Reviewed by John Hammond in Manual Therapy, Vol II, Issue 2, May 2006
John Hammond is on the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences, St George’s, University of London, Kingston University, UK
“I was pleased to be asked to review this text as I was looking for a helpful up-to-date manual fro my own practice and as a reference for students. I found it very easy to read and as the author and forewords from Robert Schleip and Peter O’Reilly suggest it is a useful manual for the application of myofascial techniques. There are particularly clear instructions on “how to” with headings to guide therapist and client positioning, the direction and type of technique.”
Reviewed in Dynamic Chiropractic
April 9, 2005, Volume 23, Issue 08 by Jeffrey Kintish, DC USA
“Michael Stanborough, a respected faculty member of the international Rolf Institute, has done well in presenting his deep-tissue methods in a short, deliberate text oriented toward the treatment of children and adults. Throughout this text are demonstrations in black-and-white photos of a patient and therapist in the proper setup positions. Each section of the body is represented and referenced, along with a brief explanation of contact, direction, technique, method, and comments regarding the area engaged. Although this book offers an excellent pictorial representation for this method, I believe this work would be delivered best in a DVD/VHS format. I rate it 9.5 out of 10.”
Reviewed in Structural Integration: The Journal of the Rolf Institute Dec 2004by Monica Caspari, Faculty, Rolf Institute®, Certified Advanced Rolfer. Brazil.
"Michael Stanborough’s Direct Release Myofascial Technique: An Illustrated Guide is a marvelous technical manual for Rolfers and other structural integrators and somatic practitioners who want to use direct deep tissue release as a therapeutic intervention.
Stanborough’s book teaches now to make the most out of the direct release myofascial techniques while still elegantly respecting the client;s rhythm and boundaries. What he teaches is something very different from “fascia mascia.”
...a clear, no-nonsense step-by-step description...with abundant illustrations, it is virtually impossible not to understand what is taught.
As the saying goes “one must know the magic to perform the magic.” Michael Stanborough teaches the “magic words.”
Direct Release Myofascial Technique is a worthy investment for the professional library of the the student, the beginner and the experienced practitioner alike."
Erdem Huner PT, York Physiotherapy Associates, Ontario. FCAMT.
"The picture and sound quality are excellent and as good or better than other clinical DVDs series that I have in my collection. Any manual therapist, regardless of background, will be able to quickly integrate the demonstrated techniques with great success into their treatments. All in all I am very pleased with the DVDs and find them extremely useful as a detailed supplement to the book. For example, I didn't realize how just how slow the passes/movements were on many of the releases until I viewed the DVDs."
Ray Simmich, MT and massage teacher, Queensland TAFE, Australia
"I have been involved with massage for 6 years. And during this time I have followed a range of massage modalities to find what suits my understanding to form an opinion that sits well with me and my clients. I have found the myofascial DVDs, coupled with the book to be the best aid in obtaining a gentle and extremely effective technique that suits over 90% of my clients."
Sue Mirkin, MSc, Physiotherapist. New Zealand.
"Direct Release Myofascial Technique: An Illustrated Guide for Practitioners is a delectably well-written initiation into a powerful and potentially profound method of treatment. Stanborough artfully weaves the related threads of 'technique', 'practitioner' and 'client' into a composition that is both pleasing and succinct. This book is invaluable to those who want to learn more about using their hands, and perhaps their souls as well."
Claudius Nestvogel, MA, Certified Rolfer®, Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner®, Rolfing Movement Practitioner, Focusing Therapist. Germany.
"The DVDs by Michael Stanborough are an excellent introduction into this form of myofascial work. He presents a wide scope of useful and effective techniques. The DVDs and his wonderful book compliment each other perfectly. Although Michael Stanborough has taken great pains to describe the techniques in adequate and precise words, watching him demonstrating them on the DVDs opens a whole new perspective. I especially like the quiet, clear and unpretentious way Michael id presenting his material, conveying an atmosphere of respect and receptivity matching the deep physical contact with the client. The DVDs are especially useful for aspiring Rolfing trainees as it gives a basic vocabulary of techniques one can build on."
Kirsty Elliott, MT, BA (hons.), Dip Ed (Melbourne Uni.). Former Senior Editor at Harcourt Education. Teacher in Professional Writing at RMIT, Melbourne.
"Michael Stanborough is a rare beast; an exceptional and world-renowned therapist and a communicator of distinction. In this invaluable book, he communicates powerfully with the reader on many levels, just as a truly effective therapist does with his or her clients. I keep returning to this book. It has a personality, thoroughness and depth rare in texts for practitioners."
Liz Stewart, Teacher of Rolf Method of Structural Integration. Boulder, Colorado.
"The benefits of looking over Michael's shoulder as he performs and explains his work are invaluable. And being able to watch them over and over, at any time, to learn or simply to refresh one's memory, is as good as any live seminar. The DVDs opened my eyes, once again, to how stimulating it is to see other new approaches to working with fascia. In fact, I loved them!"
Dr. Herbert Grassmann, Cert. Hakomi Therapist, Advanced Guild Practitioner and TraumaTherapist in Germany. Founder of SKT® and TraumaSomatics®.
"I love the book and watching the dvd`s. Even Michael Stanborough doesn`t mention exclusively Ida Rolfs methode, which is also known as the “recipe”, he is demonstrating the ideas of structural integration perfectly. The way he teaches the techniques shows also a lot of respect for the client. In this way it is obvious, that beside all the techniques the communication skills are important."
Alfred Hatermink (reviewed at Amazon.com)
"My wish has come true, the author has released a set of DVD on the techniques. Great resource. Excellent resource to add to your deep tissue book & video collection."