The following is a range of materials which I have bought, found useful (or not) for the work that I do. These may be course books, books recommended by colleagues or tutors and some I may have come across by accident. The page will naturally grow the more I read though does not reflect all material read (such as articles/internet searches etc)

 

NB As with other pages my comments are purely personal and do not reflect the thoughts or recommendations of any particular college or industry.

 

Probably the most commonly bought book on anatomy and still is possibly the most detailed book you can find if you want to know your anatomy. This was the book I used most until I discovered the two that follow. Naturally it was not written from a therapist's point of view but I still refer to it now and again. There are various editions  (Mine is the 34th edition) and formats. A very technical book - so perhaps not for the novice!

 

Second Edition by James H Clay & David M Pounds (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

I only recently bought this after attending a Hands Free Massage Course and the tutor had it on show. My comments - Wow!! Exactly the book I have been looking for for the last 4 years! Why I had not come across it before I don't know. Basically, the book shows muscles and other bodily parts digitally added to a real human body and shows the correct direction in which each muscle should be massaged.I cannot speak highly enough of the book - it was literally a eureka experience for me. The book costs about £27 plus from Amazon for example. There are a number of editions. The one I bought is hardback and I believe is the most recent edition. The only difference I can see is that my version has included 'draping techniques' i.e. original version showed the body 'as it was' so to speak. It's a wonderful tool for practitioners and students alike.

 

Trail Guide to the Body: How to locate muscles, bones and more 

Third Edition, by Andrew Biel (Books of Discovery)

Another book that was on show at a course I was attending. In  a way this is similar to the above but I personally find both books complement each other. It is spiral bound and costs more than the above but both are wonderful for their detail. Both books are a must for the serious practitioner. Cost about £40

 

Darien Pritchard (Lotus Publishing)

Bought from the author after attending his Hands Free Massage course. A hefty book but worth every penny. They are about £25. Many therapists are so concerned about their clients that they forget about themselves: their own body position during treatments, the manner in which they use their body weight, posture etc. Darien shows you in great detail how best to stand for each massage movement and how to carry them out with or without hands! Everyone I come across says the same thing 'What do you mean no hands - what do you use?' Forearms and elbows to save you guessing - and very effective they are too. I found it amazing how sensitive the elbow can be.

 

Mary Atkinson (Carlton Publishing)

There are many books on this subject, this one I bought and read prior to my IHM course. A good all round book which is useful for students and those who wish to practice without having to attend an accredited course. I paid about £12 for it. It offers tips on hair care, stress release and much more.

 

Dr Jari Ylinen and Mel Cash (Ebury Press)

I bought this when studying my sports massage diploma. Paid about £15 for it. It was useful before, during and after I finished the course and is still a favourite. Again, I know there are many similar books out there which may have colour photos instead of black and white - but the photos showing the position the client should be in and explanations about what to do and how to do it have been invaluable.

 

Su Fox and Darien Pritchard (Corpus Publishing)

This was one of the first books I bought when studying Swedish Massage. Excellent book covering all the basic information any student needs to know. Cost about £20 at the time but well worth it. Clearly written and easy to read.

 

Francesca Gould (Nelson Thornes)

First book I ever bought when I started my studying. Cannot remember what I paid for it, but again a good basic book for starters. Covered issues such as contraindications, types of massage movements, example proformas/letters etc - all very necessary when you first start out. Only thing I remember at the time was that the moves we learned in college were into necessarily the ones in the book. This threw me to begin with - but soon realised that the actual 'routine' was very flexible and had to be, and trill is as every client is different. A good overall text book

 

Chris Jarmey (Lotus Publishing)

Purchased as a must have when I started my Sports Massage course. Cost about £17 and has been my bedside table reading for th past few years! Whilst I love the book for its set out, diagrams and explanations of insertion and origins, nerves involved, basic functions etc I was a little upset that certain muscles were not in the book - such as the pectoralis minor - which in many of my clients have been a major issue. Mine was the 2003 version so this may have been added since. Nevertheless an excellent book for someone starting out. Would still be using it if it wasn't for the Clinical Massage book above, but would add that this book may suffice for the novice, and the above book bought at a later date if you are still practising and just as fascinated with muscles as I am!

 

Julia Lawless (Element)

Again - this is one of many on the market but I thought this has a slight edge on some of them as I liked the way in which the information is presented. I paid about £8 for the book. A must have for the budding aromatherapist and is a very useful companion to use as a reference book as you assess your clients needs. I still refer to it when specific issues are mentioned by a client which lies outside the 'normal' range of ailments. I suppose the only thing I am not too happy with is that the names of the oils are in alphabetical order under their Latin names and not the commonly used names. I know some may say I should learn the Latin but for practical purposes I would have preferred the common names in alphabetical order.

 

 

 

 

Eric Berne (Penguin, London)

An interesting read with a touch of Warriors, Settlers and Nomads - in that it discusses the Parent, Adult and Child in each person i.e. different personalities we use. Personally found it a little slow to read even though a small book, as the explanation of the 'games' were too 'bitty' - that is, it didn't flow. Bought from Amazon.

 

Josie Hadley & Carol Staudacher (New Age Books, New Delhi)

An excellent all rounder especially for someone just starting out in Hypnotherapy. Good examples of inductions and examines all aspects of hypnosis - a must for all students. Bought from Amazon

 

Joseph Murphy (Pocket Books, Simon and Schuster Inc. London)

An amazing read if you have an open mind! Fascinating case studies and facts about the power of the mind. A must read book for all hypnotherapists or those who want to expand their thinking. Bought from Amazon

 

David R Hamilton (Hay House, London)

Bought as part of a bundle of books after listening to one of David's lectures.

A very interesting book with much to consider, though if I were truly honest there were some issues which I found were taken as being 'true' after assumptions had been made. In other words just because something is put forward by an author doesn't automatically make it 'fact' though following text is written as if it was so. A very good read though which certainly makes you think!

 

Brian Roet (Piatkus, London 2000)

An excellent book which is easy reading. A must for those who are new to hypnotherapy. The author has the added benefit of  being a general practitioner.

 

Raphael H Rhodes (Citadel Press New York 1995 - original 1950)

At first I found this book quite 'heavy' to get into, but then found it one of the most interesting so far. I feel like saying it is 'quaint' in that quite a few of the practices mentioned seem 'old-fashioned', yet very interesting techniques are included which I will certainly be attempting to include in my practice.

 

Wyatt Webb ( Hay House, London 2004)

A good read - the five steps mentioned are explained through life stories. A simple straightforward book yet deep and challenging, will be considering using the 5 steps in hypnotherapy sessions.

 

Donald S Connery (Helios Press, New York 2003)

Couldn't put this book down! Excellent reading, great case studies. Refers in the main to work of Herbert Spiegel who developed the Eye Roll and The Hypnotic Induction Profile and much more - a must for all hypnotherapists