Section 0  Administrivia and Acknowledgements
        Section 1  General Questions
        Section 2  Basics of Massage
        Section 3  Novice Questions
        Section 4  Professional Massage
        Section 5  Other Sources of Information
        Section 6  There is *no* section 6!

        Each category is in a separate posting.  Each posting includes a
brief list of the questions answered in it.  This posting contains all the
questions in section 0 and a detailed table of contents for all the
postings.

------------------------------

        Each question begins with `Subject:' on a line of its own.  Users
with suitably equipped newsreaders can automatically skip to the start of
the next section, e.g. trn will display the start of the section when you
press ^G (control-G).  Of course if your newsreader doesn't do this
automatically, you can still use a search command to find the next question.
        To find the answer to question 0.2 search for a line beginning with
`Q0.2)', there will be only one.

Here is the list of questions in all the categories:
  Section 0: Administrivia and Acknowledgements
    0.1)  Where can I get a recent copy of this document?
    0.2)  Whom should I flame for anything I don't like about this FAQL?
    0.3)  What is on the To Do list?
     0.3 a) What projects are up for grabs?
     0.3 b) What projects are people working on now?
  * 0.4)  Recent changes to this list
    0.5)  Acknowledgements
    0.6)  Disclaimer
    0.7)  Notice of copyright
  Section 1: General Questions
    1.1)  What is alt.backrubs about?
    1.2)  I have a question not answered here.  Should I post?
    1.3)  What does this acronym stand for?
     1.3 a) alt.backrubs acronyms
     1.3 b) organizations
     1.3 c) other acronyms and abbreviations
     1.3 d) `Please, sir, I want some more.'
    1.4)  Help! I'm new to this whole Usenet/'net thing
    1.5)  What must I know about anonymous posts?
    1.6)  What should I do about 'net abuse (spams, scams and ads)?
    1.7)  Does anyone discuss anything here anymore?
  Section 2: Basics of Massage
    2.1)  What is massage?  What is bodywork and how do they differ?
    2.2)  What are some examples of massage, bodywork & related therapies?
     2.2 a) Swedish
     2.2 b) Shiatsu
     2.2 c) Reflexology
     2.2 d) Aromatherapy
     2.2 e) On-site massage
     2.2 f) Erotic massage
     2.2 g) Trigger point and Myotherapy
     2.2 h) Polarity
     2.2 i) Myofascial release
     2.2 j) Craniosacral
     2.2 k) Reiki
     2.2 l) Trager
     2.2 m) Hakomi
     2.2 n) Jim Shin Do
     2.2 o) Neuromuscular therapy 
     2.2 p) Pfrimmer deep muscle therapy
     2.2 q) Rolfing [coming soon?]
     2.2 r) Alexander
     2.2 s) Feldenkreis
     2.2 t) Hellerwork
     2.2 u) others
    2.3)  Where can I read about massage techniques?
    2.4)  Is massage a sexual technique?
    2.5)  Could I hurt anyone if I do something wrong?
    2.6)  What does this technical term mean?
  Section 3: Novice Questions
    3.1)  How should I start?
    3.2)  Where can I find people to give/receive massages? [See also 4.3]
    3.3)  What can I do about ticklishness?
    3.4)  What oil should I use?
    3.5)  How can I get oils?
    3.6)  Is there anything I can do about my tired hands?
  Section 4: Professional Massage
    4.1)  What about licencing, certification and professional training?
     4.1 a) Books, magazines and other resource guides
     4.1 b) What are the AMTA and the ABMP?
    4.2)  Professional issues 
     4.2 a) What's in the archive?
     4.2 b) Emotional response considerations
    4.3)  Finding a good professional massage
     4.3 a) How can I tell what I'll get before I get there?
     4.3 b) How can I tell how competent a MT is before I pay them?
     4.3 c) What referral services can I call upon for recommendations?
    4.4)  Advice for a recipient of professional massage
    4.5)  How much will it cost?  Should I tip?  Can I get it cheaper?
    4.6)  I've got the following symptoms.  What do you advise?
  Section 5: Other Network Sources of Information
    5.1) Other Frequent Postings to alt.backrubs
     5.1.1) The [extinct] backrubs exchange
     5.1.2) The alt.backrubs archive
     5.1.3) The World Wide Web version of the alt.backrubs FAQL
    5.2) Other Network Resources
      5.2.1) Reference: Frequent postings to other newsgroups
       5.2.1 a) List of Medical FAQLs
       5.2.1 b) Stretching and Flexibility FAQL
       5.2.1 c) Typing Injuries FAQL
      5.2.2) Reference: Other archives and collections
       5.2.2 a) Sunsite Alternative Healthcare Collection 
       5.2.2 b) Internet/Bitnet Health Sciences Resources
       5.2.2 c) Internet Resources on Alternative Medicine
       5.2.2 d) Acu-Ki Institute
      5.2.3) Reference: World Wide Web Sites
       5.2.3 a) A basic guide to Aromatherapy
       5.2.3 b) The Center for Reiki Training
       5.2.3 c) Complementary Medicine WWW Page
       5.2.3 d) Aesclepian Chronicles
       5.2.3 e) The OrMed Mailing List WWW Page
       5.2.3 f) An Illustrated Guide to Muscles & Medical Massage ...
       5.2.3 g) Where is the archive for newsgroup X?
      5.2.4) Discussion: Newsgroups, mailing-lists and gateways
       5.2.4 a) misc.health.alternative newsgroup
       5.2.4 b) BODYWORK mailing-list
       5.2.4 c) PARACELSUS mailing-list
       5.2.4 d) pdax.services.massage newsgroup
       5.2.4 e) alt.med.fibromyalgia newsgroup / FIBROM-L mailing-list
       5.2.4 f) tuite mailing-list
       5.2.4 g) aromatherapy mailing-list
       5.2.4 h) alt.folklore.herbs newsgroup
       5.2.4 i) alt.aromatherapy newsgroup
       5.2.4 j) SOREHAND mailing-list
       5.2.4 k) iu610-L mailing-list
       5.2.4 l) alt.reiki newsgroup
       5.2.4 m) alt.health.massage-therapy newsgroup
       5.2.4 n) More lists
      5.2.5) Discussion: Other groups (not Usenet, not mailing lists)
       5.2.5 a) BODYWORK Fidonet echo
       5.2.5 b) Compuserve Massage and Bodywork Forum
       5.2.5 c) Massagenet
      5.2.6) Miscellaneous: Network resources
       5.2.6 a) How to find the right place to post FAQL
       5.2.6 b) news.groups.questions newsgroup
       5.2.6 c) Usenet Info Center (the `Bible of Usenet')
       5.2.6 d) Where is the archive for newsgroup X?
       5.2.6 e) The Internet by E-Mail FAQL
      5.2.7) Miscellaneous: Major lists of Internet and Usenet resources
       5.2.7 a) Scott Yanoff's Updated Internet Services List
       5.2.7 b) List of Periodic Informational Postings
       5.2.7 c) Publicly Accessible Mailing Lists

