A bill, sponsored by Senator Hammond, will be introduced in the Idaho Senate early next week. If passed, the bill would require massage therapists to become licensed by the state and establish a Board of Massage Therapy to implement the process.

The bill would set minimum training requirements, define a scope of practice, provide an avenue for consumer complaint, and pre-empt local regulations.

Generous grandfathering requirements for current practitioners

For a period of two years, existing practitioners would be able to qualify for a state license by meeting one of the following criteria:

1. Has completed a massage program consisting of a minimum of 500 hours; or
2. Has completed a massage program of at least 300 hours and has practiced massage for at least 5 hours a week for a period of 3 years; or
3. Has completed a massage program of at least 200 hours and has practiced massage for at least 5 hours a week for a period of 5 years; or
4. Has been an active member of a national massage therapist association (such as ABMP) which provides professional liability insurance for at least a year; or
5. Has passed an examination approved by the board.

After two years, all applicants would have to demonstrate they have completed a massage program consisting of at least 500 hours and passed an examination approved by the board.

Several practices would be exempt from licensure as long as practitioners do not practice, or advertise that they practice massage therapy, including: reflexology, movement education (Feldenkrais, Trager, and Body-Mind Centering), energy work (Reiki, Shiatsu, Asian Bodywork, Polarity), structural integration (Rolfing and Hellerwork).

ABMP is supportive of the bill.

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House Bill 2126, sponsored by Representative Matt W. Windschitl (R-District 56), is described as “an act relating to the education requirements of massage therapists.” The bill as currently drafted eliminates the education requirements for Iowa massage licensing; however, ABMP has learned that the current form of the bill is a draft and that the intent is to replace the education hours requirement (currently at 600) with language that would identify credits or competencies as the educational requirements.

ABMP has been in contact with the bill sponsor; he is receptive to working with ABMP on the bill.

The rationale behind replacing hours with credits or competencies is to maintain United States Department of Education (USDE) Title IV funding eligibility for massage therapy programs. The federal Program Integrity regulations adopted in 2011 change the funding calculations for programs, and in particular stipulate that any profession whose licensing education requirements are measured in clock hours (v. credit hours) will receive funding based on a clock hour formula. This has the potential to reduce the amount of Pell Grant money available for a 600-hour massage program.

While not entirely clear at this point, it appears that this bill is seeking to change the requirements in order for programs to maintain maximum funding eligibility.

ABMP has not taken a position on the bill, since it has been acknowledged as incomplete as written. However, in general ABMP does not support altering practice qualifications simply to meet economic concerns, and will not support legislation that would result in increasing the cost of massage therapy training.

Updates on the bill can be found at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/index.aspx by searching for HF 2126.

Representative Windschitl can be reached by visiting https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/legislator.aspx?GA=84&PID=6483

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House Bill 2564, which has been introduced in the Kansas Legislature, would require massage therapists to become licensed for the purpose of protecting the public and ensuring that the standards of practice in the field are protected and preserved.  If passed, the bill would require massage therapists to become licensed by the state under the Kansas Board of Healing Arts (Board), and would establish a Massage Therapy Advisory Council to advise the Board in carrying out the provisions of the Act.

House Bill 2564 would set minimum training requirements, define a scope of practice, stop any efforts by other fields to control the future of massage therapy, provide an avenue for consumer complaints, and pre-empt local regulations.

Generous Grandfathering Requirements for Current Massage Therapists:  For a period of two years, existing practitioners would be able to qualify for a state license by meeting one of the following criteria:

1. Has completed a massage program consisting of a minimum 500 hours; or
2. Has completed a massage program of at least 300 hours and has practiced massage for a period of 3 years; or
3. Has practiced massage for at least 5 years prior to the date of application; or
4. Has been an active member of a  national massage therapist association (such as ABMP) which provides professional liability insurance for at least a year; or
5. Has passed a nationally recognized examination approved by the board.

After two years, all new applicants will have to demonstrate they have completed a massage program consisting of at least 500 hours and passed an examination approved by the board.

Several practices would be exempt from licensure as long as practitioners do not practice, or advertise that they practice massage therapy, including: reflexology, movement educators (Feldenkrais, Trager, and Body-Mind Centering), energy work (Reiki, Shiatsu, Asian Bodywork, Polarity), structural integrators (Rolfing and Hellerwork). 

The licensing fee would be no more than $80 per year and continuing education requirements would be limited to no more than 6 hours per year. Massage therapists would be required to carry professional liability insurance (required for all health professionals regulated under the Board).

A copy of House Bill 2564 can be found at:  House Bill 2564: Massage Therapy Licensure

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In 2012, ABMP celebrates its silver anniversary. We’ve proudly served the massage and bodywork profession for 25 years. We want you to share in the celebration! Starting in January, we’ll conduct a random drawing every two weeks—including everyone who renewed or upgraded their ABMP Practitioner, Professional, or Certified membership during that time—and we’ll refund their membership fees paid for the year.

Yes! If your name is selected, we’ll cut you a check for 100% of the membership dues you just paid. By year’s end, we’ll have 25 members celebrating our 25th anniversary and enjoying a free membership.

(Actually 26 members will win—thanks to the way the calendar falls—but that’s OK. You’ve come to expectmore from ABMP.)

Winning members can share their stories of success and portraits, and help inspire other members of our ABMP family.

Good luck! And Happy Anniversary!

Renew now.

House bill 2387, sponsored by Representative McCormick, would change the administrative department overseeing the massage regulatory program. On page 5 of the bill, Sections 11 and 12 would relocate Title 63-18, which is the Massage Licensure Act of 1995, from the Department of Health Related Boards (DHRB) to the Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI). 

The Department of Health Related Boards currently oversees all health professions while the Department of Commerce and Insurance oversees other professional licensing programs such as: electricians, plumbers, and real estate agents.

Massage therapy is a health profession. The current administrative oversight of DHRB has worked since the state first began licensing massage therapists; there is no reason to change what is working. The massage licensure board is self-funded from licensure fees so the proposed move would not save tax dollars, streamline state government, or reduce duplication of efforts. In fact, a change in administrative oversight would require an application and process shift to conform to a new department. There has been no reason given as to why the sponsors of this bill feel an oversight change is even needed.

ABMP is opposed to this section of HB 2387 and encourages members to contact the sponsor of the bill and their own state representatives and tell them you are opposed to Sections 11 and 12 of HB 2387. Contact them by email or phone or both.

The sponsor of HB 2387 is Representative Gerald McCormick, he can be reached at 615-741-2548 or rep.gerald.mccormick@capitol.tn.gov

The same bill on the Senate side of the General Assembly is SB 2249, sponsored by Senator Norris and Senator Bell.

Senator Mark Norris, sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov or 615-741-1967

Senator Mike Bell, sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.go or 615-741-1946

Find your state legislator by going to http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/

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House Bill 543 was introduced on January 11, 2012. As proposed, the bill would amend several different Virginia laws, including the regulation of massage therapists. Massage therapy is currently a certified profession under the Board of Nursing. The certification includes title protection but not a well-defined scope of practice. HB 543 would define the scope of practice for massage therapists and create a mandatory practice act. Anyone practicing massage therapy would have to be licensed by the State Board of Nursing.

Current state certified massage therapists in good standing would not be affected and would automatically be licensed by the board.

The requirements for licensure would be the same as the current certification requirements except that the Board would accept the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (http://www.fsmtb.org/)  in addition to the exams offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

HB 543 provides an exemption for modalities intended to affect the human energy field.

ABMP has contacted the sponsor of the bill and the AMTA Virginia chapter, who has backed the bill, with two concerns we have with the current version of the bill.

• Modalities often exempt from massage therapy regulation, such as practitioners providing movement re-education, structural integrators, and reflexologists, are currently not included in the exemptions.
• The current version of the bill does not include a pre-emption clause eliminating the local regulation of massage therapists. If massage therapists are regulated at the state level, there is no need to regulate practitioners at the local level.

We hope to hear soon whether an amendment will address ABMP concerns.

HB 543 has been assigned to the House Committee of Health, Welfare and Institutions where it was assigned to Subcommittee #2. The bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.  ABMP supports HB 543 (with amendments addressing our concerns) and will keep our members posted as to its progress through the General Assembly.

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Sponsored by Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini , Assembly Bill 456 proposes to regulate massage and bodywork therapy advertisements. If passed, any advertisement for massage and bodywork therapies must contain the telephone number for the New Jersey Human Trafficking Hotline, as well as the registration number of the advertising business or therapist.

ABMP does not take issue with requiring a registration number on advertising, but we oppose the requirement for the inclusion of the New Jersey Human Trafficking Hotline. While ABMP believes that human trafficking is abhorrent, an advertisement for massage or bodywork services is not an appropriate place to require the listing of a human trafficking hotline. Massage therapy regulation should serve the goal of regulating the profession and insuring the health and safety of the public. Mandating the inclusion of a human trafficking hotline on advertisements oversteps these goals, moving into the area of law enforcement, and creates an unacceptable link between massage therapy and prostitution.

Introduced on January 10, 2012, A456 has been assigned to the Regulated Professions Committee. ABMP will be providing updates as they become available.

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) is excited to continue the COMPLIMENTARY webinar series with Thomas Myers, author of Anatomy Trains. Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians is a revolutionary new way of understanding the body’s myofascial patterning.

In the first webinar of the series, Myers overviewed the process of BodyReading: how it works in practice and how to get started in making useful assessments. In the remaining webinars, we will go through the Anatomy Trains line by line, teasing out the details as well as the larger patterns and meaning within each line. If you missed the first part of the series, you can review the recorded versions in the ABMP webinar archive by going to www.abmp.com and clicking on the Online Education Center.

Previous experience with the Anatomy Trains book or website, or the accompanying “BodyReading the Meridians” articles in the Massage & Bodywork magazine are helpful, but not required.

> Register Now!

Clients with complex medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer need special care, starting with the interview. These clients (either real or hypothetical) are commonly seen in student clinics, pathology, massage technique, and special population courses. It can be challenging for student massage therapists to interview them, and then to link the interview to specific massage contraindications. In this webinar, Tracy Walton provides five simple lines of interview questions to use with a wide range of client presentations. Strengthen your students’ interview skills and their ability to work safely with a broad client base. 

> Register Now! 

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Introduced on January 11, 2012, Senate Bill 6104 would grant the secretary of health the authority to inspect massage business establishments during business hours. If the secretary is denied access, it may apply for a warrant authorizing access.

ABMP is in communication with Senators Keiser, Fraser, and Kline, the bill’s sponsors, to advocate for language that would limit the secretary’s authority to inspect establishments only if a complaint is received.

The bill is assigned to be heard by the Committee on Health & Long-Term Care on January 25 at 8:00 a.m. and we will provide updates as they are available.

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A public hearing will be held to receive comments on the proposed rules that will implement the Massage Therapy Licensing Act which was signed into law on January 9, 2009. The law requires the licensure of massage therapists and the proposed rules will establish the requirements for this licensure of massage therapists. In addition, the proposed rules will establish requirements for a supervised curriculum; adopt examinations for massage therapists; clarify what constitutes prohibited conduct for massage therapists; clarify what constitutes false or misleading advertising, and establish requirements for client records.

Please take a moment to read the proposed rules as they will affect your practice. Of significant consequence to practitioners are the following sections: grandfathering requirements (highlighted on page 3, Rule 11), prohibited conduct (highlighted on page 7, Rule 23), and client records (highlighted on page 9, Rule 27). It is also important to note that rules regarding continuing education requirements for renewal will be drafted at a later date.

You are not required to comment, however, if so inclined, comments on the proposed rules may be presented in person at the public hearing on Monday, March 5, 2012, starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Ottawa Building, 611 West Ottawa, Conference Room 3, Upper Level, Lansing, Michigan.

Recognizing that many Individuals will not be able to attend the meeting, written comments may also be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on March 7, 2012, at the following address or e-mail address:
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Health Professions – Massage Therapy Rules Public Hearing
P.O. Box 30670
Lansing, MI 48909-8170
Attention: Desmond Mitchell, Policy Analyst
E-mail address: mitchelld6@michigan.gov

ABMP members may expect to see another update after the meeting on March 5^th.

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Unraveling the Mystery of Cervical Pain with Ben Benjamin

Cervical pain is one of the most debilitating injuries a person can experience. At least 50 million people suffer from neck pain in their lifetime. Most therapists find working with this condition both frustrating and difficult. Neck injuries not only cause pain in the neck, but in the upper back, arm, and hand as well. Dr. Benjamin will explore six ligament sprains that can cause everything from neck and arm pain to severe headache-like pain coming from the neck. He will teach the relevant anatomy, assessment, and treatment techniques and the crucial factors to consider when working with this challenging pain condition.

Register Now!

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Introduced on January 4, 2012, Senate Bill 10 would require a license to practice massage therapy in Indiana. Currently, although Indiana’s certification system provides that only certified massage therapists may use the phrase “massage therapy” to advertise or market the services they provide, certification is not required to practice massage therapy. If SB 10 passes, only licensed massage therapists would be allowed to practice massage therapy.

The bill provides that anyone who is already certified as a massage therapist will automatically be considered a licensed massage therapist on the effective date of the bill. For those not certified prior to the effective date of the bill, the requirements for licensure will be the same as for certification, which are as follows:

• 18 years or older
• Have a high school diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma
• Has successfully completed a massage therapy program from an approved school with at least 500 hours
• Has passed either MBLEx or a national certification exam
• Has a satisfactory criminal history background check

In addition to making licensure mandatory to practice massage therapy, SB 10 would preempt existing local government massage therapy licensing ordinances, as well as prohibit the passage of new ones. The bill would also clarify that it does not apply to health care providers who are licensed under other provisions.  

SB 10 was assigned to the Committee on Health and Provider Services and has not yet been calendared for a hearing.  ABMP supports SB 10 and will keep our members posted as to its progress through the General Assembly.

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Intended to strengthen public protection against the unlicensed practice of massage therapy, Senate Bill 6072 proposes several changes to the laws governing massage therapy licensure.

Currently, it is a class E felony to practice massage therapy without a license or to employ three or more unlicensed individuals to practice massage therapy in New York state.  Senate Bill 6072 would make it a Class E felony to hire just one unlicensed individual to practice massage therapy. If Senate Bill 6072 passes, any entity found to have hired an unlicensed individual to practice massage therapy is subject to an immediate audit by the New York state department of taxation and finance.

Also, the definition of the scope of practice for massage therapy has been expanded and clarified, which in turn, expands and clarifies what activities and modalities are illegal if practiced by an unlicensed individual.   This proposed definition includes “body work, body rub, foot work, foot massage, foot rub, neck rub, neck massage, Swedish, deep tissue, tui na shiatsu, reflexology, myofascial release, manual lymphatic drainage, sports massage, cranial sacral therapy and polarity therapy.”

The bill would also give local municipalities the authority to issue permits to licensed massage therapists to provide massage therapy services in parks and street fairs.

ABMP is supportive of the bill and will keep members informed of activity related to the bill.

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ABMP is proud to sponsor EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week every July. During this event, ABMP members give their time, money, and effort to help those less fortunate, while raising the profession’s visibility. In 2007, the program won a silver award from the Colorado Healthcare Communicators for its overall excellence. The 2012 EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week will be held July 15-21, 2012. Massage therapists can order free materials from 877-208-7546.

In this community effort, ABMP encourages and supports members in donating time to such community-spirited activities as offering complimentary massages while collecting cash or canned-food donations to charity. Other efforts include making special offers and discounts to senior citizens, students, police and firefighters, as well as charity telethon work and health fair participation.

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On January 5, 2012, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted to defeat HB 446. The bill would have changed the mandatory licensing of several professions, including massage therapists and bodyworkers, to voluntary “licensing.” ABMP was opposed to the bill.

ABMP thanks members who contacted, or met with, state representatives and asked them to vote “no” on HB 446. We believe this successful outcome is a testament to the importance of legislators hearing from their constituents.

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On October 27, 2011, the House Committee of Executive Departments and Administration voted (by a very narrow margin) to pass an amended version of HB 446. If passed by the full legislature, the bill would amend the current mandatory licensing programs for several professions (including massage therapy) and make “licensing” voluntary.  The next step in the process occurs on January 4^th, 2012, when HB 446 will be voted on by the House of Representatives.

Please contact your representative and ask them to vote “no” on HB 446.

If you don’t know who your representative is, go to http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/wml.aspx

Why vote no?

The massage and bodywork professions have been regulated in New Hampshire since 1980. The current licensing law sets entry-level standards for education and provides an avenue for consumer complaint.

Consumers can, and do, hire the provider of their choice. With state regulation, they can at least be assured that the provider of their choice is trained in the profession and has met minimum entry-level requirements. Setting entry-level education standards for a health profession is not discouraging entrepreneurs, it’s protecting the public from untrained individuals.

Given the nature and the physical environment during a massage therapy treatment session, a power differential exists and vulnerability is inherent.  The risk of potential harm is escalated in a profession where the client is typically unclothed but appropriately draped by a trained professional.

While voluntary licensing may seem like a good compromise from the original intention of the bill sponsor to eliminate licensing all together – it will only serve to confuse consumers and practitioners alike. Only 5 states have had voluntary regulatory programs for massage therapists. Two have changed their voluntary acts to mandatory practice acts (New Jersey and Wisconsin), two (Indiana and Virginia) will be considering a change in 2012, and it’s likely that the one remaining state (California) will eventually do the same. Voluntary regulation is simply confusing and fails to protect the public from untrained individuals.

ABMP is opposed to the bill. Voluntary regulation does not work. Please take a minute to email your representatives and voice your opposition to HB 446.

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Effective January 1, 2012, massage therapists practicing under his/her New York license must take continuing education. You are now required to complete 36 hours of acceptable formal continuing education during each three-year registration period.

Practitioners renewing their licenses in the next three years (2012-2015) will have to complete continuing education hours at the rate of one hour of acceptable formal continuing education per month. For example, if you are due to renew in June 2012, you’ll have to take 6 hours of continuing education in order to renew.

We strongly suggest you read through the Questions and Answers for Massage Therapists on the Board’s website, including a chart that clarifies how many hours of continuing education will be required for your renewal date .

You are not required to take continuing education during the three-year registration period in which you are first licensed. So if you just took the New York State Massage Therapy Exam and received your license within the last couple years, you aren’t required to complete continuing education in order to renew for the first time.

Please review detailed information about approved subject matter and approved sponsors of acceptable continuing education at http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/mt/mtcenotice.htm.

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> Report online scams.

Internet Scams Target Massage Therapists
Please note! ABMP has received several reports reporting this scam. Be aware!

