or upper legs, when I am watching TV or waiting for the toaster, I can massage myself then too.

It's amazing how much just a little bit of attention to my body increases my awareness and helps me avoid injuries. I've been using this book for a couple months now and I am totally impressed. It isn't hard to learn the techniques and in just a few minutes of reading, you get some tips and tools to begin.

I am definitely going to recommend this to my gardener friends, and I hope anyone who is on the fence about buying this will go ahead. It's really written for everyone and is easy to understand and do, yet complex enough that I really did learn a lot that I wouldn't have figured out on my own.

Self-Massage for Athletes was a surprise. I was hesitant to read this book since I probably would no longer be considered an athlete. The one trait I do share with the more athletic is a propensity towards aches and pains. A nagging neck ache (from too many 12 hour days at the hospital) finally prompted me to open this book. Easy to read, easy to access, and very hands on (no pun intended), Self-Massage for Athletes delves not only into massage techniques for aches and pains, it illustrates techniques to prepare and recover from exercise and sport, and to encourage the natural release of endorphins. Each technique is well illustrated with photos and each section is broken down into steps and explanations. No special equipment is necessary, though there is mention of several tools (inexpensive) that can be used, including a sock, tennis ball massage tool that can be made at home. Many of the exercises can be done almost anywhere. The tone of the book is inclusive, proactive and informative, not overwhelming. I took this into work and it was off my desk in a second, several of my coworkers were trying some of the techniques. The physical therapists that work my area (a step down ICU unit) also took a look at the book, and pointed out some exercises that would be beneficial for the chronic low back pain that accompanies bedside nursing. They were impressed by the readability and straightforward nature of the text.

Self-Massage for Athletes is a great book for athletes, any level. It should be part of any trainers' bookshelf, and should be part of any training regimen. Rich Poley has produced a well laid out book. One of the great strengths of this book is the easy to look up and read format. I was encouraged by the inclusiveness of the book, it can be used by the non athletic as well as the serious athlete. Self-massage for Athletes will be beneficial for anyone looking for proactive approach to the strain of everyday life and the stress we put on our bodies. As I incorporate these techniques, I find myself becoming more mindful of my physical body and wanting to take better care of myself. I'm just sorry I didn't read it earlier!

According to this attractively presented book, professional athletes do it before, during and after workouts. Hey, if Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm say it's okay, who am I to argue?

Putting innuendo aside (with much difficulty) this book provides everything you need to know about self massage (and even some stuff you already knew.) It includes an introduction, and covers the advantages (cheap and available), benefits (reduced stress, pain relief, improved sleep, fewer illnesses) and much more, before getting to the juicy stuff in Chapter Eight.

Chapter Eight lists the seven massage strokes (different strokes for different folks), and these are:

Gliding
Squeezing
Squeezing & Rolling
Pressing
Pressing & Rolling
Drumming
Rock & Rolling (yes, you read that right)

It goes on to describe and illustrate the correct way to perform each one, complete with tips and good advice. Later chapters show you how to apply the strokes to your entire body for a complete self-massage and when to use these techniques. There's even a chapter on massage tools (none involving batteries - but they DO mention a hard plastic, seven inch one shaped like a dolphin), shower massage techniques and information on when NOT to indulge in self-massage.

The techniques are easy to master, and after a stressful day, the routines for hands, shoulders, neck and feet are extremely relaxing.

Packed with photographs of healthy and fit people doing yoga, iron man events, and yes, lots of stroking - this book provides a useful self-massage guide for everyone, regardless if the most athletic thing you do is kick your shoes off vigorously, Fosbury Flop onto the couch and stretch for the remote. My only request would be for the pictures and illustrations to be printed in color, even though the crisp, clear B&W photos are gorgeous enough in their own right.

I'd write more, but it's time for my self-massage. Gotta go Rock & Roll!

Rated: 4.5 stars

Amanda Richards, February 2, 2008