Recommended Massage & Aromatherapy Books

[lonely too often]

Hi Guys

I am starting my ITEC Massage & Aromatherapy in Januray and was wondering if anyone could recommend some good books. They dont seem to have any posted on the ITEC website just for Massage- I purchased the 2 Louise Tucker books today for Massage and Aromatherapy as I think this is what is needed for the ITEC exam - I also got the book on Aromatherapy by Helen Mc Guinness.

Thanks
Suzanne

 

[medsec]

I great massage books is Basic Clinical Massage Therapy: Integrating Anatomy and Treatment by James H. Clay, David M. Pounds.
It goes into quite a lot of detail but what I really like is that it has pictures of real people with their muscles superimposed over the body so you can see exactly where and how to massage.

For aromatherapy I like
Aromatherapy for Holistic Therapists by Francesca Gould. It seems clear and I'm doing VTCT in Aroma and gives me exactly what I need.

Sonia

 

[htescuazindiccexp]

Suzanne

The Louise Tucker books are good books to have - if only because they simplify everything for the purposes of the ITEC examinations. You will find that many people will complain about the fact that they have simplified complex issues to the point of being misleading. In some cases, that is true, but because the ITEC examiners are using the Louise Tucker books as the basis for examinations, they are the best for passing the examinations.

If you want a good book for massage therapy, I'd recommend Mosby's Fundamentals Of Therapeutic Massage (Mosby's Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage) by Sandy Fritz. Another possibility is Milady's Theory and Practice of Therapeutic Massage by Mark Beck - although I haven't read this book in detail. Both these books are standard texts for the US massage therapy courses, which are longer and more detailed than the ITEC exams. They do go into a lot more detail, and are very much more extensive in their coverage than Louise Tucker. There are chapters on draping a client - the various possible techniques, etc, how to draw up a therapeutic protocol to treat a client, ethics etc. Doc Clay's book Basic Clinical Massage Therapy is a great book, but one I would say, could wait till after you've passed. It's actually an excellent practitioners guide, with great illustrations showing which muscle is being worked, and it goes waaaaayyyyy beyond ITEC and even some of the 600 hour massage training programs in the US. Warning - these are not cheap! And second warning - remember that ITEC examiners are looking for answers from Louise Tucker, not any other author...

For Aromatherapy, I've used both Louise Tucker (ITEC) and Francesca Gould(VTCT) (which SoniaL recommends) among others in my studies. I like the parts of each - both are good primers. One good book which has a lot in one volume is Salvatore Battaglia's The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy - highly recommeded that to anyone who is starting in Aromatherapy. Again - I can't stress enough - for your ITEC examinations, the answer they are looking for is the one found in Louise Tucker... More so in Aromatherapy than in Massage, you will find that the books differ: in the therapeutic uses of the oils, in the routes of absorbption into the body etc, uses of oils etc

I suppose way I'd advise you to handle these different texts is as follows: use Louise Tucker for the brief overview, read the other texts to flesh out the details, do not get hung up on the differences that you may find, and when you're in your final revision phase: Tucker, Tucker, Tucker.

Then after you've passed, retire the Tucker books to the bookshelves, and move on to the other books.

Remember - ITEC/VTCT etc the paper is the driving licence. The real driving starts after the test....

Good luck in your course, and I do hope you'll enjoy them!

 

[miguel sabah]

Hi Suzanne

I did ITEC and found these useful

Handbook of Massage Therapy Mario-Paul Cassar Butterworth-Heinemann
Better Backs Dr John Tanner DK

Also

The Muscle Book Paul Blakey Bibliotek Books

Jaez

 

[Mark P]

Thanks Guys

this really helps - I bought the Louise Tucker book for massage and was interested to find that it covers Indian Head, Lymph & Aromatherapy Massage - just wondering if these are covered on the course in ITEC - my teacher has given me the syllabus but it doesnt go into too much details about the types of massages you learn

Suzanne

 

[Tracy D]

The book touches on IHM, MLD and Aromatherapy. LIterally touches on them. This is not a textbook on those techniques, but rather part of the introduction to other forms of massage and complementary therapies. General knowledge of other complementary therapies is part of your exam syllabus...

Darren

 

[Cruz C]

Thanks Darren

So just to make myself clear on this - In the ITEC Holistic Massage Course you learn basically how to perform a full body holistic massage and cover theory on the others?

Suzanne

 

[adriaannnaaaa!]

Hello Suzanne

Yes, in the ITEC course, you will cover the theory of Swedish massage, and how to perform a whole body massage. However, you will also need to be aware (really, it's at the awareness level) of a selection of other complementary therapies. The examinations could include a question or two on these other therapies. However, it's really just at an awareness level - enough to know they exist, and what they generally cover.

Good way to find out what else is out there...

Hope that helps.

Darren

 

[wss UK]

Hi Darren

Thanks a million - I have already done an introductory course in Massage but am going back in January ( so to have the qualification ) - I was quite apprehensive at first about massage but I have to say I absolutely love it! - so much so I have signed up for Aromatherapy aswell! I am a reflexologist but I want to add additional therapies to my practice as I find that most of my clients could do with a massage aswell.

thanks

Suzanne

 

[Lamber-vox]

Hello Suzanne

Yes, those complementary therapies are very addictive. I did Holistic Massage, and have ended up doing Indian Head, Aromatherapy, and reflexlogy as well...

Hope you'll enjoy your course!

Regards
Darren