Massage therapists are now on the receiving end of a variation of an online con. Here’s how it works: An out-of-town “client” contacts a practitioner via e-mail wanting to schedule appointments for a time in the future when he/she will be visiting the area. The appointments and times are scheduled. Shortly thereafter, the practitioner receives a cashier’s check for these services, but it’s generally for much more than the originally agreed upon price. The alleged client or a secretary of the client contacts the therapist, explains the mistake, and asks the therapist to deposit the check and simply refund the balance. The check appears to clear and the practitioner sends the overage back to the client only to learn two weeks later that the check was a fraud. Now the practitioner is out whatever the overage was.

If this has happened to you, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website, www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm, and click “File a Complaint” to fill out the form. You can also forward the offending e-mails to spam@uce.gov. In addition you can file a complaint at the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s website, http://www.ic3.gov/.

Using caution and common sense will help you avoid the pitfalls of Internet scams. For more information on Internet scams, visit www.ftc.gov/spam/ or www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/cashier.asp.

Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
February 1, 2012

First Name: XXX
Last Name: XXX
Member ID:XXX
Date: 1/26/12

Hi,
I’m an ABMP member and I just received this email. I’ve gotten others like it before and forwarded them to you. They are always someone coming from another country and sent to undisclosed recipients, wanting info on services and sessions. Anyway, here’s another one. Just want to let you know in case this is some kind of scam so you can let the membership know.
Thanks much,

XXXXXXX

[Initial Email Inquiry]
From: andrearossi820 <andrearossi820@gmail.com>
Date: January 26, 2012 8:09:33 AM PST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
BCC: XXXX
Subject: Re—-Enquiry About Your Service !!!

Hello,

My name is Andrea from Ireland,i will be coming on an official assignment to your city on Feb 8th and i like more info about your service and sessions,i will be staying 3 months or more.Kindly let me know your charges and details if you offer any of Deep Tissue,Energetic and sport Massage so that i will book ahead before coming.

Await your reply.
Andrea

Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
January 11, 2012

First Name: XXX
Last Name: XXX
Member ID:XXX
Date: 12/15/11
Description: Good Day,

My Name is Wayne Packer from Scotland. I want to make inquiry on your Pilate sections for 8 athletes that will be coming to your country for a 3 weeks training tour in your area. We are interested in an hour pilate sections after each day activities. do you offer private/simi private pilate sections?

 Bellow are details of the reservation:

Arrival Date: 23rd of January to  12th of February 2012

Time: evening sessions, Mondays through Saturdays (18 section) Number of athletes: 8 adults.3 females & 5 Male Sprinters within the age of

19-27 years.

Kindly advise details on availability and the TOTAL COST for the booking of the sections, so we can make payment to secure the booking.Hope you accept credit card payments? I await your prompt response.

Regards,

Wayne Packer
waynepk74@yahoo.com

Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
January 2, 2012

[Initial Email Inquiry]
From: Mr Joseph Lee lee.josephu@yahoo.co.uk
To: #####
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 3:55 PM
Subject: MASSAGE SERVICES

Dear sir/Madam,

I wish to know if you can provide massage services for my clients on business trip.They are three males and will need at least 1 hour massage services and relaxation each for three weeks from 16 January – 06 February 2012.They will be needing 1 hour massage sessions each,at 3 days in a week for three weeks.

They will be visiting your clinic for the massage services in the evening from 03:00 pm.I hope that you will be able to accommodate my request at this time.My clients do not have any medical issues and have received massage in the past.

Give  me your quote and the total cost for your services.Get back to me at lee.josephu@yahoo.co.uk

 SUMMARY OF MY REQUEST-
Number of customers:3 males
Number of daily massage hours:1 hour massage/person/day
Total number of days:9 days
Massage days:3 days a week for 3 weeks
Type of massage: Full body massage
Payment: Credit card
Customers Language:Chinese and English

Regards

Mr Joseph Lee
Tree Craft Ltd
Hillside Farm,Rushmore Hill
Knolckholt,Kent.TN14 7NL
PH:+447024063564

[Reply from ABMP Member]

From: ####
Subject: Re: MASSAGE SERVICES
To: “lee.josephu@yahoo.co.uk” lee.josephu@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tuesday, 13 December, 2011, 15:38

Dear Mr. Lee,

First my apologies for the delay back to you. My name is #### and as of now will be able to accommodate your clients for the time frame you have requested. For a traditional 1 hour massage $79.00 per person, traditional massage with reflexology 70 minutes $84.00 per person. I also offer 90 minute massages as well. These services will need to be booked and redeemed  at ##### to provide the best service.  If you wish to book these services, please request it to be with me specifically, I will take 20% off their first massage, also you will get more for your money if you purchase a gift certificate before 12/31/11.

Please feel free to call or email me with any questions you may have.

Happy and Healthy Holidays,

####

[Last Response, Requesting Overpayment to be Sent to a Third Party—the Tell-tale Sign of a Scam]

Date: 1/2/12

Description: I confirm that my clients will receive massage services and relaxation each for three weeks in your clinic from 16 January – 06 February 2012 as i told you in my previous mail. According to your quote,the total amount for your services is $2133.I wish to proceed with the payment. I will make the payment with a credit card.I will send the credit card details to you on Monday so that you can process the entire amount with your POS machine.

We also made arrangement with a travel/logistics agent to take care of their travel arrangements from China and also make hotel and car hire reservations for them before they arrive. You are to process the credit card to the tune of $9000 + (credit card charges, vat and tax) to cover the entire cost for your services and the booking for other services. When you receive the money $9000 in your account, you deduct the cost of your services $2133 and send the balance $6867 to the travel/logistics agent to enable him make the other bookings for them.

Confirm this message and get back to me with the below detail -

YOUR FULL NAME-
CONTACT ADDRESS-
PHONE NUMBER-
THE TYPE OF CREDIT you ACCEPT-
THE CREDIT CARD INFORMATION YOU NEED-

I await your reply so that we can proceed.

Regards
Mr Joseph Lee
Tree Craft Ltd
Hillside Farm,Rushmore Hill

Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
December 20, 2011

We received an email with stilted English that they wanted three days of 90 minute massages for himself “Ben Raes” and his wife “Janet.”

I had no idea it was not legit so I booked them and asked him to send $550.

I received three money orders totaling $2975(from New York, even though the letter was postmarked in London, UK.)

We are notifying our local police on how to proceed.

My assistant became suspicious and said that this was a scam. They get you to deposit the checks, then cancel and ask for their money back before the deposit cleared.

Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
November 4, 2011

It was worded exactly same as what you have shown in the scam warning except set up for Texas.
Same dates, times etc.
sentfrom the email addresses:
whqt1941@gmail.com and whqt1941@yahoo.com

Greetings,

I found your contact after a brief search for a Massage Theraphists on the internet and I therefore use this channel to request if you will be available to offer 3days of 90Mins Massage Service to me and my wife.  My name is Ben and my wife’s name is Janet, we live and work as textiles suppliers in United Kingdom and we will be visiting the State of Texas in United States on the 10th of February, 2012.

February 10th, February 17th and February 24th,2012 are our preferred massage dates and morning session between 9am & 12pm will be fine for us,but if this time is not available, then period from 5pm upward will make a good alternative.

Moreover if there is any of the quoted dates/times that is not available,please let me know and possibly furnish me with alternative dates/times.We can on each day do the sessions  back to back(i.e one after the other) OR at the same time if you have another therapist working with you. Alternatively I can have my own massage in the morning and the one for my wife comes later in the day.  We do not have any medical issues whatsoever and we have received massage services several times in the past .

Kindly answer the following questions if you are available for the service required.

What is your address location in Texas so as to estimate our proximity to you ?

How many years of experience do you have in this career?

I look forward to your prompt response.

Regards,
Ben Raes

Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
October 31, 2011

Greetings,

I found your contact after a brief search for a Massage Theraphists on the internet and I therefore use this channel to request if you will be available to offer 3days of 90Mins Massage Service to me and my wife.  My name is Ben and my wife’s name is Janet, we live and work as textiles suppliers in United Kingdom and we will be visiting the State of Massachusetts in United States on the 10th of February, 2012.

February 10th, February 17th and February 24th,2012 are our preferred massage dates and morning session between 9am & 12pm will be fine for us,but if this time is not available, then period from 5pm upward will make a good alternative.

Moreover if there is any of the quoted dates/times that is not available,please let me know and possibly furnish me with alternative dates/times.We can on each day do the sessions  back to back(i.e one after the other) OR at the same time if you have another therapist working with you. Alternatively I can have my own massage in the morning and the one for my wife comes later in the day.  We do not have any medical issues whatsoever and we have received massage services several times in the past .

Kindly answer the following questions if you are available for the service required.

What is your address location in Massachusetts so as to estimate our proximity to you ?

How many years of experience do you have in this career?

I look forward to your prompt response.

Regards,
Ben Raes

Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
January 24, 2011

From: panilawren0101@fusemail.com
Date: January 17, 2011

Description from the ABMP Member:
I got an email that claimed “Massage Therapist needed.” I found the wording to be of broken english and they also wanted to send a cashiers check in advance to sessions. When I went to respond with some key questions–I already had red flags going off–I was asked to download Japanese. This email came on January 17th and I have not gotten any response yet to my questions. It is requesting massages for a wife and husbank supposedly in the UK and coming to my area on the 28th of this month. They wanted a local “associate” to get me the money in advance. I have reported it to local news, BBB, and FBI. I really hate to see the scam cause anyother professional and problems. This is coming from panilawren0101@fusemail.com and going to mellow060@yahoo.com Please be cautious.

Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
November 10, 2010

From: doyen00066@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 9:41 AM
Subject: In need of massage therapist

Hello my name is Patricia, I’m in the United Kingdom for a year contract and I got here last August this year. My husband and I have agreed to spend our holiday in the United States starting from the 22nd of November. We intend to have some deep tissue massage to relieve some of the usual work related pains that we do have. I will like to know how much you charge for each sessions and we will like to have about three sessions each. Once am sure of the price, I will have my associate in the United States send you a cashiers check payment as I will like to make payment and bookings in advance.

Example, Reported by an ABMP Member
10/05/2010
Description: Greetings from Milan ,

My name is Mr Roberto Branco, I live and work as a massage therapist here in Italy . I am 46 yrs old. I have been doing massage since 1991. I do a deep relaxation massage in which the muscles relax without pain. I also do energy massage that helps people feel great when I am done. I am also certified to do pregnancy massage. I have lots of happy clients here in italy.

I have been looking for a massage therapist for over a week now till i met an old friend yesterday that referred you to me, her name is Serah. She used to live in America before she relocated here with her family, so i decided to contact you to know if you will be able to give my client some massage sessions when she arrives the US.

My clients name is Ms Monica Picchi, Shes is a model here in Italy . She will be coming to the U.S in 2 weeks time for a modeling job and will be residing in Illinois temporarily until the neccesary arrangement for her job has been made before she leaves. She will be needing 1hr massage session per day, 2 Sessions per week for 6 weeks when she arrives.

Ms Monica asked me to come with her to the US but i told her i would not be able to go with her to the US as i have a course i will be going for in a week time, so i promised to help her find a good massage therapist in your Area.

Pls tell me a little more about your self, how long have you been a massage therapist? Would you be able to provide her with the massage sessions from the 25th of this month to the 6th of December, 2 Sessions per week for 6 weeks?

Pls i need you to get back to me with the amount you charge per session and also let me know if she can pay you with a Certified check drawn from a US bank?

Do send your reply to my personal email address { brancoroberto70@yahoo.it } for a quick response as i do not check this email always.

Till I read from you remain blessed.

Roberto Branco
712 Via Mercato,
1,26129
Milano Italy

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Advertising Company Takes Money, Doesn’t Deliver
9/21/2009
Alert Regarding Nationwide Advertising (aka Coast to Coast Advertising)

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) members have reported entering into a contract with the company calling itself Nationwide Advertising (aka Coast to Coast Advertising). This company purportedly disappears at times and reappears under a different company name. This company has taken our members’ money but has not provided the advertising that was contracted for. The company sells printed ads on restaurant placemats and phone book covers and appears to have a policy that it will charge yearly for the ads even if a yearly renewal was not agreed upon. In some cases the ads are never printed.

We advise ABMP members to check out any complaints that may be on file regarding a company that you are considering for advertising contracts or for other business relationships. Watch your credit card accounts for any unauthorized charges, and take steps to report these unauthorized charges to your credit card company as soon as possible. Go online and Google the company’s name, or contact your local chamber of commerce to research for any reported complaints.

The New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy has been drafting  rules and regulations to implement the law passed by the legislature in January 2008. When fully implemented, this law will change the regulation of massage therapists in New Jersey from  voluntary certification (title protection) to mandatory licensing. All massage therapists (and certain bodyworkers) will be required to obtain a state license to practice.

How the board interprets and implements the law passed in 2008 is a very important step in the process. ABMP’s goal is to positively influence and educate the board members so the policies adopted are consistent with the rest of the country and result in an efficient application process for our members and other practitioners.

These proposed regulations will impact your practice so please take a few minutes to read both the New Jersey board’s proposed regulations and ABMP’s comments. Your individual written comments are encouraged and must be received by the board office by January 6, 2012.

Action steps!

Please note that the current version of the proposed rules would require applicants for licensure to submit “official transcripts.” This requirement may be difficult to meet if the school the applicant attended is closed. ABMP encourages members who may be negatively impacted by this to include this concern in their comments.

ABMP also has concerns that the proposed regulations further define the education requirement for grandfathering into licensure in a way that will negatively impact applicants. If you have less than 500 hours of education, please take note of this section in ABMP’s comments and include this concern in your comments to the board.

ABMP and others have already voiced these top concerns to the board and it is important they also hear from you. Please also send a copy of your submission to the board to Jean Robinson, ABMP’s government relations director.

 Send written comments to the address below by January 6, 2012:

George Hebert, Executive Director
New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy
Post Office Box 45010
124 Halsey Street
Newark, NJ 07101

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Join ABMP and Til Luchau for a webinar discussing hands-on techniques for restoring rib cage mobility, taken from Advanced-Trainings.com’s Advanced Myofascial Techniques series.

Restricted rib motion can arise from the usual things that cause us to lose mobility: stress, postural and habitual stance, inactivity, disease, pain, or injury. No matter what the cause, skilled hands-on work is an effective way to help reestablish lost motion. Because we take around 24,000 breaths in a day, even small changes in respiratory efficiency will have cumulative and far-reaching body-mind effects. Fortunately, this multiplying effect works both ways: not only can breath restrictions make us feel bad, but even small, incremental improvements in rib freedom can improve well-being on many levels.

Register Now!

Instructors are often the ones to initiate change and inspire growth within a massage school. They lead the way by creating new curriculum, developing new community outreach, implementing new procedures like “greening” their campus, and taking their programs to the next level academically. Motivating positive change within students is their most important impact of all. Unfortunately, creating meaningful change can be hard. This webinar explores ways to facilitate positive change in ourselves as educators, in our schools, and most significantly in classroom dynamics and individual students.  

Register Now!

House Bill 259, introduced on June 14, 2011, proposes to exempt individuals who practice energy work or movement education from Ohio’s health care professional licensing laws under which massage therapists are licensed as “limited practitioners of medicine.” The bill contains a lengthy list of “complementary or alternative health care services” that would be exempt from licensing if the bill were to pass. Many of the health care services listed in the bill as exempt are currently regulated under massage therapy and are commonly accepted synonyms for massage and/or bodywork therapies.

While ABMP supports having certain practitioners exempted from massage licensing, we believe that legislation with the sole purpose of legislating such exemptions is, at best, unnecessary. At worst, such legislation can create confusion and even provide the rationale for creating unworkable regulatory schemes to regulate these “exempt” practices. In our view, legislation is not needed to declare that certain practices are not legislated.

To further confuse the issue, HB 259 goes a step further to establish an investigatory process for a complementary or alternative health care practitioner alleged to have violated the bill. How the state plans to discipline or revoke a practitioner’s right to practice when the practitioner is not regulated by the state is hard to imagine.

We will keep you posted on any developments as House Bill 259 moves through the legislative process.

Click here to access the Ohio Legislative Service Commission’s analysis of H.B. 259.

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After January 1, 2012 you will need proof of at least 250 hours of massage education in order to apply for statewide certification. Between now and the end of the year you
can still apply with only 100 hours or by taking an exam*.

More and more cities, counties, employers and clients are requiring CAMTC’s certification, so you do not want to miss the deadline for this opportunity to get certified.

• You will have the freedom to practice anywhere in California without the need to obtain local massage permits from cities or counties where you provide massage.
• You will have to pay only one low fee of $150 every two years which covers you for all cities and counties; (if you are in private practice you may also need to obtain a business license from your local municipality).
• You will not be required to pay business licensing fees higher than what a city or county charges other certified/licensed professionals.
• You will only need to comply with ordinances, regulations, rules, requirements, restrictions, land use regulations, moratoria conditional use permits, or zoning requirements that are also uniformly applied to other certified/licensed professionals.
• You will not need to obtain a massage establishment permit.

1/1/12 DEADLINE • MORE DETAILS @ www.camtc.org

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ABMP Members, if you’re seeking volunteers for an event you’re organizing, log in to the ABMP Members section and under Marketing Center select “Outreach and Volunteer Opportunities – Do you have an event you would like posted?” 

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Join the Massage & Bodywork Community of Giving!
Sponsor: Massage & Bodywork Community of Giving (MBCG)
Date: Every day!
Location: Across New Jersey
Contact Name: Valerie Inzinna
Contact Phone: (732) 895-4869
Contact Email: Contact@MBCG.org
Website: www.mbcg.org

We are a network of massage and bodywork businesses and professionals across NJ ~ We in the MBCG support the Community FoodBank of New Jersey & the NJ SPCA in their efforts to end hunger, poverty and animal abuse and neglect by collecting donations of non-perishable food and pet food and supplies all year round! 

Whether you are an independent professional or own your own business, travel to your clients or practice in a studio, teach students or are a student ~ if you are a member of the wellness community- You’re Invited!

Getting involved and giving back is SIMPLE and FREE, and you can help to make a tremendous positive difference in the lives of New Jersey families and homeless animals.

For more information, please visit www.MBCG.org or email Valerie at Contact@MBCG.org.

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Hands for Heroes
Date: Ongoing
Location: Anywhere in the United States
Contact Email: info@handsforheroes.net
Website: www.HandsforHeroes.net

With a goal of delivering 1 million massage sessions to US military veterans, Hands for Heroes is inviting ABMP members to be part of this national outreach effort. By signing up to be a Hands for Heroes partner—whether for one session or 100—you will receive a variety of materials to promote your partnership and your commitment to serving veterans. In return, therapists are asked to log in to the Hands for Heroes website each month to record their charitable work with these service men and women. For more information about the program, or to start your partnership today, visit www.HandsforHeroes.net.