  Questions that have been added or updated recently have a * before 
their number above.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 0 -- Administrivia and Acknowledgements

Subject: Where can I get a recent copy of this document?
Q0.1)   The most recent version of this multi-part frequently asked
questions list (FAQL) is posted to the Usenet newsgroups alt.backrubs,
alt.answers and news.answers every 14 days.
        Copies of major releases of this FAQL are kept in the alt.backrubs
archive (see question 5.1.2).  The news.answers version of this FAQL can be
obtained via anonymous FTP from the rtfm.mit.edu site in directory
`/pub/usenet-by-group/alt.backrubs/' or
`/pub/usenet/alt.answers/backrubs/faq'
(<URL:ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/alt.backrubs/> or
<URL:ftp:///pub/usenet/alt.answers/backrubs/faq> in the standard notation).  
Only if you cannot use anonymous FTP should you retrieve it by sending
email to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the command
  send usenet/alt.answers/backrubs/faq/*
in the message.  See question 5.2 for more details.
        Please note that this document has been produced for free
distribution.  You should not have to pay anyone to obtain a copy.

        Kjartan Clausen <kjartan@ii.uib.no> has created a WWW version
of this FAQL.  It is at <URL:http://www.ii.uib.no/~kjartan/backrubfaq/>.
Note that that version might not always be in sync with this version, but I
encourage you to use it anyway.