Massage therapy : what it is and how it works / Steven Schenkman.

Section I. Massage Therapy: What It Is -- 1. Introduction to the Three Paradigms Practice -- 2. First Paradigm - Relaxation and Stress Reduction -- 3. Second Paradigm - Remediation, Therapy and Relief -- 4. Third Paradigm - Holistic - Integration -- Section II. Massage Therapy: How it Works -- 5. Overview of the History and Evolution of Massage Therapy -- 6. The Continuum of the Four Massage Therapy and Bodywork Levels -- 7. The Somatic Level of the Massage Therapy and Bodywork -- 8. Somato-Psychic Layer of the Massage Therapy and Bodywork -- 9. The Bioenergetic Layer of the Massage Therapy and Bodywork -- 10. The Energetic Layer of the Massage Therapy and Bodywork -- 11. Practice Settings: A Day in the Life of a Massage Therapist -- 12. Massage Therapy within the Larger Healthcare/Well Being Team.

"Massage Therapy: What It Is and How It Works is a unique text whose primary purpose is to define and describe the depth, scope and universe of practice of this rapidly expanding profession. The first four chapters of this resource present a new and important discussion, entitled "The Three Paradigms," that explains a continuum of practice beginning at the most basic levels of touch, leading to the most advanced levels of holistic care. These chapters also include sixteen interesting and relevant case histories that showcase, demonstrate, and differentiate practice by first-, second-, and third-paradigm practitioners. Also discussed in these chapters is another new concept that introduces and explores the idea of three levels of competence."--Publisher's website.