''Massage For Relaxation'' is a 1985 instructional video and was among the first on how to massage another person. The video was produced by Mark Schulze and Patricia Mooney of New & Unique Videos, of

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

Background

Patricia Mooney graduated from the Mueller College of

Massage Massage is the rubbing or kneading of the body's soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet, or a device. The purpose of massage is generally for the treatment of body stress or pa ...

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

as a massage technician in 1981, and subsequently authored several articles in national publications. In 1987 she added additional footage of Self Massage instruction to the 1985 prequel. The film was videotaped and live-switched in a

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studio A studio is a space set aside for creative work of any kind, including art, dance, music and theater. The word ''studio'' is derived from the , from , from ''studere'', meaning to study or zeal. Types Art The studio of any artist, esp ...

with three video cameras, and distributed worldwide on

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and

PAL Phase Alternating Line (PAL) is a color encoding system for analog television. It was one of three major analogue colour television standards, the others being NTSC and SECAM. In most countries it was broadcast at 625 lines, 50 fields (25 ...

videotape formats.

Synopsis

The instructional film shows Cleo (aka Patty Mooney) performing a massage on Maria (aka Maya Campos) using Swedish Oil techniques. Also included are instructions for a Glowing Salt Rub. Massage-abdomen

Release

New & Unique Videos was founded in 1985. That same year, the 45-minute instructional video ''Massage for Relaxation'' was listed in a special interest video Christmas catalog at

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bookstore." Other special interest video distributors carried the title in their catalogs, including Wood Knapp, BFS Limited in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, Instructional Video, Inc., The Learning Annex, and

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. In 2011, New & Unique Videos reissued ''Massage For Relaxation'' in

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format, and made it available for on-demand downloading at video kiosks at

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and

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stores in

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and the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. In 2023, New & Unique Videos released an AI-Enhanced 4K version of ''Massage For Relaxation'' which can be viewed at Vimeo on Demand.

Recognition

Awards and nominations

In 1985, the film won an International Television Association (ITVA) Video Medallion Award.

Reception

In July 1995, P.J. Birosik of ''

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'' magazine noted the 1985 ITVA award and commented that the video had a "soothing score" making it "easy to relax while learning how to massage oneself or another." He noted also that through closeup shots the demonstrations were clear and the proffered techniques of massage and salt rub were easy to learn. In September 1988, ''

Billboard Magazine ''Billboard'' (stylized in lowercase since 2013) is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events and styles related to th ...

'' wrote that while "Everyone enjoys a good massage", "the difficult part is getting someone to give you one," noting "Briskly paced and modestly priced, this program just may make a dent in the sell-through market." ''

Vegetarian Times ''Vegetarian Times'' is an American publication focused on food, culture, health and lifestyle for vegetarians, vegans, and all people interested in plant-based eating. ''Vegetarian Times'' promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle with recipes, and he ...

'' wrote that after a hard workout, a massage is always welcome, and noted the instruction available through the film. ''Total Health Magazine'' found the video to be unique in that it "is both instructional for someone learning to be a masseur and instructor Cleo demonstrates how to give yourself a massage. Techniques are plainly shown how to relieve tension in neck, shoulders, back, hips, chest, abdomen, legs, arms, feet, face and head". ''Health Foods Business'' wrote in 1988 that while the benefits of massage might be obtainable "from the hands of a trained and certified pro," decent massage can be done by amateurs who use some of the available "books and video cassettes which, while not a substitute for a massage therapy course, can help the nonprofessional acquire some skills for home use." They noted that ''Massage For Relaxation'', put together in 1985 by trained masseuse and frequently published author Patricia Mooney, is one such video and that it contained "a 15-minute section on self-massage." The ''Video Rating Guide for Libraries'' wrote that while the video's cover jacket was "attractive and provocative", it was an otherwise "highly professional, nonpornographic treatment of whole body massage," noting that the camera angles and detail work presented an "excellent focus on various techniques of massage", and that the benefits of whole body massage were featured with "emphasis placed on relieving pain and enhancing digestion." They made special note of the video including detailed explanation of self-massage techniques, and that the instructor's demonstrations of a wide variety of techniques would be "especially useful for novices".

References

Certificate of Copyright Registration,

United States Copyright Office The United States Copyright Office (USCO), a part of the Library of Congress, is a United States government body that registers copyright claims, records information about copyright ownership, provides information to the public, and assists ...

, Registration Number PA 257 263, June 17, 1985 "Self Massage: How to Rub Pain and Stress Away," by Patricia Kathryn Mooney, Beauty Digest, May 1984, p.10 "The Unique Art of Massage," by Pat Mooney, Bestways, November 1983, p.40 "Massage Giving America A Helping Hand," by Paul Bubny, Health Foods Business, September 1988, p.53 "Couple's Videos are New & Unique," by Manny Cruz,

San Diego Daily Transcript The ''San Diego Daily Transcript'', also known as ''The Daily Transcript'', is an online newspaper covering business news in and around San Diego, California. Its print origins date to 1882, when it was called the ''National City Record''; it took ...

, December 10, 1992 Wood Knapp's Special Interest Video Catalog, Fall 1992 Wood Knapp's Special Interest Video Catalog, Holiday 1992, p.27 Videos & Reviews Reference & Special Interest Video Catalog 1993–94, p.190 The Learning Annex, Summer 1989 {{cite news , title=Video rating guide for libraries, Volume 1, Issues 1–2 , year=1990 , publisher= ABC-CLIO , pages=84

External links

''Massage for Relaxation''
at

Allmovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, television series, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was ...

''Massage for Relaxation''
at New & Unique Videos website
''Massage for Relaxation''
at

Vimeo Vimeo ( ) is an American Online video platform, video hosting, sharing, and services provider founded in 2004 and headquartered in New York City. Vimeo focuses on the delivery of high-definition video across a range of devices and operates on a ...

1985 films American independent films Massage Films shot in San Diego 1980s English-language films 1980s American films