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Giving back to our Veterans
Sponsor: Helios Warriors
Date: Ongoing
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Contact Name: Gayle Sovinee
Contact Phone: 828-299-0776
Email: helioswarriors@gmail.com
Website: www.helioswarriors.org

Helios Warriors is a 501(c)3 non profit organization offering complementary and alternative therapies every Friday and some Sundays to our men and women veterans.  

Many have seen us and have found relief from PTSD, chronic physical and emotional pain and just to find relief from stress.  

WE need licensed and insured massage and bodywork therapists in and around Asheville, North Carolina willing to commit at least 3 hours once a month.  

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Fairview Home Care and Hospice
Location: Twin Cities metro area
Contact: Anne Myers-Richards
Phone: 612-728-2408
Email: amyersr1@fairview.org
Website: www.fairview.org/hospice  

Fairview Home Care and Hospice seeks volunteer massage therapists to supplement the care provided by our massage therapy staff. Volunteers provide comforting massage to our 160+ patients who are located throughout the Twin Cities area. Patients live in private homes as well as skilled care facilities.  

Commitment: May be as much as 2-4 hours per week or as little as 2-4 hours per month. Hours are flexible. You will work with the same patient, in your area, on an ongoing basis.  

Requirements: Complete hospice volunteer training, health screening including two TB tests (at no cost to you), criminal background check (at no cost to you), and provide two references.  

For more information, please contact: Anne Myers-Richards, Volunteer Supervisor
612-728-2408
amyersr1@fairview.org  

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The Indianapolis office of the Visiting Nurse Service (VNS), which services several central Indiana counties, is looking for volunteer massage therapists. Volunteers will bring comfort and relief to patients by providing palliative massage care to homebound patients who would otherwise not be able to receive massage. The massage will be done with professionalism and care to provide a safe, dignified, and respectable environment for ill/terminally ill patients.  

Volunteers, who are asked to provide one to two visits to patients per month, will need to complete an application, be interviewed, submit references, go through an orientation process, and get a TB test, provided by VNS; all of this is at no cost to the therapist. Therapists will be matched with patients in the area they are interested in.  

ABMP members interested in participating are invited to contact the volunteer coordinator at VNS:  

Emily Gage
Visiting Nurse Service, Inc.
4701 N. Keystone Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46205
317-722-8299 x293
EGage@vnsi.org  

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The Heart Touch Project is a non-profit, educational, and service organization devoted to the delivery of compassionate and healing touch to homebound or hospitalized men, women, and children. Founded by ABMP Member Shawnee Isaac Smith, the organization was created ten years ago in response to her friend and fellow bodyworker’s struggle with AIDS. She saw that he was being ostracized and deprived of touch and began to offer him her support through free massage.  

To date, the Heart Touch Project has trained over 1,000 massage therapists and other professionals, who have provided more than 23,000 free massage sessions to more than 1,200 of the most ill and untouched members of our community. In addition, the project has educated thousands of physicians, nurses, parents, and other caregivers through hands-on demonstrations, workshops, and international presentations. This service has been called upon by many of the region’s most prominent healthcare, home-health, and hospice organizations.  

The Heart Touch Project is looking for compassionate volunteers in order to meet community needs. Interested members are invited to contact:  

Debbie LeVine
Director of Volunteer & Client Services
The Heart Touch Project
3400 Airport Avenue #42
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-391-2558 phone
debbie@hearttouch.org  

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We at Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals know that your massage education is important to you, and we also know it can be a challenging journey. That’s why we’ve developed a wealth of resources just for you.

Join us for a complimentary 30-minute webinar, which walks you through all the resources ABMP has to offer our student members. From our printable A&P Flashcards and Muscle Graphic Organizer, to our ABMP Website Builder and Online Education Center, this webinar will show you the tools we’ve developed to help you be successful along your educational path, and beyond.

Take advantage of your ABMP student membership, and all the resources it includes, and sign up for this informative webinar today.

Register Now!

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Bring some of the top experts from around the world into your living room! Get personal with massage legends like Erik Dalton, Ben Benjamin, Whitney Lowe, Thomas Myers, Deane Juhan, Ruth Werner, Aaron Mattes, Laura Allen, Eric Brown, Diana Thompson and dozens more

These icons will be presenting live at the World Massage Conference, a “virtual” online conference that you attend in the comfort of your home or office by simply turning on your computer. No travel, hotel rooms or expensive meals are required.

The World Massage Conference (WMC) provides discounted rates to members of select massage and bodywork associations. As an ABMP member you are automatically assured the reduced rate of $98.50 (regularly $197) to participate in the conference.

However, the WMC is providing an exclusive deal that is only available to ABMP members when they use the link below to register (you must register by November 14, 2011 to get the deal). Usually conference attendees pay an additional $40 to obtain access to certificates of completion for 50 hours of continuing education. ABMP members who register using the link below are automatically signed up to receive access to the 50 hours of completion certificates for free. So, as members of ABMP you receive an additional $40 off the conference fee for a total savings of over $140!

This offer is not available anywhere else, so to register for the conference and obtain access to the exclusive ABMP membership offer of free certificates of completion you must use this link to register

www.worldmassageconference.com/abmp-exclusive

Enjoy the conference!

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Representatives of the seven primary organizations that comprise the massage therapy profession gathered on September 13-14 for a Leadership Summit in St. Louis, Missouri. The purpose of the meeting was twofold: to identify the most significant challenges and limitations that currently exist in this field, and to begin the process of developing and implementing solutions that will enable it to move forward in its evolution. Those present were:

• Alliance for Massage Therapy Education: President Pete Whitridge and Executive Director Rick Rosen
• American Massage Therapy Association: President Glenath Moyle and Executive Director Shelly Johnson
• Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals: Chairman Bob Benson and President Les Sweeney
• Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation: Commissioner Randy Swenson and Executive Director Kate H. Zulaski
• Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards: Executive Director Debra Persinger
• Massage Therapy Foundation: President Ruth Werner (AMTA’s Executive Director also serves in this capacity for the Foundation)
• National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork: Chair Alexa Zaledonis and Chief Executive Officer Paul Lindamood

The meeting was facilitated by Andrew Lebby, PhD, founding partner of The Performance Group, a consulting firm based in Washington, DC that assists organizations in navigating the process of large-scale change.

In preparation for this meeting, each of the organizations submitted proposed agenda items which provided the raw material for the discussions. Broad agreement emerged about a need to pursue opportunities for improvement in order to become an effectively functioning profession. The current challenge, at its most fundamental level, goes to the inconsistent quality of massage therapy services provided to clients.

Inconsistent quality, depth and focus of entry-level massage therapy education and licensure portability (or professional mobility) were identified as priority discussion items. Regarding entry-level education, a series of factors were identified that need to be addressed, including: curriculum design, teacher competency, student assessment, and updating subject matter to match evidence-informed practice. Diversely successful massage school program results are perhaps not surprising given the group observation that, unlike most other allied health fields in which both institutional and programmatic accreditation are mandatory, barely half of the 1,382 massage therapy programs in the United States have received institutional accreditation and only 100 have received specialized programmatic accreditation.

On the issue of portability, the group agreed that the problem stemmed from the lack of consistent state regulations. In pursuit of a solution, the group affirmed the role of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards in its recently-launched project to develop a Model Practice Act. Participants noted the particular importance of working toward a common scope of practice definition and of substituting a substantively-derived basis for required minimum education hours for current arbitrary hour requirements. The group examined a specific proposal to address the education hour question. Each organization agreed to consider the proposal within their organization and determine next steps. Participants also agreed that, as model practice guidelines emerge, a re-calibrating of government relations advocacy efforts by several organizations could facilitate widespread state adoption.

With a combination of insightful discussion and professional respect shown by the 12 representatives, the meeting was positive, powerful and highly productive. Overall, it was recognized that a high level of cooperation and coordination among all the players is necessary to address the problems at hand – and that many of these changes will take a considerable length of time.

The representatives decided to continue the inter-organization dialogue begun in St. Louis. That will include another face-to-face meeting on May 1-2, 2012, as well as ongoing telephone and electronic communication.

For further information, contact the press representatives
of the organizations listed in this release

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The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) has two openings for Commissioner positions to represent practitioners of either massage or esthetics. Candidates do not need to be familiar with COMTA or with accreditation, but teaching experience is helpful. Commissioners can also work part-time for schools that are accredited by other agencies if the majority of their time is spent as a practitioner.

For more information, please visit http://www.comta.org/about-comta/commissioners-elections-appointments/.

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Join Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals for a search engine optimization webinar with Eric Brown.

Do you ever wonder why your website isn’t ranking at the top of Google when you search for it? Are you frustrated with taking the time to create a website, only to discover that no one can find it? Getting your site to the top of Google results doesn’t have to be a mystery. In this webinar, Eric Brown, of BodyworkBiz.com, will pull back the curtain and give you a glimpse at the processes Google uses to rank your site. No technical gobbledygook here. You’ll get simple, practical advice you can use today to move your site up in the search engine rankings and get found by potential clients.

In this webinar you’ll discover:

• Why you must get found in the top three Google search results.
• The three specific ways you can have your site rank in the number one spot.
• Why Google wants you at the top and a free easy tool they provide to get you there (it only takes 10 minutes to do).
• How “bribing” Google with money (legally) can get you a first place position.
• Five simple changes you can make to your site to raise your rankings.
• The one thing you must do consistently if you ever hope to keep your site at the top.

Register Now!

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La fecha límite para solicitar la licencia de terapista de masaje en Puerto Rico es el 16 de septiembre. Para más información acerca de la licencia, comuníquese con dcandelario@saludforhealth.pr.gov.  Se require seguro para solicitar la licencia. Más información sobre el seguro de responsabilidad de ABMP.

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We at Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals  know that your massage education is important to you, and we also know it can be a challenging journey. That’s why we’ve developed a wealth of resources just for you.

Join us for a complimentary thirty-minute webinar, which walks you through all the resources ABMP has to offer our student members. From our printable A&P Flashcards and Muscle Graphic Organizer, to our ABMP Website Builder and Online Education Center, this webinar will show you the tools we’ve developed to help you be successful along your educational path, and beyond.

Take advantage of your ABMP student membership, and all the resources it includes, and sign up for this informative webinar today.

Register Now!

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals  is excited to continue the COMPLIMENTARY webinar series with Thomas Myers, author of Anatomy Trains. Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians is a revolutionary new way of understanding the body’s myofascial patterning.

In the first webinar of the series, Myers overviewed the process of BodyReading: how it works in practice and how to get started in making useful assessments. In the remaining webinars, we will go through the Anatomy Trains line by line, teasing out the details, as well as the larger patterns and meaning within each line. If you missed the first part of the series, you can review the recorded classes in the ABMP webinar archive by going to www.abmp.com and visiting the “Online Education Center.”

Previous experience with the Anatomy Trains book or website, or the accompanying BodyReading the Meridians column in Massage & Bodywork magazine are helpful, but not required.

Thomas Myers directs Kinesis, which offers continuing education worldwide for manual therapists and movement educators. He is the author of the best-selling book Anatomy Trains (Elsevier, 2009), as well as DVD programs on technique, bodyreading, and dissection. Myers studied with Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, and Buckminster Fuller, and has been practicing integrative bodywork since 1974 in a variety of clinical and cultural settings. He lives on the coast of Maine with his partner Quan.

Dates:
Wednesday, September 14, 2011: The Superficial Back Line
Wednesday, October 12, 2011: The Lateral Lines
Tuesday, November 22, 2011: The Spiral Lines
Thursday, January 26, 2012: The Arm and Shoulder Lines
Thursday, February 23, 2012: The Core

Register Now!

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ABMP members are invited to make a difference in the lives of military veterans by partnering with Hands for Heroes, a nationwide organization devoted to offering therapeutic massage and bodywork to US service men and women. The Hands for Heroes goal is to give 1 million massages to our nation’s military veterans.

If you would like to donate massage time to US veterans and become a Hands for Heroes partner, sign up at http://www.handsforheroes.net/ProviderRegistration.aspx. Your charitable work can begin at any level, even just one session. Participating therapists receive all the materials necessary to promote their Hands for Heroes partnership, including a wall certificate, press release, gift certificates, and a listing on a national registry where veterans can find you. Your only commitment is to log in to the Hands for Heroes website each month to record your charitable work with veterans.

Hands for Heroes partners are also able to use their partnership status in advertising and promotional materials to let others know about their support of veterans. This is a great way to give back to your local community and let people know about your massage and bodywork business at the same time. For more information about the program, or to start your partnership today, visit http://www.handsforheroes.net/.

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The FDA is concerned that the ShoulderFlex Massager presents serious health risks. Hair, clothing, and jewelry can become entangled in the massage device and cause serious injury or death.

Recommendations for Health Care Providers: Advise your patients NOT to use the ShoulderFlex massager.

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm269721.htm

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MBLEx Now Accepted for Licensure

Governor Quinn signed SB 153 into law on August 23, 2011. The bill re-authorizes the Massage Therapy Practice Act until January 1, 2022 and makes several technical changes to the law.

One significant change to the law was to increase the minimum education requirement for new licensing applicants from 500 to 600 hours on January 1, 2014. Currently licensed massage therapists will not be affected by the change.

New applicants will also qualify for a license if they hold a current license from another state that includes the completion of a massage program of at least 500 hours.

You may recall that ABMP opposed an amendment to the bill supported by the Illinois Massage Licensing Board (MLB) and the American Massage Therapy Association, Illinois Chapter (Chapter) to increase the entry-level education requirement from 500 to 750 hours on January 1, 2016 for new licensing applicants.

We communicated our concern to the MLB and Chapter that there was no justification for the proposed increase in hours. When our concerns were dismissed, ABMP engaged professional representation at the legislature to fight for an important principle in massage regulation—consistency in entry-level requirements.

The necessity for state regulation has been based on public safety issues. It is ABMP’s belief that entry-level standards should not be increased without clear evidence indicating the existing qualifications for licensure are insufficient to protect the public. Changing state educational requirements will make portability—the ability to move from one state to another and obtain a license (an acknowledged goal among massage therapy organizations)—even more difficult. Increasing the required number of training hours also results in increased cost to attend school, but without any acknowledged increased return on investment.

The parties agreed to a compromise that resulted in the new 600-hour requirement; ABMP’s preference would have been to not change the requirement without any justification. However, as is common in these political situations, we had no choice but to reach some middle ground; the final compromise addresses the problems we hear the most about from members—in particular, the ability to obtain a license without having to return to school. We feel the increase to 600 hours was a fair trade for overall increased portability.

MBLEx Accepted

In other news, the MLB revised several rules which became effective on July 20, 2011.

• Obsolete grandfather provisions have been repealed.
• The Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (www.fsmtb.org) has been added as an approved licensure exam.
• Massage therapist licenses are required to be displayed in the licensee’s place of practice.
• Technical and cleanup changes have been made regarding restoration of licensure.
• The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has been added as an approved    continuing education sponsor.  The MLB already accepts CE provided by providers approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); ABMP is a NCBTMB approved provider. 

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If you have not submitted your application, NOW is the time. If you are practicing massage therapy and you are not licensed, you are technically practicing illegally. While the board is not fully enforcing practicing without a license right now, it will be shortly. You only have until December 31, 2011 before the requirements for licensure change. Beginning January 1, 2012, an applicant will have to meet both the minimum 600 hour education requirement AND pass an exam to qualify for a license.

To obtain your license, you will need to either complete the application for Massage Therapist Licensure for Existing Practitioners or the application for Massage Therapist Licensure by Examination.

Choosing The Right Form
If you completed a massage program of at least 600 hours and passed either (1) the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) OR (2) one of the national certification exams offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), it may be easier to complete the form called “Application for Massage Therapist Licensure by Examination.”

If you have practiced massage therapy for at least one year and did not complete a massage program of at least 600 hours and pass an examination, you will choose the form called “Application for Massage Therapist Licensure for Existing Practitioners.”

Existing Practitioners
You need to prove that you have been working as a massage therapist to fit the definition of “existing practitioner.” One way to demonstrate this status is showing membership in a professional association (ABMP) prior to October 9, 2010. If you were a member of ABMP on or before October 9, 2010, contact Saskia Young Dehring, our new government relations coordinator, to request a letter verifying the dates of your ABMP membership be sent to the board and ABMP will send the verification.

Don’t panic if you were not a member of ABMP on or before October 9, 2010. The application for Massage Therapist Licensure for Existing Practitioners outlines several other ways to show that you are an existing practitioner on page II.

In addition, you have to qualify for a license. One way to qualify is showing that you have been a member of a professional association for at least five years. If you are not sure how long you’ve been a member, check the active date on your ABMP membership card. If you have been an ABMP member for at least five years, contact Saskia Young Dehring to request that ABMP send the board a letter verifying that you have been a member for five years and ABMP will send the verification.

Don’t panic if you have not been a member of ABMP for at least five years. The application for Massage Therapist Licensure for Existing Practitioners outlines several other ways to qualify for the license on pages II and III.

Other required information
All applicants are required to submit the completed application, the $65 fee (make the check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), a copy of your legal identification card, proof of high school graduation, the Certificate of Good Moral Character, an official Criminal History Record Information check, and current CPR certification.

Criminal history check
More information can be found at the Pennsylvania State Police website. If you don’t have a criminal record you can choose the first option, “Online Request,” and the result will likely be available immediately. You may print this and mail it with your application, it does not need to be sent directly from the state police.

CPR certification
Online CPR courses are not acceptable. Courses must be hands-on and taken through the American Heart Association, American Red Cross or an agency substantially similar which will need to be approved by the board.

If your school is closed
If your school has closed and it was state-approved and licensed in Pennsylvania, call (717) 783-8228 and they will be able to inform you which school currently holds your records.

Exempt from licensing
Professions exempt from obtaining state licensing—as long as practitioners do not practice or advertise that they practice massage therapy—include reflexology, movement education (Feldenkrais, Trager, and Body-Mind Centering), and energy work (reiki, shiatsu, Asian bodywork, polarity).

Avoid common mistakes:

• If you have changed your name because of a marriage or divorce and the name on the application is different from the name you used in school, send a copy of your marriage or divorce documentation along with your application.
• Don’t lie on the screening questions. An arrest, criminal conviction, or disciplinary action will not automatically disqualify a candidate for registration. Lying on the application will not help your cause and could be considered a violation of ABMP’s Code of Ethics.
• Don’t skip any lines on the application.
• Send all of the documentation requested in the application. It only delays your application to not be thorough.

Contact information
Questions can be directed to:

State Board of Massage Therapy
P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Phone: (717) 783-7155, Email: RA-Massagetherapy@state.pa.us

Have questions or concerns? Contact our government relations director, Jean Robinson, or Saskia Young Dehring, our new government relations coordinator. We are here to help make this licensing process as easy as possible for you!

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On August 1, 2011, Governor Brown signed into law the ABMP-supported Assembly Bill 619 that makes some changes to the existing voluntary certification statute. These changes, mostly technical in nature, do not change the rules on how you can obtain your statewide certification, which allows you to practice massage therapy anywhere in California without worrying about compliance with local massage therapy laws.

The changes made by AB 619 include:

• Removing the vague term “Massage Therapy Organization” and replacing it with “California Massage Therapy Council,” which is the nonprofit organization that oversees voluntary certification;
• Establishing protections for massage businesses that employ only California Massage Therapy Council (“CAMTC”) certified individuals by including such businesses in the law’s prohibition on local governments enforcing local massage therapy licensing laws against CAMTC certified massage therapists;
• Specifying that local governments may not charge a massage business more for a business licensing fee than it charges other professional services businesses;
• Requiring a CAMTC certified individual to include his or her name and CAMTC certification number in advertising and display the certificate at his or her place of business;
• Changing the terminology of “approved” school to “recognized” school;
• Specifying that litigation will take place in the county of CAMTC offices;
• Clarifying that conditional certificates automatically expire if the applicant doesn’t complete the process in the time allowed; and
• Add a commonly used severability clause.

ABMP is strongly encouraging its members to work towards obtaining CAMTC certification and want to ensure you are aware that after December 31, 2011 the doorway to “conditional certification” for those of you with less than 250 hours of formal education will slam shut. The update posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 outlines the details on how to obtain voluntary certification but please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Crack-down on Counterfeit Diplomas

Senate Bill 285 sends the message loud and clear that providing fraudulent massage therapy diplomas or other certificates is unlawful. Anyone caught providing a counterfeit diploma or other certificate is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 or imprisonment in a county jail up to a year.

In addition, SB 285 authorizes local law enforcement to provide information to the California Massage Therapy Council (“CAMTC”) about the details of the massage therapy instruction claimed on the fraudulent document. This information will assist the CAMTC create an easily accessible list of “institutions” offering fraudulent massage therapy training programs.

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Calling all massage therapists in the Kansas City area! On September 17, event organizer Massage Envy is looking for 500 MTs to break the World Record for “Most People Being Massaged” preceding the baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

The current record stands at 263 massages and is held by Tourism Victoria Australia, who, in 2010, eclipsed the previous record of 167 that was set in Washington, D.C., at the Marine Corps Marathon. Guinness World Records staff will be at the event to ensure that the massages last for at least five minutes and that none of the therapists take a break during that time.

Therapists who participate in the attempt will receive tickets to the game, free parking, a commemorative T-shirt, and a gift package from Massage Envy. Special tickets are available for people who want to receive massage and become a part of the world record, and a portion of those ticket sales will go to benefit the Arthritis Foundation.

For more information, or to participate in the event as a massage therapist, visit www.massagerecord.com. To participate as a client, visit www.royals.com/massageenvy.

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Like construction scaffolding, which is erected when a new building is started and removed when the building is complete, instructional scaffolding is temporary. It is used to help students understand important ideas, make connections between concepts, learn new practical skills, or combine the practical and conceptual into an integrated skill. Instructional scaffolding helps us move students from where they are now to the next level of skill, knowledge, and ability. This webinar will discuss different methods instructors can use to create useful scaffolding for massage students and improve learner outcomes.  

Register Now!

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Join Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and Advanced-Trainings.com instructor Til Luchau in an engaging and practical one-hour webinar as he presents ways to assess and address sciatic pain. Drawing from Advanced-Trainings.com’s popular Advanced Myofascial Techniques seminars, DVDs, and his regular Myofascial Techniques column in Massage & Bodywork magazine, Luchau will share valuable tips, clear concepts, spectacular 3-D animations, and hands-on techniques from actual training sessions. You’ll gain a clear framework for working with different types of sciatic pain, as well as practical tips and specific suggestions for hands-on approaches that can be incorporated into your existing work right away

Register Now!

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Zhenya Kurashova Wine-McDowell, founder of the Kurashova Institute for Clinical Studies and longtime proponent of Russian Medical Massage, died June 2, 2011, at age 51, after a long battle with breast cancer. She is survived by her sons, Jacob and Nathan. Wine-McDowell was the chief physiotherapist for Olympic athletes in the former USSR from 1977–1980 and began teaching Russian rehabilitation techniques, including her own Kurashova Re-Education, after immigrating to the United States in 1980. In the late 1990s, she was a frequent contributor to Massage & Bodywork magazine with her Russian Sports Massage column. She was a prolific educator, and in 2003 was awarded Professor of Manual Therapy status by the Manual Therapy Academy in Moscow, Russia.

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We at Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) know that your massage education is important to you, and we also know it can be a challenging journey. That’s why we’ve developed a wealth of resources just for you.

Join us for a complimentary webinar, which walks you through all the resources ABMP has to offer our student members. From our printable A&P Flashcards and Muscle Graphic Organizer, to our ABMP Website Builder and Online Education Center, this webinar will show you the tools we’ve developed to help you be successful along your educational path, and beyond.

Register today!

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The Big Test: Support Your Students in the Credentialing Process with Anne Williams

Sitting for the state-approved exam and obtaining massage credentials is one of the more stressful events in a massage student’s or graduate’s career process. In fact, around 30 percent of students graduate from massage programs but never sit for the exam or get their credentials. This webinar explores strategies schools and instructors can adopt to help students effectively prepare for the exam and move efficiently through the credentialing process so that they can begin their career as a massage professional sooner rather than later.

 Register Now!

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NY Update on Continuing Education Requirements

Senate Bill 5431 was signed into law on August 30, 2010. Beginning January 1, 2012, the law requires massage therapists to complete 36 hours of continuing education (CE) during each triennial registration period. The State Department of Education (Department), Office of the Professions, with input from the State Board of Massage Therapy, has proposed rules regarding the implementation of the new continuing education requirements. The proposal was published on June 29, 2011.

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposal has 45 days from that date to do so. Read the entire proposal here, or see the summary below. ABMP encourages you to send any comments regarding the proposed rules by email to legal@mail.nysed.gov. See our recommended format at the bottom of this correspondence.

The numbers

Thirty-six hours (36) will be required every three year renewal cycle, except for the first triennial registration period for which they are licensed.

Twelve (12) of the thirty-six hours may be “self-instruction.” Six of the twelve hours of self-instruction can be on-line.

A LMT whose first registration date following January 1, 2012 occurs less than 3 years from that date, will complete CE hours on a prorated basis (1 hour per month).

Examples: If your renewal date is September 2012, you would have to complete 9 hours of CE after January 1, 2012, and before September 2012.

If your renewal date is July 2013, you would have to complete 19 hours of CE after January 1, 2012, and before July 2013.

The Department will have the authority to adjust the CE requirement for licensees who demonstrate good cause for not completing the requirements. For example: extended active military service, poor health or a specific physical or mental disability.

Each licensee will be required to pay a CE fee of $45 in addition to his or her state renewal.

ABMP’s view: Unfortunately, there is no way to lower the required 36 hours because the law stipulated that number. ABMP has encouraged the Department to further define “self-instruction” and to increase the number of CE hours that can be completed on-line. We also discouraged the Department from imposing the $45 fee on licensees. Licensees will already have the cost of the actual CE courses to contend with and should not have to pay an additional fee. CE providers will be required to pay a $900 fee in order to become approved; that fee should be more than sufficient to cover the additional administrative costs to the Department.

Acceptable CE

Acceptable CE will be coursework that contributes to the professional practice of massage therapy. Any coursework including the practical application of modalities or techniques will only be accepted if they are legally authorized to be practiced within the scope of practice of massage therapy. This means that techniques exempt from massage licensing won’t count toward your state mandated CE; for example, reiki, Alexander Technique, and Feldenkrais.
Acceptable courses include, but aren’t limited to:

• Courses that include other types of massage and bodywork modalities and techniques.
• Courses related to specific physical conditions, such as cancer.
• Subjects that are fundamental to the practice of the profession will also be accepted, such as pathology, anatomy, physiology, and neurology.
• Courses related to the activities and skills needed for practice will be accepted, for example intake procedures, treatment planning, first aid, CPR, communication, and recordkeeping.
• Courses related to the principles of massage therapy.
• Subjects related to health care, laws and regulations, standards of practice, ethics.

ABMP is supportive of the broad acceptance of subject matter.

CE provider/sponsor

National massage therapy organizations, NY state massage therapy organizations, national organizations of jurisdictional boards, international massage therapy conferences, entities defined in the Public Health Law, and higher education institutions will be deemed acceptable providers of CE. The department will conduct a review of other sponsors that apply.

CE providers of didactic instruction may be provided by persons who are not NY State licensed as long as the practical demonstration of such modalities or techniques are done by a NY licensed massage therapist.

An organization seeking approval to offer CE will submit an application and $900 fee; renewable in 3 years.

ABMP’s view: Unfortunately most of this section is in the law, including the fee to become approved, and cannot changed. ABMP is supportive of the organizations the Department has listed and deems acceptable providers.

Recommended format for comments

To: State Education Department, Office of Professions

From: Your name, address, and state license number (or school name)

RE: Proposed Rules regarding CE for massage therapists (this should also be the subject line of your email)

List your comments and concerns. Be concise and to the point.

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) is happy to announce the next webinar in our COMPLIMENTARY BodyReading the  Meridians series with Thomas Myers, author of Anatomy Trains. Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians is a revolutionary new way of understanding the body’s myofascial patterning.

In this second webinar of the series, we will explore visual assessment of the superficial front line—the most sensitive and delicate of the Anatomy Trains lines. Come explore the restrictions on breathing, emotion, and, that perennial favorite, head forward posture, which tension in the superficial front line sling can create.

Previous experience with the Anatomy Trains book or website, or the accompanying BodyReading the Meridians column in the May/June issue of Massage & Bodywork magazine are helpful, but not required.

Register now!

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Tune in to a New Video Series at ABMP.com

What?
ABMPtv is home to a new series of videos created for ABMP members. We’ve added this feature to help showcase the wide array of ABMP member benefits and, more importantly, how you can take advantage of them. Videos cover a variety of topics, including how to access ABMP webinars, get assistance in Spanish, and make the most of your ABMP membership.

Who?
ABMP members share ideas about which resources are their favorites, how they’ve put ABMP’s benefits to use, and how those resources have enhanced their massage and bodywork practices. You’ll also get to meet some of the staff in our Golden, Colorado, office as they walk you through these topics.

Where?
Click on the ABMPtv link from ABMP’s home page, www.abmp.com. Members may log in to see the full offering of videos.

How?
ABMP members can sort videos by category or search by keyword. We’ll be adding new videos on a regular basis, so visit now and keep coming back.

When?
Anytime! Visit when you have a few spare minutes between client appointments, when you’re curious about which ABMP benefits you have yet to explore, or when you’re looking to hear from a peer. It’s simple, easy, and built with your needs in mind.

Is there a particular topic you’d like to see on ABMPtv? Send your suggestions to abmptv@abmp.com.

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Please join Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), Susan Salvo, and Daniel Norris, PhD, for an engaging webinar on creating more active learning environments. Both educators are experts in creating effective lessons for adult learners and their philosophy is simple: the more you understand your students, the more you can develop and apply strategies to help them achieve success.

The webinar “Connecting the Lesson to the Learner” will take you behind the scenes and inside your students’ minds to examine what motivates them in the educational process. You will learn strategies regarding the adult learning model that are effective for both traditional classroom learning and distance learning. The result? Active learning environments.

Register Now!

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Join Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and authors/educators Tracy Walton and Gayle MacDonald for their webinar, “Cancer Treatment and Massage Therapy.” Tracy Walton will discuss issues related to oncology massage, including chemotherapy considerations and client interview questions. Gayle MacDonald will discuss the importance of proper intakes and other basic considerations relevant to chair massage at cancer-related special events.

In this webinar, participants will receive a list of essential questions to ask, as well as some basic adjustments that may be necessary for the client who has been affected by cancer treatment.

Register Now!

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Invite some of the field’s top experts into your living room! Get personal with massage legends such as Aaron Mattes, Ben Benjamin, Erik Dalton, Deane Juhan, Diana Thompson, Eric Brown, Laura Allen, Ruth Werner, Thomas Myers, Whitney Lowe, and dozens more.

These icons will present live at the World Massage Conference, a virtual online conference you attend in the comfort of your home or office by simply turning on your computer. No travel, hotel rooms, or meals are required.

An exclusive offer for ABMP members…
ABMP is a conference sponsor and we’ve arranged an amazing offer for you!

You can get 50 hours of training from these educators at two live events in 2011, June 6–8 and November 14–16. Your cost is only $97 (regularly $197). As an additional bonus, ABMP members can earn more than 50 hours of continuing education, almost all of which is NCBTMB-approved.

Click here to register now for only $97 (regular value $237).

(Important note: You must register through this email. This offer is exclusive to ABMP members and is not available through the World Massage Conference website. This offer expires June 3, 2011.)

How do you attend a virtual conference?
To attend a live presentation, take a look at the schedule on www.worldmassageconference.com and decide which speakers you’d like to learn from. At the time of their broadcasts, log into the World Massage Conference participant area. There’s nothing technical you have to do—it’s just like watching TV, except you get to interact with the presenters! Send them your questions during the broadcast and chat with them personally in the chat room after their sessions are over.

What if you can’t get to the live broadcast?
Don’t worry! Everything is recorded for you and available for replay immediately following the live broadcast. Access the presentations whenever you wish. The replays are available 24/7 and you have online access until March 31, 2012.
Audio recordings are available for each presentation, so you can download the MP3 recordings and listen on the go. Save the audio and notes on your computer and the presentations are yours forever.

How do I get CE credits?
Register now through the link on this page. As an ABMP member you get access to certificates of completion for more than 50 hours of education. After you listen to a presentation, take the short quiz. After you successfully complete the quiz you’ll receive a certificate of completion for continuing education reporting.

Click here to register today.

Remember this offer expires June 3, 2011.

P.S.: If you are an instructor, ABMP has partnered with World Massage Conference and created a whole day of programming just for you. Education Day is June 8th. You can broadcast the live sessions or replays in your classroom. Activity guides, self-evaluations, and checklists are available for use in class. Visit ABMP.com for more information.

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and the World Massage Conference (WMC) are bringing icons of the massage profession such as Aaron Mattes, Ben Benjamin, Diana Thompson, Erik Dalton, Laura Allen, Thomas Myers, Whitney Lowe, and more to your school this spring – for free! Your school receives two free registrations to the World Massage Conference courtesy of ABMP. Use these registrations to broadcast the entire online conference or specific sessions live in your classrooms and faculty rooms. Some sessions are accompanied by activities, self-evaluations, and worksheets designed for students, instructors, and massage school administrators. The conference’s goal is to inspire instructors, administrators, and students to connect, learn, grow, and renew their commitment to education.

Join ABMP’s Anne Williams and WMC’s Eric Brown for an informational webinar that provides tips and resources that help schools bring the World Massage Conference to life on their campuses.

The webinar will describe:

• How to access your school’s registration information and log on to the conference.
• Exciting sessions of particular interest to massage students and instructors.
• How to interact with presenters via the chat function on the WMC conference platform.
• Ideas for making the World Massage Conference a special event on your campus.
• How to make the most of ABMP Education Day, (a special day of programing designed just for massage students, instructors, and school administrators), Wednesday, June 8.

Where to locate a variety of session-related activities that integrate nicely with massage school curriculum.

Find out more about the World Massage Conference and ABMP Education Day.

Register now!

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Please join  (ABMP) and educator/author Carole Osborne for a lively webinar focused on “Balancing Art and Science in Massage Therapy Education.”

Effective therapeutic massage and bodywork requires both a scientific and an artistic sensibility to practice successfully. When we include both of these aspects in our classrooms, we develop them equally in our new therapists and extend that balance in our continuing education programs. In this webinar we will:

• Explore how to present the facts while also using art and intuition in all types of courses.
• Discuss how to anchor the more intuitive with keen observation and evidence-based guidelines.
• Learn to engage both sides of your students’ brains for deeper learning and more fun.
• Discuss creative strategies to spice up and ground all areas of your classes and your school’s curriculum.

Register Now!

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Yes, you know that voluntary certification has now been available for 21 months. And that certification, for which you pay $150, allows you to practice anywhere in California. However, according to our information, you have so far not chosen to be among the 28,000 massage therapists to apply for CAMTC certification.

What you may not realize are two things:

• Some cities are now requiring CAMTC certification
• For several thousand ABMP members, your window of eligibility to apply for certification will close on December 31, 2011

Because ABMP member education records are imperfect (either we failed to ask thoroughly enough or you did not keep us up-to-date on additional education), we are sending this communication to a broader cross-section of California members than perhaps we need to. If the shoe doesn’t fit, please excuse us for bothering you. The stakes are sufficiently important that we choose to err on the side of inclusiveness.

What’s the deal on cities requiring certification? Cities are permitted to keep their existing massage therapy regulations in force; they just can’t require a city massage license from anyone who possesses CAMTC certification. Some cities have decided, rather than continue to be involved with issuing massage licenses or permits, they will simplify their lives by simply requiring all massage therapists who wish to practice in their city to obtain CAMTC certification.

So far, only a modest number of cities have taken this step, but cities trade notes, and this approach offers budget savings at a time when municipal finances are stressed. ABMP does not know whether this trend will become pervasive, but it well could.

If you choose not to become CAMTC certified, you should at least realize there are possible risks to your future ability to practice. For example, if next year your city decides to require massage practitioners to become CAMTC certified and you have fewer than 250 hours of massage education at a single approved school, you won’t be immediately eligible to qualify. You will either have to go back to school, move your business to another city, or quit practicing. Please keep this potential scenario in mind as you consider your options.

OK, I’m willing to consider becoming certified. How do I start? To explore your options, first calculate your total hours of documented education. Then see this overview for details on what pathways to CAMTC certification as a Certified Massage Practitioner or a Conditionally Certified Massage practitioner are available to you. (Additional options are available to most therapists who have 500 or more hours of massage education. More about your situation later.)

If you have 250 hours or fewer:
If you have completed 250 hours of massage education, all at a single approved school listed here and at least 100 of those hours are in specified subject areas (anatomy, physiology, contraindications, health and hygiene, business, and ethics), then you likely will qualify to become a Certified Massage Practitioner through Portal A on the overview chart.

If you don’t have 250 hours of massage education at a single approved school, but do have at least 100 hours of massage education from such an approved school, you may qualify for Certified Massage Practitioner via Portal B or Portal C. However, these routes, which require demonstrable experience providing massages, have daunting documentation requirements.

A simpler approach for individuals who have at least 100 hours of massage education from one of the schools on the above referenced list (or from most schools located in other states) is to pursue conditional certification via Portal E. You will either need to arrange for your school to send evidence to CAMTC that you completed those education hours or to be able to give CAMTC transcripts or other course completion documentation that appears sufficiently persuasive in cases where your school is no longer in operation. This pathway to Conditionally Certified Massage Practitioner will expire at the end of 2011. The earlier you apply, the better.

