This pioneering book in massage therapy provides basic information on the art and science of effective healing massage techniques in quick-learn, easy-to-understand terms. Whether you're a licensed massage therapy practitioner, health related professional, or just interested in basic massage therapy techniques, this is the book for you! The authors carefully examine the foundations of healing massage, western massage techniques, contemporary massage including myofascial techniques, trigger points, lymphatic drainage massage, foot reflexology, Asian bodywork therapy and applications of massage. New to the fifth edition are Practice Sequences that are step-by-step suggested example applications of the techniques described in the book. Each Practice Sequence is demonstrated in full, vibrant detail on the DVD that accompanies this text. So that readers can track their progress, the DVD, as well as Appendix D, provides Performance Evaluation Forms for every Practice Sequence.
Patricia J. Benjamin, PhD, NCTMB, is a licensed massage
therapist, educator, author, and appreciative massage and
bodywork client. She has a deep respect for massage therapy
as an art, science, and wellness practice. She has studied
its traditions and watches for trends in the massage
therapy profession today.
Building on her earlier background in sports and fitness,
Dr. Benjamin graduated from the Chicago School of
Massage Therapy in the mid-1980s. She was drawn to massage
as an active, hands-on therapy whose foundations
dovetail with her former career in health, physical education,
and recreation.After having a full-time massage therapy
practice, she gravitated back to education, first as an
association education director, and then as a teacher and
massage school administrator. Over the years, she has
served on various committees involved in the development
of ethical standards and national certification for massage
therapists, and the accreditation of massage programs.
Dr. Benjamin has taught at the high school and college
levels, and enjoys developing curriculum materials for the
career-oriented courses offered in vocational programs.
She holds master’s and advanced study degrees in education
with a specialty in curriculum development from
Northern Illinois University. A doctorate in recreation
and leisure studies from Purdue University has deepened
her appreciation of the many facets of wellness and
grounded her in a variety of research methods.
Frances M.Tappan approached Patricia Benjamin to
join her as coauthor of Healing Massage Techniques for its
3rd edition (1998). Since Dr.Tappan’s passing in 1999,
Dr. Benjamin has continued to update and improve
Tappan’s Handbook of Healing Massage Techniques
, and it
remains a standard in the field today. Dr. Benjamin
authored Professional Foundations for Massage Therapists
(2009) as a resource for students to learn about the profession,
its history, varied competencies, ethics, and business
practices.
In her leisure time, Dr. Benjamin enjoys reading historical
fiction and nonfiction, gardening, tai chi and qi
gong, Zen archery, and swimming. Her outdoor pursuits
include hiking, canoeing, and a new interest in birding.
She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.
