Healing Massage: A Simple Approach

A series of brief healing message routines highlight this book. It includes step-by-step and visual instructions for a one-minute foot massage, a three-minute should rub, plus short routines using lotion for back, shoulders, neck and feet. The focus is on massage scenarios that can be realistically incorporated into a nurse's busy schedule. The authors address the role that message can play in facilitating well-being and healing, and offer explanations for the links between thoughts, feelings and stress, and how they affect body tension. Massage is discussed for patients with a variety of health conditions.

Continuing the series designed to encourage nurses to use holistic and integrated approaches to healing people, two massage therapists explain how to give a five-minute massage both to patients and to others in daily life. Most of the text concerns conceptual aspects rather than tactile techniques. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Kenneth B Siegfried, BA(Pace University)
Description:This book is a guide for nurses who wish a hands-on connection with their patients unlike what they learn in most nursing schools. It teaches massage, energy work, and the importance of identifying stressors in their lives as well as the lives of their patients.
Purpose:The purpose is to teach nurses some basic massage techniques that they can incorporate into their daily care. It covers the importance of being tuned into stressors and how massage and positive energy can have a beneficial effect. The book covers a number of basic massage routines that can be done in as little as one minute. Although the benefits of massage are discussed in nursing schools, little if any time is afforded to its practice. For that reason a book for nurses that covers quick and basic massage techniques is a positive contribution to the field. The authors' objectives are thoroughly met as any nurse should be able to follow these routines.
Audience:According to the authors, this book is written for nurses, but this book is useful for anyone providing direct care, from nurse to home healthcare providers to family caregivers. The authors have been practicing massage for over 25 years and have studied under some of the most highly regarded energy workers. Additionally, one of the authors helped to develop a holistic nursing series for a continuing education department.
Features:One of the most useful topics covered in this book is the basic massage routines which nurses can handily incorporate in their work. Other areas of interest include psychoneuroimmunology, conscious thought, and energy work. All these techniques can be learned to give the practitioner a more thorough understanding of stress and ways to alleviate it.
Assessment:Any nurses who are interested in incorporating massage in their practice and would like to learn more about energy work will benefit from this book. Its well-organized approach will give the practitioner a more clear understanding of this healing modality.

Marsha Jelonek Walker became a Registered Massage Therapist in 1980 and began a private practice. In 1992 she received her Masters Degree in Nursing and went on in 1994 to help develop a Holistic Nursing Series for the Continuing Education Department at the University of Texas School of Nursing in Austin. She continues to enjoy her private practice and is on the faculty of the Lauterstein-Conway School of Massage in Austin. In 1997, she became a Certified Holistic Nurse and is now working on her Ph.D. in Holistic Adult Nursing.

Jonathan Walker became a Registered Massage Therapist in 1980 and began a private practice with Marsha Jelonek Walker. In 1994, after practicing and teaching massasge for 14 years, Jonathan received his Master's Degree in Education with a focus on Instructional Design for Learning Technologies. In addition to his continuing interest and involvement in spirituality, healing, and teaching, he has worked as a freelance writer and designer in insutructional media.