In order to maintain your Conditional Certification as a Massage Practitioner (CCMP, Portal E), you will be required to provide evidence of securing a minimum of 30 hours of continuing massage education each year, until your total massage education hours total 250 hours. You must meet the 250-hour total within 5 years after the date you are granted CCMP status.

Once you have completed a minimum of 250 hours of massage education, you may apply for an upgrade to Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP). You may apply for the upgrade at the time you reach 250 hours or at the time of your next renewal.

If you have between 250–500 hours:
You can apply for CMP (Portal A) certification if you have between 250 and 500 documented hours including at least 100 hours in specified subject areas (anatomy, physiology, contraindications, health and hygiene, business, and ethics) from a single approved school. This pathway will expire on Jan 1, 2015.

We anticipate that many ABMP members will have a tough time meeting this standard, as member hours often come from different short programs and continuing education. If you have enough hours, but your education was obtained from more than one school, there are three practical solutions:

• Apply for CCMP (Portal E).
• Or, complete a 100-249 hour program at an approved school. This will give you the necessary single-school hours in specified courses and, when added to your previous education, will also boost you over the 250-hour mark. Then apply for CCMP (Portal E) and use your extra hours to upgrade immediately to CMP.
• Or, obtain additional courses so your total education is at least 500 hours. Then apply for Certified Massage Therapist through Portal F.

If you have 500 hours or more:
You will likely qualify for Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) certification. Continuing education counts if you can document it. At least 250 hours of the total 500 hours must come from an approved school or schools.

Once you are CAMTC certified at the CMP level, you can qualify for an upgrade to the CMT level with continuing education hours. No one is required by state law to be certified, so the fact that 28,000 people have already applied indicates, at the very least, a perceived benefit of CAMTC certification. Don’t wait to apply if you are a qualified massage therapist who has been working with less than 250 hours of education.

PLEASE, do not be intimidated by the process of applying for CAMTC certification. More than 28,000 of your fellow massage professionals have applied and nearly 90% of those applying have been, or will be approved for certification.

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Join Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and Douglas Nelson for an enlightening exploration of various ways in which massage therapy may be used to enhance athletic performance. Many therapists currently see clients who are involved with athletic endeavors, from recreational exercisers to more serious athletes. We will explore how soft tissue approaches affect specific muscle function and overall performance generally.

You will learn how soft tissue techniques can affect aspects of athletic performance such as:

• Endurance
• Muscle strength/muscle inhibition
• Muscle flexibility
• Muscle activation patterns
• Proprioception and balance

Register Now!

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals is excited to introduce a new, COMPLIMENTARY webinar series with Thomas Myers, author of Anatomy Trains. Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians is a revolutionary new way of understanding the body’s myofascial patterning.

In this first webinar, we will overview the process of BodyReading: how it works in practice and how to get started in making useful assessments. In the following webinars, we will go through the Anatomy Trains line by line, teasing out the details as well as the larger patterns and meaning within each line.

Register now!

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After Incarceration, Man Calling with Sham Job Offers and Stalking Practitioners Again

Steven Min, also known as Steven Sung and Steven Yamamoto, is out of prison and harassing massage therapists again.

Last October, ABMP reported that Min had been arrested for impersonating a public servant. Min had posted a Craigslist ad soliciting massage therapists to work on high-profile guests at the Sands Casino and make a significant amount of money for every massage session. Under the guise of an interview, Min would invite massage therapists to a hotel room late at night to test their skills.

Several massage therapists reported very uncomfortable experiences, including sexual advances, and the job opportunities never came to fruition. After reporting the incident to police, one massage therapist said Min harassed her over the phone and online afterwards.

Ultimately, Min was incarcerated because he identified himself as a Pennsylvania Gaming Board member and an employee of the Sands Casino, and the impersonation was grounds for arrest. Many people in the massage profession expressed relief, as his tactics and actions were becoming more aggressive, and there was concern someone would eventually be hurt. However, it’s relevant to note he was not actually arrested for harassing massage therapists.

On April 25, 2011, ABMP received a report that Steven Min is back to his old tricks, at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Min has reportedly pulled this scam on massage therapists in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Nevada. ABMP cautions massage therapists to please be aware of such scams, protect themselves appropriately, and immediately report any misconduct to the local authorities.

Massage therapists in several states, including New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Nevada breathed a sigh of relief. Many massage therapists have corroborated
contacting massage therapists under the guise of alluring job offers. We received information that he’d been doing this for more than eight years.

This time he calls therapists and offers work in his spas and says that he would like a late-night meeting. It has also been reported that he is in New Jersey and has tracked down a therapist that he met the last time he was preying on our profession. The phone calls come late at night and early in the morning and are repetitive. The therapist who first reported this to me contacted the police who in response called him and told him to stop. This seems to have set off a rampage of web postings suggesting that the therapist has investigations against her and worse.

Update April 26, 2011: While Steven Min was arrested last September, it appears he’s out and back to his old tricks again, in Las Vegas. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to see Barbara Potter’s latest report. He has typically targeted massage therapists in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Las Vegas. MTs, please be aware!

Update, March 27, 2010: We have received reports that this man has also pulled the same con on massage therapists in the South Florida area.

ABMP received the following letter from Meg Darnell, LMT , Director of Alumni Services, Swedish Institute. In the past, some ABMP members have been harassed by this individual. We take this warning very seriously and ask that you please pass on the information to other therapists.

March 2010
I am once again sending this to alert you of someone who has tried to prey on massage therapists in the past.

I am sorry to have to report that the man named Steven Sung, also known as Steven Min and Steven Yamamoto, who has been soliciting massage therapists with dubious get-rich schemes for the last eight years, is back on the scene.

This time he calls therapists and offers work in his spas and says that he would like a late-night meeting. It has also been reported that he is in New Jersey and has tracked down a therapist that he met the last time he was preying on our profession. The phone calls come late at night and early in the morning and are repetitive. The therapist who first reported this to me contacted the police who in response called him and told him to stop. This seems to have set off a rampage of web postings suggesting that the therapist has investigations against her and worse.

I am sending this email to as many therapists as I can reach, as well as to the New York State Board and the New Jersey Board of Massage Therapy, with the hope of reaching all massage therapists in our area. I am reaching out to a lawyer and an investigator who were both helpful the last time this man was contacting therapists. I am not sure what, if anything, can be done to stop this man.

While it may seem obvious to some, I am strongly suggesting that everyone ignore his phone calls. Do not engage, do not suggest that we know what he’s up to or try to stop him, as I believe it will cause more phone calls and harassment. Just ignore him. Originally he had just one phone number, but now it seems there are many and they are from New Jersey. These job offers are not legitimate and you may be at risk by responding to them. At one time I believed this man was harmless but have come to believe that he may be dangerous.

Many therapists from our school, as well as the schools in our surrounding area, have contacted me because they have seen or heard about the school’s warnings and did not respond to his solicitations. Some, unfortunately, have not heeded the warnings and have met with him–only to find that his offer amounts to nothing.

He is contacting therapists in the entire tri-state area. I implore you to ignore these solicitations and to pass this warning on to your colleagues.

As always, graduates, please remember to trust your instincts. If something feels funny or strange, listen to your wisdom. As a general rule, if something sounds too good to be true, it very well may be.

Meg Darnell, LMT
Director of Alumni Services, Swedish Institute
New York, NY

ABMP members get 50% off the already low registration fee of $197. Most sessions are approved for NCBTMB continuing education credits. Go to www.worldmassageconference.com/abmp11 to register, or, if using standard registration, choose ABMP as the partner association to get your discount.

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Many students experience some anxiety before quizzes and exams, but with sufficient preparation and some test-taking strategies, test-taking can get easier and performance can improve. Join Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) Director of Education Anne Williams for an exploration of ways to reduce test anxiety and improve test performance.

Register now!

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To: ABMP members
From: Jean Robinson, Government Relations Director
Date: March 31, 2011
RE: NY State Board for Massage Therapy meeting on Monday, March 28, 2011

Governor Paterson signed Senate Bill 5431 into law on August 30, 2010. The law requires massage therapists to complete 36 hours of continuing education (CE) during each triennial registration period. Of this, a maximum of twelve hours may be self-instruction. Licensees will have to complete a prorated number of CE requirements in the first triennial registration period. Licensees could be granted an exemption by the Department for reasons of hardship or military service. The law will be implemented January 1, 2012 and the board has until then to draft regulations outlining what is acceptable continuing education.

On Monday, March 28, 2011, I attended the State Board for Massage Therapy meeting in New York. The board was scheduled to have a detailed discussion regarding the content of acceptable continuing education and develop recommendations for regulations to implement the statutory requirement for continuing education for massage therapists. The meeting was open to the public.

Dr. Kathleen Doyle, the board’s Executive Secretary, opened the discussion by reviewing the new law. The law cannot be changed without legislative intervention so the board was encouraged to focus its discussion solely to the content of acceptable formal continuing education. Dr. Doyle provided the board a summary of current requirements adopted by the other regulated professions in New York.

Here is what is known so far:

• The New York State Education Department (Department), Office of Professions, already approves continuing education providers in other professions and has a set process in place already. Massage therapy CE providers will apply and follow a similar procedure.
• The application fee for providers will be $900 as stated in law, however, not every CE class will need to be approved by the Department. In many cases the provider could be associated with a CE “sponsor.” For example, there may be an opportunity for an organization to become a CE sponsor. In that case, the organization could pay the fee and become a CE sponsor, then recognize providers who teach courses that will fit the regulations in New York.
• If a CE provider is not a NY state licensed massage therapist, the provider can teach the course but will have to hire an assistant who is a NY LMT to provide the hands-on portion of the course (if any). Many states have an exemption for teachers who are in the state solely for the purposes of educational instruction and demonstration to an audience; New York does not have this exemption.
• The Department has not yet determined whether schools will have to also become approved CE providers.
• Any spa that provides CE to its employees would need to become an approved CE provider in order for the course to be recognized by the state and be counted toward the 36 hours.
• The law requires 36 hours of CE in a three-year renewal cycle, of which only 12 hours may be “self-instruction” course work. Dr. Doyle explained that on-line CE courses are not necessarily considered self-instruction; it depends how the course is conducted. Self-study is defined more loosely as things you do on your own such as conducting research, teaching a course, or publishing an article for a magazine, or even attending a course out of state. The board will further define this area.
• Courses that won’t be approved are courses in practices that are not regulated under massage therapy in New York (Reiki, Feldenkrais, and Alexander Technique for example). Animal massage would also be excluded since massage therapists aren’t allowed to practice animal massage therapy in New York.
• Other courses that won’t be approved deal with insurance billing, computer training, and risk management as it relates to insurance.

ABMP takes a more liberal view of continuing education than New York, as illustrated above. Our preference would be to give NY LMT’s a diverse choice of CE providers and quality courses that are affordable and relevant to their needs. Overall, I was pleased by the discussion and approach of the board in Monday’s meeting.

Next steps:
The board still has to draft a formal regulation proposal and publish it in the NY State Register and gain approval from the Board of Regents. There will then be a period of 45-60 days for public comment. If no significant changes are needed, the regulations will be approved and implemented January 1, 2012.

Beginning in January 2012, LMT’s will have to demonstrate they have completed CE. The amount of CE required for the first triennial period will be pro-rated. Thirty-six hours of CE required in three years time is one hour of CE per month. If your renewal is in August 2012, you will have to demonstrate 8 hours of CE completed. If your renewal is in January 2013, you’ll have to complete 13 hours of CE.

If you complete CE courses prior to January 2012 they will not count for your renewal. Only courses completed on or after January 1, 2012 will apply toward meeting the requirement.

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As previously reported, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Kansas chapter submitted a sunrise document to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The sunrise document is an assessment and overview of the profession, focusing on whether there is a need to license massage therapists in Kansas. The KDHE Occupational Credentialing Technical Review Committee (Committee) was appointed to review the document in a series of four meetings and issued its decision today in Topeka at the final meeting.

The Committee recommended that massage therapists should be regulated in the state of Kansas.

The committee voted  “yay” on the criteria in the application and recommended the profession be licensed in Kansas. I’ve included a summary of the criteria that were voted upon below.

Next steps: The committee recognized the need to license massage therapists. A bill will still have to be drafted and introduced in the Kansas State Legislature in order to establish a licensing program. There is currently a state association in Kansas that opposes the idea of licensing; ABMP and AMTA will reach out to that group to discuss what the specifics of a future bill will look like. We want diverse input regarding a grandfathering provision, continuing education, and in other areas.

Sunrise criteria:

Criterion I – AYE
The unregulated practice of massage therapy can harm or endanger the health, safety or welfare of the public and the potential for such harm is recognizable and not remote.

Criterion II – AYE
The practice of massage therapists requires an identifiable body of knowledge or proficiency in practice, or both, acquired through a formal period of advanced study or training, and the public needs and will benefit by assurances of initial and continuing occupational or professional ability.

Criterion III – AYE
If the practice of massage therapy is performed, for the most part, under the direction of other health care personnel or inpatient facilities providing health care services, such arrangement is not adequate to protect the public from persons performing noncredentialed functions and procedures.

Criterion IV – AYE
The public is not effectively protected from harm by certification of members of the occupation or by means other than credentialing.

Criterion V – AYE
The effect of credentialing of massage therapy on the cost of health care to the public is minimal.

Criterion VI – AYE
The effects that credentialing of massage therapists would have on the availability of health care personnel providing services by such occupation or profession is minimal.

Criterion VII – AYE
The scope of practice of massage therapist is identifiable.

Criterion VIII – AYE
The effect of credentialing of the occupation on the scope of practice of other health care personnel, whether or not credentialed under state law, is minimal.

Criterion IX – AYE
Nationally recognized standards of education or training exist for massage therapy and are identifiable.

Criterion X – Licensing
All recommendations of the technical committee and the secretary, which relate to the levels of credentialing regulations of a particular group of health care personnel, shall be consistent with the policy that the least regulatory means of assuring the protection of the public is preferred.

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Illinois’ Massage Licensing Act (Act) will sunset January 2012. Senator Iris Martinez is sponsoring a bill (SB 153) on behalf of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and the Massage Licensing Board to make several technical changes in the law as well as to extend the Act to January 2022. SB 153 was introduced on February 8, 2011 and ABMP is supportive of the bill as introduced on that date.

However, ABMP is opposed to Senate Amendment 002, which was filed on March 1, 2011. If passed, the amendment would increase the entry-level educational requirements for massage therapists from 500 hours to 750 hours. This increase would result in a significant increase in tuition costs for students, and would also make it very difficult for many massage therapists moving to Illinois to become licensed; the majority of states that license massage therapists recognize a 500-hour entry-level requirement.

Senate Amendment 002 was introduced with the support of the Massage Licensing Board. ABMP does not support the amendment; upon discussion with representatives of the Board and the American Massage Therapy Association Illinois Chapter, we were unable to learn of any circumstances that justified a change in the requirements to practice.

The purpose of licensing is to protect the public from untrained practitioners. This is accomplished by setting entry-level education standards and providing an avenue for consumer complaints. There is no evidence in Illinois, or in any other state, that 500 hours of education is not an acceptable entry-level standard.

Inconsistency in entry-level requirements among states has a negative impact on fellow massage therapists who happen to move. It is all too common for ABMP to receive calls from members who are moving to a state with higher entry-level requirements who cannot qualify for a license, regardless of how long they have been practicing. There have been many instances of members who have practiced massage safely on the public for five years who have been told to go back to school if they want to qualify for a license to practice. More often than not, they leave the profession instead of paying to relearn a profession they have practiced for years.

Lack of portability and consistency in licensing requirements has been a frustration among regulators and therapists alike for many years; advocating for a 50% increase in entry-level education hours for no reason related to public safety not only doesn’t help solve that challenge, it makes a solution that much less attainable. Portability will never be achieved if policy decisions made by regulatory boards and individuals are shaped by personal motivations to “advance” the profession through increasing hours instead of concentrating on the quality of education.

This proposal in essence, is an attempt to solve one problem (alleged unpreparedness of some licensing candidates) by creating another (requiring all students to spend 50% more time and money to practice).

ABMP is opposed to the change in entry-level education requirements and encourages schools and individuals to contact their legislator and ask them to defeat Senate Amendment 002.

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House Bill 243, sponsored by Rep. Morley, amends several provisions of Title 58, Occupations and Professions, regarding the administration and enforcement of licensing laws and related provisions. Lines 756 – 767 specifically address a modification to the definition of massage therapy:

756 (6) “Practice of massage therapy” means:
757 (a) the examination, assessment, and evaluation of the soft tissue structures of the body
758 for the purpose of devising a treatment plan to promote homeostasis;
759 (b) the systematic manual or mechanical manipulation of the soft tissue of the body for
760 the [therapeutic] purpose of:
761 (i) promoting the health and well-being of a client;
762 (ii) enhancing the circulation of the blood and lymph;
763 (iii) relaxing and lengthening muscles;
764 (iv) relieving pain;
765 (v) restoring metabolic balance; [and]
766 (vi) achieving homeostasis; and
767 (vii) recreational or other purposes;

According to Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) staff, the Board of Massage Therapy has been unable to crack down on unlicensed individuals because they were claiming that they practiced “recreational massage” not “therapeutic massage” and were therefore not required to be licensed by the state. This claim was legally challenged and the individuals were determined to be exempt from regulation by claiming they were practicing “recreational massage.”

The DOPL staff, after consulting the Board of Massage Therapy (and the state chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)), decided the easiest way to rectify the problem was to eliminate the word “therapeutic” and insert the phrase “recreational or other purposes” as illustrated above on lines 760 and 767.

This is a discouraging and troubling “solution” to the problem identified. The massage therapy profession has had to fight tooth and nail in many states for the term “therapeutic” to be included in the definition of massage therapy in law. To have DOPL staff and the board simply give up the term because it was, in their opinion, the simplest solution, has potentially caused considerable harm to the profession.

ABMP has voiced its concerns and disappointment to the DOPL staff, the Board of Massage Therapy, and the AMTA Utah chapter.

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Join Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and Til Luchau in an engaging and practical one-hour webinar as Til presents ways to restore lost ankle mobility and stability by working with the deep interosseous membranes of the leg. Drawing from his popular Advanced Myofascial Techniques seminars and his regular “Myofascial Techniques” column in Massage & Bodywork magazine, Til will share valuable tips, clear concepts, spectacular 3-D animations, and narrated video of actual training sessions. You will gain:

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On February 2, 2011, the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapists (NSBMT) held a workshop to solicit comments on the following topics it has included in proposed regulations: education requirements, requirements for restroom signage, changes to the existing regulation regarding unethical or unprofessional conduct, and a new requirement for a “managing therapist.”

