Massage Mastery: From Student to Professional is a comprehensive introductory massage text first published in print by Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins (LWW). We've organized the digital textbook to motivate students with progressive topics that build their confidence and sense of accomplishment. In addition, students gain a strong foundation in the underlying theory and practice of contemporary massage therapy.

Twenty-four clear, easy-to-follow chapters are broken into manageable reading assignments that explore all the critical areas addressed in most massage programs of 625 - 1000 hours. Chapters on communication skills and building healthy therapeutic relationships with clients establish the importance of soft skills and critical thinking for professionalism. 

Massage Mastery addresses both relaxation and clinical massage and teaches a variety of forms like Swedish, seated, stone, myofascial release, deep approaches, and neuromuscular therapy. For schools that introduce students to Eastern bodywork, a chapter on Chinese medicine concepts that underlie Asian Bodywork Therapy and an introduction to techniques from tuina, shiatsu, Thai, and ayurvedic massage are helpful. 

The text provides thorough discussions on assessment, session planning, and documentation, separating this learning into two in-depth chapters. One chapter addresses assessment and session planning for relaxation sessions, while the other focuses on health care massage in clinical settings and exceptional SOAP charting. 

Currently, the text is priced for student affordability but fulfills school curriculum needs for all subjects except anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. 

Williams, Anne. Massage Mastery: From Student to Professional, 2^nd Edition. Sweet Orange Education LLC, 2019.

ISBN : 978-1-7923-7937-6 (eBook)

Early chapters focus on topics that form the framework of a professional massage practice emphasizing soft skills. We highlight effective communication, professionalism, critical thinking, maintaining a healthy therapeutic relationship with clients, and practicing ethical behavior.

Detailed chapters on massage effects and indications and massage cautions and contraindications help massage students understand the powerful reactions clients have to massage, ensuring they work safely from early in their studies.

Early practice-based chapters teach hands-on skills in a logical progression matching students’ developing abilities. Subjects like positioning clients, modest draping, opening and closing the massage, and proper body mechanics create a strong hands-on foundation.

Assessment, treatment planning, and documentation for wellness massage proceed detailed chapters on authentic Swedish massage techniques, seated massage, spa therapies, hydrotherapy, Eastern approaches, and energetic approaches.

A second, in-depth chapter on assessment, treatment planning, and documentation teaches these topics at an advanced level to prepare students for chapters on myofascial and deep work, proprioceptive and neuromuscular approaches, musculoskeletal injury and massage, massage for chronic pain conditions, selected pathologies, and massage for special populations with an appendix on health care terminology.

Massage Mastery: From Student to Professional fulfills school curriculum needs for all subjects except anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology at an unbeatable price.

Video demonstrations of 38 techniques are useful for practice sessions, especially for students who miss classes and need to catch up.

So long as they use Chrome as their browser, students with English as a second language can instantly translate the text into their native language, so they never miss a concept.

Concepts come alive with plenty of images of techniques, tables, diagrams, charts, and appealing graphic design.  

Cleaver web navigation puts an entire textbook just two clicks away and provides an ongoing outline to help students mentally frame the content they are learning. Students get a dose of satisfaction when they mark topics and lessons complete and see the progress bar advance.

Adopting schools can also get access to the original ancillary package provided by LWW. This package includes lesson plans, study guides, study guide keys, and PowerPoint slides. Content progress reports and digital topic quiz scores give instructors an easy way to monitor student reading assignments and concept comprehension.

Students can access their textbooks on a phone, laptop, desktop, or tablet. Students today live on their phones, and now their textbooks do too. When learning is just a swipe away, students are more likely to study in the margins of their lives; a practice essential for strong academic scores. 

Subscription Period: 18 months from the date a student opens and works in the textbook.

After Purchase: Once you purchase this textbook, you’ll log into massagemastery.online with your email and password. The textbook will be waiting for you on your dashboard. Click the access button and follow the directions.

Purchase textbooks at wholesale prices from your school dashboard and assign textbooks to students. Students can access their textbooks within minutes of purchase for an 18-month subscription period. Access is limited to use on two digital devices at the same time, and four devices total (e.g., students can access their textbook on a phone, laptop, desktop, and tablet). 

Adopting schools receive access to an ancillary package, including lesson plans, study guides, and PowerPoint slides. 

Group students into cohorts and track their progress on reading assignments and quiz scores. You’ll always know which students have completed reading assignments and which need help to stay on track.

