Abby Ellsworth - Massage Anatomy

MASSAGE

ANATOMY

General Disclaimer

The contents of this book are intended to provide useful information to the general public. All materials, including texts, graphics, and images, are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment for specific medical conditions. All readers should seek expert medical care and consult their own physicians before commencing any exercise program or for any general or specific health issues. The author and publishers do not recommend or endorse specific treatments, procedures, advice, or other information found in this book and specifically disclaim all responsibility for any and all liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use or application of any of the material in this publication.

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ISBN: 978-1-60710-503-9 (ebook)

W ho doesnt love a good massage?

Unfortunately, booking an appointment with a professional massage therapist requires time and expense. But what if you had the know-how to give (or receive) a massage at home that was almost as good as one that you would receive from a professional?

Thats where M ASSAGE A NATOMY comes in. This detailed guide to massage provides you with everything you need give a massage in your home.

The massage demonstrated on the following pages is a basic Swedish massage. It incorporates a series of hand strokes, kneading movements, and friction (more about that later) to work the muscles. Our massage is about relaxing tense muscles, improving the range of motion of joints, stress relief, and enhancing circulation.

M ASSAGE A NATOMY also offers you flexibility. When you dont have time for a full-body massage, you can pick and choose from the techniques to create a shorter massage. For instance, perhaps your spouse has come home from a long day on her feet. You could treat her to a foot massage using the instructions from this book. Or you may choose to focus on the head and neck of a friend suffering from a tension headache.

WHAT ITS GOOD FOR

From anxiety to tension headaches, massage therapy has been shown to provide relief for a whole host of conditions. Here are just a few. (Keep in mind that some of these disorders require professional massage therapy to show improvement.)

Allergies

Anxiety and stress

Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid)

Asthma

Bronchitis

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Chronic back pain

Depression

Fibromyalgia

Insomnia

Lower-back pain

Shoulder pain

Sinusitis

Sports injuries

Tension headaches

M ASSAGE A NATOMY opens with a discussion of the basics of massage. We include expert advice about how to set up a massage space in your home, what items youll want to have on hand, how to set the mood, and even which oils work best. From there, the book proceeds to the massage itself, starting with the back, moving to the legs, feet, abs and chest, and ending with a soothing face and head massage that will rival any you might receive from a professional massage therapist.

At every step of the way, we provide detailed and labeled anatomical illustrations that allow you to see the muscles youre working on as well as the other structures, such as bones, that you need to be aware of as you give your massage. Youll also find Caution boxes that alert you to important information, such as when not to massage a particular part of the body, and Massage Tips sidebars that explain more about a particular stroke.

At the back of the book are a series of massage programs, ideas for shorter massage sequences when you dont have time to offer a total-body massage, a glossary of frequently used massage terms, and finally, a page of resources, including retailers that sell oils, tables, and other massage-related supplies.