ABMP disagrees with much of the proposal related to the requirement of a “managing therapist.” Read ABMP’s comments.

At the next NSBMT meeting, scheduled for April 14, 2011, the attorney hired by the board to draft the regulation will present his findings and comments from the workshop held in February. The board will then further discuss the issue and decide on how to proceed. ABMP will further advise members after the April meeting.

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Senate bill 500, sponsored by Sen. Landske, would change the current state certification (title protection) of massage therapists to state licensing (mandatory practice act).

The bill would also prohibit local units of government from establishing or maintaining licensing requirements for massage therapists. Massage therapists would only have to obtain the state license to practice.

If passed, an individual who is state certified as a massage therapist under the current law on June 30, 2011, would be considered to be licensed as a massage therapist on July 1, 2011 without having to meet any further qualifications.

Senate bill 363, sponsored by Sen. Miller, would require criminal background checks of health professionals. If passed, massage therapists would be subject to the law.

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House Bill 446 FN, sponsored by Representative Spec Bowers (Phone: (603)763-2369 Email: spec.bowers@leg.state.nh.us ) of Sunapee, would repeal the professional regulation of several occupations in New Hampshire, including massage therapists, reflexologists, structural integrators, and Asian bodywork therapists. A hearing has been scheduled for February 22, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. in the House Committee of Executive Departments and Administration.

ABMP is opposed to this bill and encourages you to contact the members of the committee  and voice your opposition.

The profession has been regulated in New Hampshire since 1980. The current licensing law sets entry-level standards for education and provides an avenue for consumer complaint. While ABMP would not be opposed to lowering the 700 hour entry-level education requirement to 500 hours to be more consistent with the rest of the country, there is no reason to repeal the regulation altogether.

Representative Bowers claims that he and his co-sponsors believe the “consumer is king and they should be able to hire the provider of their choice without interference from the state.” We agree and believe this is already the case even with regulation. Representative Bowers is also concerned that regulation discourages entrepreneurs from bringing businesses and jobs to the state. Setting entry-level education standards for a health profession is not discouraging entrepreneurs, it’s protecting the public.

Please take a minute and contact the committee members.

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Senate bill 1078 has been introduced in the Idaho Senate. If passed, the bill would require massage therapists to become licensed by the state and establish a Board of Massage Therapy to implement the process.

The bill would set minimum training requirements, define a scope of practice, provide an avenue for consumer complaint, and pre-empt local regulations.

For a period of two years, existing practitioners would be able to qualify for a state license by meeting one of the following criteria:

1. Has completed a massage program consisting of a minimum 500 hours; or
2. Has completed a massage program of at least 300 hours and has practiced massage for at least 5 hours a week for a period of 3 years; or
3. Has completed a massage program of at least 200 hours and has practiced massage for at least 5 hours a week for a period of 5 years; or
4. Has been an active member of a national massage therapist association (such as ABMP) which provides professional liability insurance for at least a year; or
5. Has passed an examination approved by the board.

After two years, all applicants will have to demonstrate they have completed a massage program consisting of at least 500 hours and passed an examination approved by the board.

Several practices would be exempt from licensure as long as practitioners do not practice, or advertise that they practice massage therapy, including: reflexology, movement educators (Feldenkrais, Trager, and Body-Mind Centering), energy work (Reiki, Shiatsu, Asian Bodywork, Polarity), structural integrators (Rolfing and Hellerwork).

The bill has been assigned to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee but an initial hearing has not yet been scheduled. ABMP will keep members informed.

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ABMP recently sent a postcard to members on behalf of the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). This is a great time to apply for CAMTC certification for several reasons:

• The initial rush of applicants is over. Application processing is efficient; you can expect your certification approximately 60 days after submitting your application (provided there are no issues with your school records and background check report).
• A law was passed last year clarifying that CAMTC certification pre-empts ALL city and county ordinances – including charter cities and counties. CAMTC certification offers its certificate holders the freedom to practice statewide for the affordable fee of $150.
• Some cities, San Rafael for example, are requiring massage practitioners to become CAMTC certified instead of offering a city license to practice. Though unsure if this is a new precedent, the time is right to apply for CAMTC certification, especially if you attended a massage program that was less than 500 hours.

Download the application for CAMTC certification.

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Existing practitioners can dowload the application here.

The state of Pennsylvania is now accepting applications for licensing in massage therapy. Applications for licensing can be found on the State Board of Massage Therapy’s website.

Choosing the right form
If you completed a massage program of at least 600 hours and passed either the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) or one of the national certification exams offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), it may be easier to complete the form called “Application for Massage Therapist Licensure by Examination.”

If you have practiced massage therapy for at least one year and did not complete a massage program of at least 600 hours and pass an examination, you will choose the form called “Application for Massage Therapist Licensure for Existing Practitioners.”

Existing practitioners
You will need to prove that you have been working as a massage therapist. One way to demonstrate you are an existing practitioner is through membership in a professional association. If you are a current member of ABMP, we have already sent this verification to the board. There is no need to contact us. If you are an expired ABMP member and would like to request ABMP send the board information about your membership dates, contact Jean Robinson and ABMP will send the verification. This will satisfy your obligation to provide proof that you are an existing practitioner.

In addition, you will have to qualify for a license. One way to qualify is by showing that you have been a member of a professional association for at least five years. If you have been a member of ABMP for at least five years, we have already sent verification to the board. There is no need to contact us. If you’re not sure how long you’ve been a member, check the active date on your ABMP membership card.

If you have not been a member of ABMP for at least 5 years, don’t panic. There are several other ways to qualify for the license that are outlined on the application form.

Other required information
All applicants are required to submit the completed application, the $65 fee, a copy of your legal identification card, proof of high school graduation, the Certificate of Good Moral Character, an official Criminal History Record Information check, and current CPR certification.

Criminal history check
More information can be found at the Pennsylvania State Police website. If you don’t have a criminal record you can choose the first option, “Online Request,” and the result will likely be available immediately.

CPR certification
Online CPR courses are not acceptable. Courses must be hands-on and taken through the American Heart Association, American Red Cross or an agency substantially similar which will need to be approved by the board.

If your school is closed
If your school has closed and it was state-approved and licensed in Pennsylvania, call (717) 783-8228 and they will further direct you.

Exempt from licensing
Professions exempt from obtaining state licensing—as long as practitioners do not practice or advertise that they practice massage therapy—include reflexology, movement education (Feldenkrais, Trager, and Body-Mind Centering), and energy work (reiki, shiatsu, asian bodywork, polarity).

Avoid common mistakes:

• If you have changed your name because of a marriage or divorce and the name on the application is different from the name you used in school, send a copy of your marriage or divorce documentation along with your application.
• Don’t lie on the screening questions. An arrest, criminal conviction, or disciplinary action will not automatically disqualify a candidate for registration. Lying on the application will not help your cause and could be considered a violation of ABMP’s Code of Ethics.
• Don’t skip any lines on the application.
• Send all of the documentation requested in the application. It only delays your application to not be thorough.

Contact information
Questions can be directed to:

State Board of Massage Therapy
P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Phone: (717) 783-7155, Email: RA-Massagetherapy@state.pa.us

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As previously reported, ABMP helped develop a Sunrise Application for the state of Vermont last year. The sunrise process is a preliminary assessment of the massage therapy profession conducted by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) to determine whether, in its opinion, the profession should be regulated by the state.

The Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) has recommended that Massage Therapists not be subject to professional regulation in the State of Vermont.

OPR cited the following reasons for not recommending state regulation for massage therapy:

1. The applicants have not demonstrated that the unregulated practice of massage therapy can clearly harm or endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the public. The potential for harm is remote and speculative.
2. There has been no showing that the public requires a State approved assurance of initial and continuing professional ability. Professional training and certification programs meet this need and are advertised by massage therapists.
3. The best regulator of this profession remains the marketplace. In the rare instance where harm may occur, the public is sufficiently protected through existing common law and civil remedies. Where someone posing as a massage therapist violates criminal laws, those laws effectively protect the public.
4. No stronger civil remedies have been required, tried, or found to be insufficient.

Read the complete “Massage Therapist Sunrise Report” from OPR.
http://www.vtprofessionals.org/downloads/sunrise/massagetherapistsunriserpt%202010%201230.pdf

Thank you to everyone who participated in the process by attending the meeting in October 2010, or sent comments to OPR. ABMP will remain engaged in future regulatory efforts in Vermont and will keep members informed.

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The New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy has been working to draft proposed rules and regulations to implement the law passed by the legislature in January 2008. When fully implemented, the law will change the regulation of massage therapists in New Jersey from a voluntary title protection to a mandatory practice act. All massage therapists (and certain bodyworkers) will be required to obtain a state license to practice. How the board interprets and implements the law passed in 2008 is a very important step in the process. ABMP’s goal is to positively influence and educate the board members so the policies adopted are consistent with the rest of the country and result in an efficient application process for our members and other practitioners. Read the New Jersey board’s proposed regulations.

The board will host a public conference on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 10:00 A.M. at the Library Auditorium, College of New Jersey, 200 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ 08628. A court reporter will be present to record the proceedings. Requests to speak should be submitted in writing (address below). Specific presentation times will be assigned. Those who do not preregister to speak will be given an opportunity to do so only as time permits.

Written comments are also encouraged and can be forwarded to the Board office, or to Jean Robinson (jean@abmp.com) by January 24, 2011. Read ABMP’s comments on the proposed regulations.

 

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SUGGESTED ACTION STEPS FOR MEMBERS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS NOTICE – DEADLINE JANUARY 18, 2011

The Maryland Board of Chiropractic Examiners is promulgating rules to implement the changes in the law enacted by the Legislature in October 2008.

Some of the changes suggested are fundamental housekeeping items, such as name change (for example, the board will be known as the Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners). Others, however, are more substantial in nature and are cause for concern. Specifically, ABMP has concern about the following changes or oversights:

1. Lack of choice in required examination; and
2. Overhaul of continuing education approval process.

An explanation of each of these areas follows:

COMAR 10.43.17.04: Include the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) as an accepted examination for licensure.The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) is accepted by twenty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands). In addition, the exam has been endorsed as the preferred licensure examination by ABMP, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), and the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education (AFMTE).

The exam is psychometrically valid (based on a job task analysis of more than 7,600 practitioners) and its development included the regulatory community at every step to ensure the exam’s focus on public protection—a regulatory board’s mission and responsibility. The MBLEx is administered through Pearson VUE at the highest level of security available in test centers across the United States.

ABMP supports the MBLEx in part because the application process is easier for exam candidates resulting in better access to licensure and the right to practice. It helps licensure applicants meet the exam qualification for licensure more efficiently resulting in candidates getting their license in a more timely manner and therefore starting work more quickly after graduation.

Our view: There is no reason for the Maryland Board not to accept the exam and provide relief to applicants for licensure who may be delayed by independent certification boards and their specific qualifications to test.

It is also important to note that by accepting “National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) examination, the board is essentially accepting all exams offered by the certification organization NCCAOM whether the exam focuses on Asian Bodywork, Acupuncture, Oriental Medicine, or Chinese Herbology. ABMP is hopeful that the board does not intend to limit exam options for massage therapists by excluding the MBLEx, while at the same time allowing passage of the Oriental Medicine of Herbology exam to suffice.

COMAR 10.43.20.02: Don’t overcomplicate the continuing education approval process.The Board has sought to revise the approval process for continuing education providers, and ABMP has a few suggestions to offer.

The board is concerned that currently they are obligated to accept all NCBTMB-approved continuing education whether it is massage-related or not, and that by automatically accepting NCBTMB-approved providers, they are giving preferential treatment to that organization. To solve this, the board is suggesting eliminating NCBTMB recognition as a means of approval, and instead would review/approve any course seeking credit towards Maryland’s practitioner continuing education requirements.

Our view: If the Board is concerned about giving preferential treatment to NCBTMB, they could also include ABMP and AMTA approval to broaden the process, while still maintaining the right to reject any course that does not relate to the practice of massage therapy. The Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners recognizes CE courses offered by the American Physical Therapy Association; there should be some consistency among regulations and professions.

The board has public protection and client safety in mind; typical CE course offerings in the massage profession focus on new techniques or disciplines, practice and career development, and client safety. Thoughtful inclusion of “related” subjects will help therapists prosper. Not every CE course can or should be limited to safety, hygiene, or jurisprudence. If the Board feels CE courses should be limited to only those that directly affect its charge of public protection and safety, it should reduce the number of required CE hours accordingly.

One issue that we believe is simply a typographical error:
Continuing Education Course processing fee per hourly course unit—$25.

Our understanding is that the intent of the board is to allow as many courses to be approved under a provider at one time (one mailing) for the fee of $25; if that is the case the language needs to be changed to reflect that policy. This existing language cannot be interpreted to suggest that policy.

Suggested change: Continuing Education Course processing fee per provider $25

ABMP is very concerned that members have access to all forms of continuing education and that it remains as affordable as possible.

Suggested Action Steps for members:The deadline to submit comments related to the regulation changes is January 18, 2011. ABMP encourages you to use the information contained in this notice to submit your own comments to the Office of Regulation and Policy Coordination.

Comments may be sent to:
Michele Phinney, Director, Office of Regulation and Policy Coordination
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
201 W. Preston Street, Room 512
Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Email: regs@dhmh.state.md.us

Fax: 410-767-6483

A public hearing has not been scheduled. This may be the only opportunity to comment.

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ABMP/ASCP received a request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Justice Assistance to help raise awareness regarding buyers purchasing large amounts of products, such as hydrogen peroxide and acetone. Click here to view the alert.

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As previously reported, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Kansas chapter submitted a sunrise document, essentially an assessment and overview of the profession focusing on whether there is a need to license massage therapists in Kansas, to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The KDHE Occupational Credentialing Technical Review Committee (Committee) has been appointed to review the document in a series of four meetings. It will then recommend (based on information contained in this document) whether, in its opinion, massage therapy should be regulated in the state of Kansas. In order to secure a favorable recommendation from the committee, the profession must meet ten criteria, the most important being that the unregulated practice of massage therapy can potentially harm the public.

The first of four meetings was held on November 30, 2010. The three remaining meetings have now been scheduled for 2011. On January 27, 2011, the Committee will continue to review the sunrise document. At the third meeting, scheduled for February 24, 2011, the Committee will accept public comment and anyone may voice their personal opinion in favor of, or opposed to, the regulation of massage therapists. And on March 24, 2011, the Committee will make their final recommendation regarding the regulation of massage therapists.

All meetings will be held at 1pm at the same location:

Kansas National Education Association Building
715 Southwest 10th Avenue, Room D
Topeka, Kansas 66612

The meetings are open to the public and ABMP encourages members interested in the proceedings to attend. If you can’t attend the meeting in February, send your comments to:
Steve Irwin, MS
Health Occupations Credentialing
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 200
Topeka, KS 66612

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The Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing (DRL) is now accepting applications for licensure. All massage therapists are required to become licensed by December 1, 2010 in order to continue practicing. This is a very tight deadline but the good news is, if you are diligent in filling out the application properly, the DRL processing time is 2-3 days. Submit the application as soon as possible and you will not have a problem becoming licensed by December.

Transitioning Your State Certification to a State License

It is very important that you use the proper licensing application. If you currently hold an active Wisconsin State Certification issued by the DRL you should have received a postcard outlining what you need to do. If you did not receive a notice, go to the renewal section of the DRL website (https://online.drl.wi.gov/UserLogin.aspx?renewafter=true) , log in, and the system will guide you through the renewal application.

New Applicants, Not Currently Wisconsin State Certified

If you are not currently Wisconsin State Certified by DRL you will use the grandfathering application which can be found here: http://drl.wi.gov/docview.asp?docid=938&locid=0.

Choose the qualification for licensure that best applies to you. Check ONE of the following four available avenues to qualify for a license and provide the requested information.

1. You’ve practiced for a minimum of 10 hours a week for 10 years.
2. You’ve passed an approved exam, either:
   • The Massage & Bodywork Exam(MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards(FSMTB); OR
   • One of the exams offered by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork(NCBTMB); OR
   • The Asian Bodywork Therapy Exam offered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine(NCCAOM).
3. You graduated from a massage or bodywork therapy training program that consisted of at least 600 hours prior to June 4, 2010; OR
4. You have been actively practicing massage or bodywork therapy for an average of 10 hours a week for at least 3 years AND you completed a massage training program consisting of at least 200 hours.

Then complete the relevant portions of the application form (8 pages total).

Application Fee

ALL applicants are required to complete the application and pay the $75 fee, make the check payable to DRL.

CPR/AED Certification

ALL applicants are required to have a current certification in CPR/AED and you will need to submit a copy of your CPR/AED certificate with your application. Make sure you sign the certificate and copy both the front and back. If you are not currently certified in CPR/AED, a list of DRL approved courses can be found here: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ems/License_certification/CPR.htm

Liability Insurance

ALL applicants are required to have a minimum of $1,000,000 coverage in professional liability insurance. The liability insurance included in your ABMP membership is more than adequate. You will need to submit a copy of your current Certificate of Insurance. You can print a copy from www.abmp.com. Log in using your six-digit ABMP member number and your password (if you don’t know your password, click on “Forgot your password?” and it will be emailed to you). On the right side of the webpage, under “Account Tools and Information,” choose “Check your certificate of insurance,” then click on “Access your certificate of insurance” and print.

Exempt From Licensure
While specific practices are not named in Wisconsin law as exempt from licensure, there are four categories of exempt practices:

1. Practitioners manipulating only the soft tissue of the hands, feet, and ears; and
2. Practitioners using touch, words, and directed movement to change a client’s awareness of existing patterns of movement; and
3. Practitioners using touch to affect the energy systems; and
4. Practitioners using touch and education to effect change in the structure of the body while engaged in the practice of structural integration.

As long as you don’t practice massage therapy in addition to these practices, you do not have to become licensed in Wisconsin. A person who is exempt from licensure may use the terms “bodywork,” “bodyworker,” and “bodywork therapy.”

For further information about the rules and regulations regarding licensing go the DRL website, Massage Therapist or Bodywork Therapist profession: http://drl.wi.gov/profession.asp?profid=143&locid=0

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Changes in Financial Aid Mix Since 2008

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) today released results of its biennial survey of massage school operations, providing benchmarking data massage therapy schools and programs can use to evaluate their operations. ABMP has conducted the research since 1998 as a service to the profession.

In September, ABMP e-mailed a confidential survey to 1,229 massage, bodywork, and somatic therapy schools in the United States for which ABMP had e-mail addresses on file. ABMP received 253 responses, a 20.6 percent response rate. The survey results were tabulated and analyzed in October.^[i]

Of the respondents, nearly half were career schools, a quarter were proprietary, 20 percent were colleges, and the remaining 5 percent were public institutions. Nearly 70 percent of the responding schools reported being accredited.

