Massage books to read while waiting to start school?

[pezza]

My school doesn't start until the first week in March. I have over a month to wait so I thought I would like to read up on basics of massage. What are a couple of recommended books that would be helpfully applied in school that I could read? Thanks!

 

[ownerest]

I would recommend playing with The Anatomy Coloring Book. It's a fun way to learn the muscles and you won't be so overwhelmed because you have to cram in school.
You're smart to get a head start. Seems like you'll do well.

 

[Kami y]

Thanks! I actually used to be a personal trainer, but I've heard that book is good for a brush up. I should probably get that as it's been a while since I've applied anatomy!

 

[PLAYBOY]

"Job's Body" is pretty good.

 

[Am_I a_Beatlesfan??]

Hmm, I wonder if you could get a hold of the actual books your school uses ahead of time?

 

[Badge203]

Hmm, I wonder if you could get a hold of the actual books your school uses ahead of time?

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing actually! I'm going to call the school Monday and find out when I can get them.... Thanks

 

[dad7734]

"Job's Body" is pretty good.

Thanks, I'll look that up!

 

[Angel M]

Just as a head's up on getting your school books early...I was eager to read-up before school started and also wanted to get the best deal on my books. I got a list of books that were supposed to be used for each class, given to me by the school. I ordered all of my books from Amazon.com ahead of time and saved probably at least $150. However! Once in school it ends up I could have done without several of the books that were never even cracked in school, and which do not particularly interest me or serve as great resources for my future practice. blah! I could have saved even more! Several fellow students who bought the book package from the school have been upset because they ordered all of the books from the school, paid more money for them than I did, and also have not used them!

One thing I can tell you about all this, though, is that I need and use my anatomy books. I don't know what you might already have from being a personal trainer, but I'm sure you can count on the Anatomy books being used and useful. There's such a wide variety of anatomy books to purchase. I have found the ones I like and use I have found on my own.

One is The Anatomy of Movement which will also help with Kinesiology
http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Movement-Revised-Blandine-Calais-Germain/dp/0939616572/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product

and The Atlas of Skeletal Muscles- you can also use this as an Anatomy Coloring Book by making copies of the pages to color and it clearly lists O, I , N, A's with text.

http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Movement-Revised-Blandine-Calais-Germain/dp/0939616572/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product

many talk about like Trail Guide to the Body, but somehow I have never gotten that one. I got the Student Handbook that goes along with it because it was on the school list, actual book it accompanies was not...I actually did not use the Student Handbook that much, but others like it.

Congrats on starting Massage School!!! Have fun and keep us updated on how things are going!

Oh yeah, one other edition, I'm absolutely enthralled with Anatomy Trains by Thomas Myers, LMT now, and can't believe how much of the information about fascia was never included in learning, although I'm lucky I got enough info. on it to investigate further on my own! I'm a little fascia crazy, ha, so I'd recommend at least looking at the Anatomy Trains website to give a different perspective on anatomy and function than you might get in school.

There's actually a lot of great info. on the Anatomy Trains website to check out that is great.

http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Trains-Myofascial-Meridians-Therapists/dp/044310283X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232852962&sr=1-1

 

[Nicola]

That's a lot of great information. Thank you for taking the time to post that! I'll definitely take the school books into consideration.

 

[Bond 003 1/2]

I second Job's Body as an excellent read... you might also like Healing Ancient Wounds by John Barnes. Both these books offer more than just technical info... they speak to the poetry and magic of this work.

 

[Beautifully Broken]

Another to add -- The Gift of Touch by Helen Colton

 

[Doberwoman]

Thank you both! I'm ordering Job's Body and will look into the other one to.

 

[mama]

Oh man, yeah, I want Job's Body too! I saw it at half price books a while back and didn't get it, and I went back later to look for it and it was gone. I was so bummed, and now am being stubborn about ordering it from somewhere. My library doesn't have a copy either!

 

[Hettie.]

Try Powell's bookstore, I got mine there on one of my many visits to Portland. Powell's has an online store and I just saw on available there for about $35.

 

[joewillgo]

"Touch"
by Ashley Montegue

"A Natural History of The Senses"
by Diane Akerman

"The Ethics of Caring"
by Kylea Taylor

Thanks for the reminder, it's time for me to reread them as well.

 

[DaleMcIntosh]

I recommend The Educated Heart by Mari Gayatri

 

[Old Kid]

Thanks! I actually used to be a personal trainer, but I've heard that book is good for a brush up. I should probably get that as it's been a while since I've applied anatomy!

As a trainer, I am constantly applying anatomical knowledge and principles. Working as a trainer should constantly strengthen knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology, partly because good trainers are constantly reviewing the fundamentals and studying more advanced ways to apply that knowledge. This would give you an edge in that portion of your massage training.

Before diving into advanced esoteric concepts of massage and therapeutic philosophies, go back and review the fundamental basics underlying all of it: anatomy, physiology, kinesiology - the things you have some experience with. This will be a more practical approach to preparing for the start of your formal massage education.

 

[TomIsMe]

I know I'm posting this at risk of being sorta off-topic but as someone who's evaluated graduating massage students and was horrified by the lack of this important aspect of bodywork in their sessions with me especially right before graduation...

...if you find that your instructors aren't teaching you about body mechanics (or not enough), then grab a book/video/youtube vid and learn it on your own. It sucks but not all massage schools/courses are created equal and this should be right up there along with your Anat/Phys training. Because all of that knowledge isn't going to help you if you've blown out your arms in a year.

Whenever an MT who's my height or below talks about how many Deep Tissue sessions they do and then I see that their tables are higher than my bellybutton, I want to shake the crap out of them...which might feel good to them at that point. LOL

 

[An internet weirdo]

Here is my list of massage school textbooks but I do recommend calling your school if you haven't already.

http://www.massage-career-guides.com/massage-school-textbooks.html

Julie

 

[A guy with too much time]

...if you find that your instructors aren't teaching you about body mechanics (or not enough), then grab a book/video/youtube vid and learn it on your own. It sucks but not all massage schools/courses are created equal and this should be right up there along with your Anat/Phys training. Because all of that knowledge isn't going to help you if you've blown out your arms in a year.

My suggestion is in the same vein. Pick up "Save Your Hands!". A new edition just came out, and it looks to be much more informative than the first. I ended up with quite a bit of pain caused by bad body mechanics at the end of my first semester and had wished I had understood the importance of it earlier on.

Good luck in school!! :grin: