Modalities for Massage and Bodywork

Modalities for Massage and Bodywork,a edited by Elaine Stillerman, LMT, introduces the top twenty-one modalities in massage and bodywork. I had a favorite book, Bodywork Basics,(1) which covered many bodywork modalities in brief. Stillerman’s book is more detailed. This is not an “introduction to massage” book, but an overview of the top modalities. And each modality is covered in reasonable detail. Modalities for Massage and Bodywork aims to “identify the modalities that best apply to your clients, incorporate key concepts into your practice, and take the first steps toward specialization all with one helpful text.” Each chapter is written in a consistent style by experts in their field. Each chapter has an introduction, history, definition, techniques, indications and contraindications, certification/training, and case history, with resources and questions at the end. Sidebar boxes provide useful information. In some chapters, the authors provide personal “In My Experience” commentary. All-color pages make this book an interesting read. A DVD that shows some techniques for seven of the modalities is also included. The book starts with Aaron Mattes’ Active Isolated Stretching by Joe Muscolino, including a great introduction to the theories of stretching and reciprocal inhibition. Sonia Elisa Masocco writes an excellent introduction to Ayurvedic therapies, certainly a challenge to summarize in twelve pages. Her chapter is followed by cancer massage (Beverly Byers), craniosacral therapy (John Upledger), and geriatric massage (Susan Salvo). Diana Moore writes about infant massage. The chapter on Lomi Lomi is great, clarifying the terms and history, and the one on manual lymphatic drainage (Robert Harris) provides a clear history and techniques based on Dr. Emil Vodder’s work, but also lists other methods. I particularly liked the chapter on myofascial release (Art Riggs and Keith Eric Grant). The history is comprehensive, and the exposition of anatomy and physiology attempts to provide the scientific basis of the technique, a nice balance between art and science. Judith DeLany authored neuromuscular therapy and trigger point release. These chapters have overlaps, Budiman Minasny, PhD