Tuition and Attrition
Financial aid was reported as available to students in 150 of the schools surveyed, representing 73.9 percent of the 203 respondents who answered this question. The percentage of students receiving financial aid varied widely. The financial aid entities used by massage programs were as follows.

• Title IV – 83.2 percent.
• Personal loan – 66.4 percent.
• Sallie Mae – 48.2 percent.

These figures represent a dramatic change from two years ago in that Sallie Mae declined over the two-year period from 65.5 percent to 48.2 percent, while Title IV financial aid jumped by 36.4 points from 46.8 percent in 2008 to 83.2 percent. Personal loans rocketed from 3.8 percent in 2008 to 66.4 percent this year.

Fifteen schools (7.4 percent) offer payment plans for students, while 10 schools rely on state aid (4.9 percent) and 13 schools (6.4 percent) offer scholarships, Veterans Administration funding, and work-study programs.

School attrition rates dropped slightly from the 14 percent reported in 2008 to 12.6 percent reported this year. In 2006, the average attrition rate was 9.9 percent and in 2004 it was 11 percent. This year, schools identified the top 10 reasons students say they do not complete school. Family or personal reasons and financial problems were the most common reasons students gave for leaving school.

Marketing Tactics
Reflecting a trend over the last six years, schools report their most successful marketing efforts are word of mouth, their Web sites, and pay-per-click advertising. Of those answering the question, 92.4 percent named word of mouth (146 respondents) and their Web sites (145 respondents) as their most effective marketing tools. Social media are beginning to be used more often by schools for communication and marketing to prospects and students. More than 95 percent identified Facebook as their preferred medium for social networking efforts.

ABMP serves massage, bodywork, and somatic therapy professionals, and is devoted to promoting ethical practices, fostering acceptance of the profession, and protecting the rights of legitimate massage and bodywork practitioners. Representing more than 75,000 members, ABMP is headquartered in Golden, Colo. ABMP is employee owned and is the largest massage therapy membership association in the nation.

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[i] The questionnaire was e-mailed to state-approved massage therapy programs. Not all respondents answered every question. The same methodology has been used in the surveys since 1998.

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Instructors on the Front Lines Addresses Student Motivation and Learning

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) today announced its 2011 schedule for the next Instructors on the Front Lines workshops, with sessions planned in 27 cities across the nation from January through November. The six-hour sessions, titled “From Handholding to Capacity Building,” are held on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., include a complimentary lunch, and qualify for six NCBTMB-approved continuing education credits.

Topics of interest to massage educators, education directors, and program managers will include the following for the benefit of the schools and their students.

• Practical solutions for student motivation-building, critical thinking, and communication skills to improve student preparedness, responsibility, and interest in learning.
• Administrator and faculty networking in a supportive environment.
• Resources and practical activities for greater student and school success.

Instructors on the Front Lines is an educational series that has already reached more than 1,000 educators. It is designed to support massage instructors in creating meaningful learning environments, in response to feedback that some massage students aren’t as proactive and prepared to learn as they could be. The 2011 series is meant to support student success and classroom management on the campus.

“Instructors on the Front Lines was developed as part of a broader school program that’s nearing its 15th year,” said ABMP Director of Education Anne Williams. “It recognizes massage schools as critical to the profession’s success.”

Five years ago, ABMP expanded its education staff and ramped up its efforts to bring even more support to educators. Other efforts of the expanded education department have included the following.

• ABMP School Connection newsletter.
• ABMP Student Success Curriculum.
• Enhanced online resources for students and instructors.
• Massage Year Planner.
• Student Success Guide.
• Teaching Massage: Fundamental Principles in Adult Education for Massage Program Instructors (a Lippincott Williams & Wilkins textbook).
• The Massage Educator.
• Webinars for schools, instructors, and students.

Workshop Dates and Locations
Learn more.
Register today!

Instructors on the Front Lines Series
“From Handholding to Capacity Building”
January 28, 2011: Atlanta, GA
February 11, 2011: Ontario, CA
February 25, 2011: Dallas, TX
March 11, 2011: Orlando, FL
March 18, 2011: Des Moines, IA
March 25, 2011: Phoenix, AZ
April 8, 2011: Oakland, CA
April 22, 2011: Charlotte, NC
May 6, 2011: Portland, OR
May 13, 2011: Baltimore, MD
June 10, 2011: San Diego, CA
June 17, 2011: Boston, MA
June 24, 2011: Chicago, IL
July 15, 2011: Hoboken, NJ
July 22, 2011: Toledo, OH
July 29, 2011: Seattle, WA
August 12, 2011: Madison, WI
August 26, 2011: Virginia Beach, VA
September 16, 2011: Reno, NV
September 23, 2011: Louisville, KY
October 14, 2011: Springfield, MA
October 21, 2011: Minneapolis, MN
October 28, 2011: Albuquerque, NM
November 4, 2011: Camden, NJ
November 11, 2011: Denver, CO
November 18, 2011: Nashville, TN

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Our nation’s health care system is undergoing an historic period of debate and subsequent change. While public attention focused on dramatic congressional votes earlier in 2010, equally important are the contexts of enumerable implementing regulations now being drafted. There’s an opportunity to influence the kind of sinew put on the bones of “prevention,” “wellness,” and “integrated” approaches to health care that form the core structure of a reformed health care system. Traditional medicine is accustomed to having a seat at the nation’s table when such changes are being considered, but massage therapy is not.

As a massage therapist you understand that your work is part of a comprehensive wellness plan—and your loyal clients understand, too. However, it’s up to individual practitioners and leaders within the profession to ensure massage is an integral part of these pivotal health care discussions, and a welcome, valued partner at the table. As your professional association, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) is dedicated to promoting the benefits and efficacy of massage therapy so they can be woven into this dialogue about preventive and integrative health.

As part of national health care reform, the U.S. Surgeon General convened a National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council in the summer of 2010 to develop an integrative health care strategy. The Council seeks input about transformative, evidence-based models that can aid a desired focus on prevention and wellness. The Council is soliciting public comments about how best to accomplish these goals. Wishing to be sure that ABMP members’ and the massage community’s views and abilities are well represented, ABMP commissioned Washington state massage therapist Diana L. Thompson to develop a formal response on its behalf. As past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation, Thompson is uniquely qualified to address the efficacy of massage therapy as a contributor to these goals. She is also keenly aware of the profession’s efforts to define itself and partner with integrative health care professionals. Diana is principal author of the following paper; members of ABMP’s senior management team worked closely with her in shaping the editorial content.

The structure of ABMP’s position paper mirrors the National Prevention Strategy framework and includes a vision, goals, and strategic directions. These elements are the building blocks that will guide the Council in developing specific recommendations, action steps, and strategies. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is dedicated to “moving the nation from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on wellness and prevention.” We want you to be informed as the process moves forward and trust that ABMP is representing your interests.

If you would like additional information about the National Prevention Council, visit www.healthcare.gov/nationalpreventioncouncil. As always, if you care to share your thoughts, please email us at expectmore@abmp.com.

Click here to read in its entirety ABMP’s position statement submitted to the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council.

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Join Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), Massage & Bodywork magazine, and Tom Myers for an engaging discussion of the Anatomy Trains–a revolutionary map that brings fascia, muscle, and movement together in a sensible and usable way.

In this webinar, we will quickly review all of the myofascial meridian lines and explore more in depth the first four lines–Back, Front, Lateral, and Spiral–by looking at the clinical applications and treatment strategies of each. We’ll discuss the fascial research that is coming down the pike and the significance of the paradigm shift in thinking about how the body really works.

Tom Myers directs Kinesis, which offers continuing education worldwide for manual therapists and movement educators. Tom is the author of the best-selling book Anatomy Trains (2009), as well as 10 accompanying DVD programs on technique, bodyreading, and dissection. Tom studied with Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, and Buckminster Fuller, and has been practicing integrative bodywork since 1974 in a variety of clinical and cultural settings. He lives on the coast of Maine with his partner Quan.

Before the webinar, please spend time reviewing http://www.anatomytrains.com/ or reading Anatomy Trains, which can be purchased through the website. Also review Tom’s article ” Fascia” in the Nov/Dec issue of Massage & Bodywork magazine.

Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Time: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM MST
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM PST
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Alaska
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Hawaii

Register at: www1.gotomeeting.com/register/153894328

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As part of its company mission to give back to the massage industry, Bon Vital is offering a $1,000 Cash “Holiday Massage Stimulus Package” to either a massage therapist or a massage student currently enrolled at an accredited massage therapy school. Bon Vital is family-owned and we consider our customers part of our family, so we created an opportunity in which every massage therapist and student is eligible for a chance to boost their careers with the “Holiday Massage Stimulus Package.”

“Our goal is to have massage therapists and students promote the theme of giving to their clients, and spread the word of massage therapy,” stated Thomas Heidenberger, President of Bon Vital, Inc. “Massage therapy is for everyone, and it is important that we let the population know of the therapeutic benefits and healing value. Even a simple gift, such as giving a free massage to a potential new client, is all it takes. The time is now; if we all give together we can change the world for the better.”

The drawing will be videotaped on Wednesday, December 8th, 2010, at 1 p.m. CST, by Ryan Hoyme of Massage Nerd. To enter the drawing (no purchase required) and for more details, visit www.bonvital.com.

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As reported in The Morning Call: On September 18, 2010, Steven Min was arrested at the Sands Casino for a Impersonating a Public Servant. Steven Min posted a job posting on Craigslist for Certified Massage Therapists to be hired for the high rollers at the Sands Casino to conduct massages for $160. Steven Min has identified himself as a Pennsylvania Gaming Board member and an employee of the Sands Casino. Steven Min has no affiliation with the Sands Casino or has ever been a Pennsylvania Gaming Board member. Min is not a state employee. Steven Min is currently incarcerated at the Northampton County prison under $10,000 straight bail.

For years, Min—also known as Steven Sung and Steven Yamamoto—has allegedly been contacting massage therapists with sham job offers. He solicits practitioners for supposed lucrative job openings and requests late-night meetings and massage samplings. Some practitioners have reported harassment after the initial contact. Massage therapists in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Nevada have reported similar stories regarding Min. A photo of Min is posted The Morning Call online.

Victims of this scam can contact Investigator Moses Miller of the Bethlehem Police Department at 610-997-7674. The investigation is ongoing.

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ABMP is happy to report that, on September 30, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 1822. In his veto message he stated:

“This bill is unnecessary and inappropriately requires specific law enforcement association appointments to the California Massage Therapy Council. This Council is already working closely with law enforcement professionals across the state to ensure the profession is appropriately screened for past criminal activity before being certified. In addition, there are members of the public, not associated with the massage industry, already appointed to this Council.”

ABMP and the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) could not agree more. Thank you Governor Schwarzenegger! ABMP’s lobbyist, Kathryn Scott, working with our staff, played a pivotal role in achieving the final outcome.

In other news, Senate Bill 294 was signed into law. The bill clarifies that the massage therapy provisions of SB 731 (passed in 2008) extend and apply to ALL cities and counties, INCLUDING charter cities and charter counties. As you may be aware, several charter cities (such as Irvine) were resistant to accepting CAMTC authority to certify practitioners and pre-empt local massage therapist licensing requirements. The passage of this bill clarifies that CAMTC certification will indeed pre-empt all such local massage license requirements.

Keep in mind that cities and counties, per SB 731, still may require that a massage therapist setting up a practice obtain a business permit, just as other professionals and retail service providers must do. Zoning, health, and safety requirements also apply, although they cannot be more rigorously applied to massage therapists than they are for others.

Please also exhibit patience over the implementation of SB 294. The CAMTC is on the case, but desires to work with cities, using its now strengthened hand, rather than provoke battles. If you seek to start a practice and are rebuffed, please inform us so we can bring your circumstance to CAMTC’s attention.

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Report to ABMP Members

September 27 -29, 2010

Sixty participants gathered in Washington, DC to discuss new opportunities for the complementary and alternative health care community made possible by the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Obama in March, 2010. The Affordable Care Act focuses primarily on new consumer protections, improving quality and lowering the costs of healthcare, and increasing access to affordable care. Several sections within the law relate directly to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners and integrative practices (specifically 2706, 3502, 4001, 4206, 5101, 6301 and 2301).

The goal of the working conference was to identify and strengthen opportunities for collaboration within the CAM community and to begin developing goals, strategies, and action plans for the implementation phase of the Affordable Health Care Act. Conference attendees formed six work groups that concentrated on the following issues: improving access to integrated health care, defining the heath care workforce, expanding health promotion and wellness programs, finding opportunities for inclusionary Current Procedural Terminology (CPT codes), setting a research agenda, and identifying opportunity for integration in practice and service delivery to patients.

A summary of the conference and work group sessions will be available on the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) website. This report will form the basis for further activity. http://www.ihpc.info/

Dr. Josephine Briggs, Director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at National Institutes of Health (NIH) presented on the new NCCAM Strategic Plan (http://plan.nccam.nih.gov/?nav=upd). The mission of NCCAM is to define, through rigorous scientific investigation, the usefulness and safety of complementary and alternative medicine interventions and their roles in improving health and health care. Their new strategic plan is of interest to many CAM providers since it sets the tone for government research priorities.

The event was hosted by the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium, the Institute for Integrative Health, and the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Health Policy.
ABMP will continue to participate in ongoing efforts and work groups and will keep members informed.

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For the last few months AB 1822 has been making its way through the legislative process. In its original form, the bill would have significantly gutted the authority of the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) and the certification process enacted under SB 731 (Oropeza) in 2008. In its current form, the bill would provide both the California Police Chiefs Association and the California State Sheriffs’ Association with the ability to appoint a person to the CAMTC board of directors. The bill has passed the General Assembly. The governor must sign or veto legislation within 12 days or it becomes law without his signature.

ABMP remains opposed to the bill (for reasons spelled out in ABMP’s Request for Veto) and has asked Governor Schwarzenegger to veto it. Other regulatory boards in California include members from the profession and the public. The inclusion of law enforcement organization appointees on a professional board is unprecedented and punitive.

Read ABMP’s Request for Veto

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Includes User-friendly Tools and Unlimited Pages for ABMP Members

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) has just released its new ABMP Website Builder as a member benefit, creating an even better website tool for promoting member massage and bodywork practices. ABMP’s Website Builder is custom-built, making it the most practitioner-friendly program offered by a massage membership association. And it’s completely free. There is no cost for website registration, hosting, and an unlimited number of pages.

A decade ago, ABMP was the first massage therapy association to recognize that massage therapists needed a Web presence to succeed. ABMP was the first to invest in website hosting and creation tools on behalf of its members.

“We can’t overstate the importance of an online presence for massage therapists, especially when they work independently,” says Lara Bracciante, director of information services for ABMP. “Today’s clients don’t just prefer finding businesses on the Web—they expect it. We want to make it easy for members to have beautiful, professional websites that clearly communicate the quality of their work. This tool is a distinct advantage to every ABMP member.”

Features of the ABMP Website Builder include:

• No charge and no pressure to buy an upgrade. There is no cost to members for domain registration (.abmp.com or .massagetherapy.com), hosting, or setup. No one will call or e-mail with a sales pitch for upgrading service packages.
• Unlimited website pages. Members can add as many pages as they want.
• Content roadmap. The ABMP Website Builder provides 11 starter pages with content suggestions that make it easy to cover the basics—like the benefits of massage, cancellation policies, and frequently asked questions. Members can adapt, delete, or use the templates as is.
• Dozens of professional designs. Members choose from 25 flexible and professionally designed templates with three color choices each, totaling 75 different options.
• Logo included in the template design. Members can easily add their own logos as a natural-looking element of the design.
• Specials/call-out box. For emphasis, a box can be integrated into the template to highlight certain information, like the therapist’s location, monthly specials, or online booking. When the member fills that out, the information automatically appears throughout the site.
• Embedded video. For a personal touch, members can easily add video to any or all website pages.
• Automated Google map. When members include an address on their website, one extra click generates a Google map to make it even easier for clients to locate the practitioner.
• Contact form. This option allows clients and potential clients to reach members through a contact form without the therapist having to publish an e-mail address that invites unwanted e-mail messages.
• Search engine optimization. All pages provide fields for members to specify keywords that make their websites appear more prominently when potential clients search for massage therapy services.
• Smartphone compatibility. Template options are available that allow client smartphones to view member websites in an appealing and legible format.
• Client and therapist time-savers. Clients can easily download intake forms to bring with them to appointments, allowing them to more accurately and conveniently fill them out at home. These forms include First-time Client Health History, Screening Questionnaire, Body Map, Client Feedback, Physician’s Permission, and Physician’s Referral form.
• Online booking. ABMP members can set up their schedules so clients can see availability and make appointments 24/7. For booking a massage, many people prefer this option to voicemail and phone tag.
• Gift certificate/Paypal sales setup. Research shows most gift certificates are purchased at the last minute. ABMP members can sell gift certificates and take payment online 24/7, even if the member does not accept credit cards in their practice.

“We developed the ABMP Website Builder with massage therapists in mind every step of the way,” Bracciante says. “The system has been custom-built for our members and has many advantages over a third-party product or a one-size-fits-all website builder that doesn’t cater to profession-specific needs. As such, we can continually add customized features and templates that our members tell us are key to their success.”

ABMP is the nation’s largest membership association serving massage therapists and bodyworkers. ABMP promotes ethical practice, fosters acceptance of the profession, and protects the rights of legitimate practitioners. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Golden, Colo., ABMP has more than 73,000 massage therapist, student, and school members.

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Governor David Paterson signed SB 5431 into law on August 30, 2010 after the bill was rushed through the legislature. The law will require massage therapists to complete 36 hours of continuing education during each triennial registration period. Of this, a maximum of twelve hours may be self-instruction. Licensees will have to complete a prorated number of continuing education requirements in the first triennial registration period. Licensees could be granted an exemption by the department for reasons of hardship or military service.

Unfortunately the New York General Assembly ignored valid concerns repeatedly brought forth by ABMP and the massage therapy community concerning the approval process for continuing education workshops. The bill stipulates that acceptable formal continuing education be approved through a new state-based process that will require CE providers to pay a $900 fee to become approved. The excessive cost and application requirements will likely discourage many CE providers from offering courses in New York.

Another deterrent for prospective CE providers is that New York does not provide an exemption from licensure, even if teaching a class for a day, for out-of-state CE providers. All hands-on providers would have to become state-licensed in New York. Not an easy feat since the state requires 1,000 hours of entry-level education and its own state exam.

ABMP is concerned that these two deterrents will lead to limited CE providers and more costly classes for licensees than what is typical in other states that mandate CE for renewal. ABMP had asked Governor Paterson to veto the bill but were not successful. ABMP will help members stay informed as additional policies are developed by the department in consultation with the State Board for Massage Therapy.

