"Total Massage: Step-by-Step Massage Techniques to Relax Body and Mind" by Karen Smith is a straight forward book instructing basic massage through photo sequences and explanations of various massage strokes and techniques. Smith, a former professional dancer is a professionally qualified masseuse, aromatherapist, and reflexologist and runs her own Pilates studio in London. In this book, Smith has done a good job of introducing massage through her writing and the commissioned photography of Antonia Deutsch. I don't know if there is anything that really makes this stand out from all of the other massage books throughout the years, but if you want a basic book on massage, this is a good book for that.
Smith starts the book with an introduction on the importance of touch and what the book will cover. Then there is a short bit on touch and fragrance with information on essential oils and how to blend them. She also provides her reasons for why you should massage with oils, and then has a good little piece on preparing a massage. With these preliminaries taken care of, she goes into describing techniques such as effeurage, or "to skim over;" petrissage or "to knead;" kneading; wringing; thumb glides; thumb circling; cupping and hacking; feathering and stroking; and knuckling. Each of these descriptions is short and clear, and accompanied by photographs.
The next section of the book is titled a voyage around the body, and includes descriptions of different areas of the body and explanations of its importance and its connection with other body parts, as well as the benefits of massage for each area. These include the back; the neck and shoulders; the buttocks; the backs of the legs; the face; the head and scalp; the chest; the arms; the hands; the abdomen; the front of the legs; and the feet.
The next part, the sensual calendar, focuses on the influence the seasons have on people, and the types of massages that will support needs during each season. It's a fairly short section that has a couple of pages per season. The next section, the pleasures of water, has information on relaxing the mind and body, home spas, water therapies, and purifying and toning the skin.
The last portion of the book cover stress management through touch and touch and holistic vision. Each of these major sections is color coded by the margins of the book, making it easy to quickly find what you are looking for. If you are looking for a simple guide that illustrates the basics of massage and its role in a holistic approach to health and well-being, you will most likely find this book beneficial. It is not a text book on massage, as you might find if attending a massage school, but it was not meant to be. The book is meant for the reader who wants to learn a little more about massage and health. If that's what you are looking for, check out this book.
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