Basic Massage Therapy

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't have spent my money better.
Review: This product falls well short of the mark of a good instructional DVD on many levels. The DVD contains basically nothing more than a video recording of a professional giving a massage. A voice-over narration describes in very simple terms what the masseuse is doing. The voice-over is poorly synchronized to the action in some cases, so it's difficult to tell what exactly is being described. It also seems that only two or three camera angles were used during the massage, so occasionally the masseuse or the model's body is blocking the view of the strokes being performed.

The instructional content would have been much better if, in addition to a brief description of basic massage strokes like effleurage and petrissage, a close-up view of that stroke being performed was shown rather than leaving it to the viewer to figure out what's going on.

The DVD presentation would have been much better if there was any attempt made at normal chaptering or time-indexing of the video. It doesn't even make sense that this was put on DVD instead of VHS because the DVD functions exactly like a VCR tape would. No menu, it just starts at the beginning when you put it in the player.

The one bright spot is that the massage depicted is delivered by a person who obviously knows what she is doing, and you can learn a fair amount just by watching. Still, it's not enough to save the product overall.

All in all, my wife summed it up best. When viewing the video she said, "Anyone who as ever received a massage knows this much about it." If that's the case, you might want to just apply the price of the DVD to getting a massage instead.

Rating:
Summary: Just a video of someone giving a massage.
Review: This product falls well short of the mark of a good instructional DVD on many levels. The DVD contains basically nothing more than a video recording of a professional giving a massage. A voice-over narration describes in very simple terms what the masseuse is doing. The voice-over is poorly synchronized to the action in some cases, so it's difficult to tell what exactly is being described. It also seems that only two or three camera angles were used during the massage, so occasionally the masseuse or the model's body is blocking the view of the strokes being performed.

The instructional content would have been much better if, in addition to a brief description of basic massage strokes like effleurage and petrissage, a close-up view of that stroke being performed was shown rather than leaving it to the viewer to figure out what's going on.

The DVD presentation would have been much better if there was any attempt made at normal chaptering or time-indexing of the video. It doesn't even make sense that this was put on DVD instead of VHS because the DVD functions exactly like a VCR tape would. No menu, it just starts at the beginning when you put it in the player.

The one bright spot is that the massage depicted is delivered by a person who obviously knows what she is doing, and you can learn a fair amount just by watching. Still, it's not enough to save the product overall.

All in all, my wife summed it up best. When viewing the video she said, "Anyone who as ever received a massage knows this much about it." If that's the case, you might want to just apply the price of the DVD to getting a massage instead.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the Best Basic Massage Video
Review: This takes you step by step through the basics of learning massage therapy - just as if you were in the class room. I sat through the actual class back in 1996 and I would have loved to have had this tape. I bought this tape so I could use it as a refresher course because I love to give massages to my honey and he loves it so much - it comes back to me in many other ways. (he does dishes almost every night and I don't even have to ask him to grocery shop).... He is VERY appreciative!!!!

I urge you to make this small investment in your relationship and you will reap unbelievable rewards.

It's a very good production and a very good price!

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good information throughout
Review: You can tell the makers of this video went for filling it with useful information rather that fluff. That's what I like in a teaching video.

They use some complicated terms but always explain them while they perform it. It's basically a demonstration massage while the massage is voiced over by the instructor.

Good stuff with good information.