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For several months, ABMP has worked (primarily through its role in CAMTC) with the sponsor of California Assembly Bill 1822 to effect several changes that would make AB 1822 more logical and supportive of the massage therapy profession. Unfortunately, the sponsor has stripped out the constructive clean-up language agreed upon, leaving only provisions for two more CAMTC board seats for specified law enforcement organizations. ABMP has engaged the professional lobbyist previously used in the state certification effort to help ensure a legislative result that prevents the undoing of the current state regulation.

View the document that has been distributed to California legislators.

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The Board of Massage and Bodywork currently issues licenses to massage and bodywork therapists and certificates to massage technicians. Delaware is the only state to have this two-tier system. Licensed therapists are required to complete at least 500 hours of education and pass a certification examination. Massage technicians are required to complete 300 hours of education and are not required to take an examination.

The intent of HB 463 was to ultimately eliminate the 300-hour massage technician category and require all practitioners to become licensed therapists. To achieve licensure, massage technicians would have been required to pass an examination in the next three years. No additional education would have been required.

ABMP was very disappointed in the lack of outreach and transparency by the Board of Massage and Bodywork during this process. We believe that the lack of transparency led to the governor’s veto. Massage practitioners in Delaware will continue to be regulated by the two-tier system.

Read the governor’s veto message.

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) today released a statement on an e-mail widely distributed last night to massage therapists by Will Green, owner of the now-defunct International Massage Association (IMA). His email appeared to be a response to an article in a massage therapy professional publication. ABMP’s response, distributed to the media and its members, follows. 

Within the past 24 hours, Massage Today magazine published an article titled “What Became of IMA?” and IMA’s owner, Will Green, sent to former International Massage Association (IMA) members a lengthy statement in response. As you may have heard, IMA Group, an insurance provider in the field, recently went out of business due to financial difficulties. In communicating the news to his former members, Mr. Green characterized some aspects of the insurance industry, and in particular Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), in a way that was not entirely accurate. 

ABMP is a full-service professional membership association, which provides liability insurance as one primary benefit of that membership. Insurance is an important piece of a practitioner’s portfolio—you want to make sure that you’re protected in the event a claim is filed against you—but insurance is not the sole valuable support a massage professional should expect from an association. 

In his comments, Mr. Green stated the following about liability insurance policies: 

All the other associations have master policies. The members are added to the policy with their limits. Here is what I have learned … these master policies have a limit. Most limits are $10 million. Each member is told they have a $1 million to $3 million limit but that is not really true. If the entire policy reaches $10 million in claims they have no ($0) coverage at all … ABMP is with the same company the IMA had. Does their policy have a limit? Good question if you have their coverage. 

Mr. Green is partially correct. And he raises a good question. Many providers of liability insurance to massage professionals, including the other full-service association, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), do have master policy limits. If combined payments to settle claims filed against all insured members in any policy year reach the $10 million threshold, there is no coverage left for the next member filing a claim. 

ABMP’s insurance policy has no such master policy cap. Each insured member has coverage up to the full policy limits stated on his or her insurance certificate—$2 million per incident and $3 million aggregate for each of three types of liability—professional, general, and product. That coverage is not limited by the claims experience of other ABMP members. In fact, we have been talking about this liability insurance policy difference in our advertisements and promotional materials for more than a year. 

Mr. Green and IMA ran into trouble, as he admits, by not focusing on the fundamental aspects of his business, including not keeping up with his obligation to pay his insurance carrier. By contrast, ABMP’s current leadership team has been managing the organization for 14 years. In that time, ABMP became the largest professional association in the field, all while maintaining a stable membership fee and dramatically increasing the value of our membership. 

Unlike IMA, which shuttled among multiple insurance companies, ABMP has enjoyed a solid, strong relationship with our A.M. Best “A” rated insurance underwriter for the past decade, and our insurance broker for the past 13 years. While others claim to offer unsurpassed coverage, ABMP’s member liability insurance policy truly is the most comprehensive policy available in the field—measured both by its policy limits and by its “occurrence-form” nature, rather than the more limited “claims-made” type of coverage offered by some others. 

Mr. Green reached out to ABMP in March, when he knew his organization was in trouble. We paid attention because we did not want to see 15,000 massage therapists be left out in the cold. But, after investigation, we determined we were not prepared to potentially put at risk the health of our own organization and our 72,000 members, considering the problems surrounding the IMA Group. 

What really matters to members of a professional association is having an organization and leadership they can rely upon, an association that backs up their words with actions. ABMP is such an association, a community—not solely an insurance provider. We have 43 staff members possessing diverse professional skills who come to work every day with the same focus: “What can we do to make our members’ careers more successful?” A few of them specialize in insurance matters, providing supportive help whenever a claim arises. Most of the staff focuses on a wide variety of other services—including magazines, websites, webinars, legislative support, and other assistance—to keep ABMP’s members abreast of developments in the profession and focused on what it takes to build and sustain a successful practice. 

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In Memoriam

The massage profession has lost a trusted voice and advocate in the July 18th passing of Nina McIntosh, author of The Educated Heart and longtime columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. Her 18-month struggle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) ended peacefully in the presence of friends and bodyworkers at her Asheville, North Carolina home. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 24, at the Brooks Howell Home, 266 Merrimon Ave., Asheville. A second service will be held August 14 in Memphis, Tennessee (details pending).

After graduating from the Tulane University School of Social Work in 1970, Nina worked as a psychiatric social worker for several years, graduated from the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in 1978, and became a certified Rolfer in 1981. Her 1999 book, The Educated Heart, was highly revered within the profession and quickly became (and remains) the ethics and boundaries textbook for many massage educators. In 2001, Nina brought her unique wit and professionalism to the pages of Massage & Bodywork in her ethics column, The Heart of Bodywork, which lasted until she put away her pen in December 2009. Along with several other industry leaders, Nina also partnered with Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals in 2008 for the writing of Teaching Massage: Fundamental Principles in Adult Education for Massage Program Instructors, an educator’s resource manual.
Honored with a Humanitarian Award from the World Massage Festival in 2010, Nina always strove to bring a new level of professional ethics and attitudes to the profession she loved.

A favorite quote from her book speaks volumes to the message she tried to impart:
“Professionalism doesn’t mean acting stuffy or keeping our clients at arms’ length. It simply means that, when we’re working, our focus is on our clients. We pay attention to them, we’re sensitive to their vulnerability. Being professional is just an educated way of being kind.”

Contributions in her honor can be made to the Massage Therapy Foundation, 500 Davis Street, Suite 900, Evanston, Illinois, 60201, or online at www.massagetherapyfoundation.org.

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ABMP Offers ABC’s “The View” Hosts a Complimentary Massage Therapy Session in Conjunction with EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week, July 18 To 24

(Golden, Colo., July 9) – Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) will celebrate its award-winning, 16th annual EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week, highlighting the benefits of massage, from Sunday, July 18, through Saturday, July 24. As in years past, ABMP members will hold grassroots events nationwide to give back to their communities and spread the word about the value of professional massage therapy.

“There’s no better time than now to tell the world about the value of legitimate, professional massage therapy,” said ABMP president and nationally certified massage therapist Les Sweeney. “It’s clear from recent events in the news that there are still a few folks out there—including some in the media—who aren’t clear about the code of conduct followed by massage therapists and the therapeutic value of professional massage therapy. It’s professional work that calls for significant training, adherence to a code of ethics, and professional licensing in 43 states.”

ABMP this week issued an invitation for a free one-hour massage session to co-hosts on ABC’s “The View,” and Joe Scarborough of NBC’s “Morning Joe,” after some stories with disrespectful comments about massage therapy were aired on their shows.

On behalf of the 293,000 massage therapists in the United States, ABMP pointed out the following to hosts and producers at these media outlets:

• Professional massage therapists complete anywhere from 250 to 1,000 hours of training in order to work legally in regulated states.
• ABMP therapists are required to follow a strict code of ethics.
• Massage therapy is the most-requested service in spas.
• The most typical session length for a table massage is 60 minutes. The next most frequent request is 75 to 90 minutes.
• At a massage session, a client undresses in private, only to his or her level of comfort, and is carefully draped at all times during the session, so that only the area being worked on is exposed.
• Any inappropriate remarks or actions by a client result in immediate termination of the massage session with no refund.
• There are numerous health and relaxation benefits from receiving massage therapy.
• Consumers can find out more at www.massagetherapy.com. The site includes the ability to search for links to qualified therapists.

“Unfortunately, massage terminology is used as a cover by some for illegal activities that have nothing to do with the work our members perform,” Sweeney said. “This puts legitimate professionals at unnecessary personal risk, and damages a profession that has made great strides in public recognition and acceptance in recent decades.”

Independent consumer research shows 42 percent of American adults have received at least one massage during their lifetime. Interest in and acceptance of massage therapy has grown significantly in the past two or three decades, thanks to ongoing education and the quality of work that’s being accomplished. The rise of spas and the aging of baby boomers have contributed to this trend.

Grassroots events for EveryBody Deserves an Massage Week this year include a contest giving away a massage to a deserving member of a community, fundraisers for a children’s hospital and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and complimentary 30-minute massages for veterans. To find out about events that may be happening in your area, contact ABMP PR Specialist Nora Brunner at 800-458-2267, ext. 647.

ABMP is the nation’s largest massage membership association and serves the profession by promoting ethical practice, fostering acceptance of the profession, and protecting the rights of legitimate massage and bodywork practitioners. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Golden, Colo., ABMP has more than 72,000 massage therapy professional and student members nationwide.

Contact:
Nora Brunner
Public Relations
nora@abmp.com
800-458-2267, ext. 647

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Charitable and Educational Events Benefit Communities

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) today announced dates for the 2010 EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week, which promotes the benefits of massage to consumers. Massage therapists will hold events between Sunday, July 18, and Saturday, July 24, in communities nationwide. The award-winning promotion is open to both ABMP members and non-members to help build their businesses and visibility.

The use of massage therapy has boomed in the last two decades. Massage has proven health benefits, such as effectiveness in treating persistent back pain and arthritis pain, as well as strengthening the immune system. It also reduces symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and much more. Consumer research shows first-time massage therapy clients report very positive feelings about their experience.

ABMP has sponsored a charitable, promotional massage event since 1995, with members holding celebrations that have included educational lectures, complimentary chair massage and gift certificate contests. Last year, ABMP introduced online customizable event materials for members, available at ABMP.com, Members section. Hard-copy event materials are also available to members and non-members, while supplies last, by calling 800-458-2267, ext. 632, or emailing expectmore@abmp.com. ABMP also loans participants large vinyl color banners (deposit required).

ABMP is the nation’s largest massage membership association. Headquartered in Golden, Colo., ABMP has more than 70,000 massage therapist members.

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) has again been named “Association of the Year” by the World Massage Festival held in Berea, Ky. Festival founder Mike Hinkle presented the 2010 award to ABMP President Les Sweeney at a ceremony June 19.

“ABMP continues to lead the profession, especially with customer service,” Hinkle said. “Their creation of www.massageprofessionals.com led the entire industry in trying to bring all facets and memberships together. And it works! Congratulations to ABMP for another great year.” Hinkle is the former owner of Pensacola Massage Center in Pensacola, Fla.

“Once again, we are honored to have received this recognition,” Sweeney said. “The credit really goes to our loyal members, who have supported us as we’ve grown.” The festival is in its fifth year and reaches out to massage therapists, educators, profession leaders, and the general public in supporting massage practice and education. The festival helps therapists network with each other, massage business suppliers, schools, and professional associations. For more information, call 336-957-8997 or visit www.worldmassagefestival.com.

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals is a professional membership association serving the massage therapy profession by promoting ethical practice, fostering acceptance of the profession, and protecting the rights of legitimate massage and bodywork practitioners. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Golden, Colo., ABMP is the largest massage membership association in the United States with more than 72,000 massage therapist members.

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and the massage therapy profession have again been reminded by news events that continuing work needs to be done to educate the public and media about the legitimacy of the tens of thousands of licensed and qualified massage therapists practicing in the United States. The prominence of one individual named in the most recent story means the coverage could go on for some time.

No one doubts the massage profession has made tremendous strides over several decades in re-casting the image of massage therapists in the favorable and respectful light they deserve. It’s disturbing that some news commentators haven’t reached an enlightened perspective on the work that massage therapists do, and instead are using imprecise terminology and innuendo that fuels false perceptions.

There are still people trading on the good name of massage therapy to provide cover for illegal activities. As long as the term “massage therapy” is misappropriated by these operators, we will continue to correct the record and educate consumers and the media.

While we at ABMP are contacting media outlets nationwide to express our concerns, we believe another approach might also be effective. Just as legislators pay more attention to individually written letters than they do form letters, we suggest massage therapists disturbed by this coverage post or send their complaints to the offending news websites. This is truly a case where the strength in numbers of 72,000 ABMP massage therapists is more powerful than a single institutional voice.

Join Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), Massage & Bodywork magazine, and Whitney Lowe for an engaging discussion of active engagement techniques. These treatment approaches are a valuable approach in every clinician’s strategies for treating pain and injury conditions. Active engagement techniques incorporate active client movement along with specific massage treatment applications and can be applied to virtually any region of the body. Not only are they a great way to treat pain and injury conditions, they are also an excellent method for increasing the effectiveness of pressure during deep massage applications, making less work for the therapist. Whitney will:

• Cover theoretical concepts of active engagement methods.
• Show how these techniques can be incorporated in your practice.

Whitney Lowe is the author of Orthopedic Assessment in Massage Therapy and Orthopedic Massage: Theory and Technique. His articles appear regularly in professional journals and magazines. In 1994, he founded the Orthopedic Massage Education & Research Institute (OMERI) to provide massage therapists the advanced education they would need for treating orthopedic soft-tissue disorders.
When registering, please click on the red “show time in my time zone” link to receive the appropriate webinar start time in your confirmation email.
For time zone assistance, click here.

Reserve your Webinar seat now!

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MT Body of Knowledge Document Released

How Did We Get Here, and What Does It Mean?

Please join us June 23 for a complimentary webinar regarding the implications of the inaugural Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) document. The document was released May 15, 2010, at the Highlighting Massage Therapy in CIM Research Conference in Seattle, Washington. The MTBOK was developed by an eight-member task force selected by representatives of the largest organizations serving our profession.

We will discuss the MTBOK and its development, significance, and possible implications. Three of the task force members—Kevin Pierce, Susan Salvo, and Dawn Schmidt—will discuss the project and address questions and comments submitted by viewers. Attendance is limited, so register now and log on early to ensure your participation in the live event. Those who are not able to participate in the live event can enjoy the recorded version of the webinar available at www.mtbok.org by June 29th.

To read more about this project, turn to page 44 of the upcoming July/August 2010 issue of Massage & Bodywork magazine for the article: “The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge: What the MTBOK Is and Why You Should Care.” Or visit the digital edition at www.abmp.com.

When registering, please click on the red “show time in my time zone” link to receive the appropriate webinar start time in your confirmation email.
Reserve your webinar seat now at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/766511200.

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California is in the process of redefining the regulation of massage therapy. It is considering AB 1822 which would, if passed, severely alter the regulatory powers of the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC).

AB 1822, heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 19, 2010, was referred to the suspense file until amendments to the bill could be made. ABMP expects the amendment to be drafted this week and for the Appropriations Committee to vote on Friday, May 28. Should the bill pass in committee, it will be referred to the Assembly Floor.

The amendments to AB 1822 are expected to address the concerns voiced by the CAMTC and massage therapy profession. The primary benefit to becoming CAMTC certified was to provide massage therapists some financial relief from restrictive and discriminatory local ordinances and from having duplicative processes to practice in multiple locations. We expect the amendment to eliminate language in AB 1822 taking away the CAMTC authority and returning it to local municipalities to be removed from the bill, thereby preserving this benefit.

In addition, we expect the amendment to include language that would clarify the scope of authority that local municipalities have to license massage establishments. Language adding two members to the CAMTC board, one member representing the Police Chief’s Association and one member representing the Sheriff’s Association, would remain in AB 1822 as currently written.

ABMP will continue to provide updates as progress is made.

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As of July 1, 2010, you will need to be state licensed to practice as a massage therapist in Montana. The Montana Board of Massage Therapy is now accepting applications for licensing. Applications can be found at www.massagetherapists.mt.gov.

Because of the way the law was written, no licenses may be issued until 7/1/2010. However, license applications should be submitted now. Completed applications will be processed and a letter will be issued to the applicant stating the licensure status. Applications with the status of “approved” will be issued a license beginning 7/1/2010.

Application Processes
You may apply through one of three processes: grandfathering, endorsement, or examination. The grandfathering application is the easiest, consisting of four parts listed below.

1. Submit a completed application and application/license fee of $130.00 (check or money order payable to the Montana Board of Massage Therapy).
2. Submit documentation that the applicant will be at least 18 years of age by 7/1/2010. A copy of a driver’s license or birth certificate is acceptable.
3. Provide a notarized affidavit stating that the applicant has engaged in the practice of massage therapy for at least 100 hours in Montana on or before 7/1/2010 and prior to application. A form is provided in the application packet for your use.
4. Provide two letters attesting to the good moral character of the applicant sent directly to the board office by individuals who are not family members (your employer or clients are good choices). A form is provided in the application packet for your use and may be copied as many times as needed.

You will personally be submitting the application, one affidavit document, and the fee. Letters attesting to moral character will be sent to the board office by the individuals you ask to provide them. You may choose to provide individuals attesting to your moral character a postage paid envelope already addressed to the board to make it as easy as possible for them.

If you choose to apply by examination, in addition to the above items, you will have to submit proof of high school graduation, evidence of completing a massage therapy program, and evidence of a passing score on either the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) or either of the two exams offered by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).

If you choose to apply by endorsement, in addition to the items contained in the grandfathering application, you will have to submit proof of graduation from high school, official verification from each state in which you are licensed, and a copy of the licensing requirements from each state in which you are licensed. Some states may charge a fee for verification. We recommend that you contact each state prior to sending the request.

Again, the grandfathering application is the quickest and easiest pathway to licensure.

Additional Considerations
Question 11 on the application asks: “Have you ever practiced any other branch of the Healing Arts that did not require a license in that jurisdiction? If yes, please list.” ABMP contacted the board for clarification of this confusing question. The board is asking you to report additional training you have had in unlicensed practices. List all of the modalities that you practice under question 11.

Practices exempt from massage therapy licensure, as long as practitioners do not practice or advertise that they practice massage therapy, include: movement education, structural integration, and reflexology.

As always, ABMP will make licensure information available at www.abmp.com.

Specific questions should be directed to the board:
Montana Board of Massage Therapy
PO Box 200513
301 South Park, 4th Floor
Helena, MT 59620-0513
406-841-2331 or 2394
Fax: (406-841-2305
Email: dlibsdlmt@mt.gov
Website: www.massagetherapists.mt.gov

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