With a click, you can add more textbooks to cohorts when students enroll late.

If a student doesn’t work in a textbook and drops out, you can reassign that textbook to a new student. In addition, we’ll move unused textbooks to a new cohort for you upon request.

If you don't have a school account, ask your program manager or director of education to request review copies for your team. Then, we'll set you up with a school account so you can get started. 

Questions? Contact us from the link in the footer at the bottom of any webpage. 

Textbook Introduction & Orientation

Chapter 1: Massage from Past to Present

• The History of Massage
• Overview of Techniques, Systems, and Approaches
• Contemporary American Massage

Chapter 2: Massage Equipment and Environmental Considerations

• Massage Equipment
• Lubricants
• Creating a Comfortable Massage Environment

Chapter 3: Sanitation, Hygiene, and Safety

• Disease
• Preventing Disease Transmission
• Standard Precautions
• The Safety Plan

Chapter 4: The Therapeutic Nature of Massage

• Evidence-Based Massage
• Massage Effects and Benefits
• Massage Indications
• Understanding Stress and Wellness

Chapter 5: Massage Cautions and Contraindications

• Areas of Caution
• Medications and Massage
• Massage Contraindications

Chapter 6: Ethics and the Law

• Ethics
• Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice
• Massage Law

Chapter 7: The Therapeutic Relationship

• The Power of Touch
• Psychological Factors in the Therapeutic Relationship
• Boundaries in the Therapeutic Relationship
• Bodymind Factors in the Therapeutic Relationship
• Managing Emotions in the Therapeutic Relationship

Chapter 8: Professional Communication

• Core Concepts in Communication
• Communication Blockers
• Active Communication
• Conflict Resolution

Chapter 9: Your Massage Career

• Your Career Plan
• Work as an Employee
• Starting a Private Practice

Chapter 10: Foundation Skills for Therapeutic Massage

• Overview of Wellness Massage Sessions
• Positioning
• Draping
• Opening and Closing the Massage

Chapter 11: Body Mechanics and Self-Care

• Prepare for the Demands of a Massage Career
• Good Body Mechanics
• Self-Care on the Job

Chapter 12: Assessment, Treatment Planning, and Documentation for Wellness Massage

• Assessment for a Wellness Session
• Palpation
• Session Planning for Wellness Massage
• Introduction to Documentation

Chapter 13: Swedish Massage Techniques

• Effleurage
• Petrissage
• Friction
• Vibration
• Tapotement
• Joint Movements
• Putting it All Together

Chapter 14: Seated Massage

• Introduction to Seated Massage
• Seated Massage Techniques

Chapter 15: Spa Therapies and Other Approaches

• Spa Therapies
• Aromatherapy
• Reflexology
• Stone Massage

Chapter 16: Hydrotherapy

• Introduction to Hydrotherapy
• Hydrotherapy Benefits and Effects
• Hydrotherapy Applications

Chapter 17: Eastern Approaches

• Asian Bodywork Therapies
• Ayurvedic Bodywork

Chapter 18: Energetic Approaches

• Key Concepts in Energy Medicine
• Reiki
• Polarity Therapy
• Therapeutic Touch

Chapter 19: Assessment, Treatment Planning, and Documentation for Health Care Massage

• Healthcare Sessions and the Intake Process
• Pain Assessment
• Posture and Gait Assessment
• Range-of-Motion Assessment
• Treatment Planning for Health Care Sessions

Chapter 20: Myofascial and Deep Tissue Approaches

• Myofascia
• Myofascial Techniques
• Deep Tissue Approaches

Chapter 21: Proprioceptive and Neuromuscular Approaches

• Proprioceptive Techniques
• Neuromuscular Therapy

Chapter 22: Musculoskeletal Injury and Massage

• Factors in Musculoskeletal Injury
• The Inflammatory Response and Massage Treatment
• Understanding Common Musculoskeletal Injuries

Chapter 23: Massage for Chronic Pain Conditions and Selected Pathologies

• Understanding Pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Headaches
• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS

Chapter 24: Massage for Special Populations

• Massage for Athletes
• Massage for Mother and Infant
• Massage for Older Adults
• Massage for Obesity
• Massage for People with Disabilities
• Massage for End-of-Life Care

Appendix A: Health Care Terminology

Appendix B: References

Appendix C: Glossary