News

Remember When . . .?

By Karrie Osborn

Autumn 2026

As ABMP celebrates 40 years serving the massage and bodywork community, we look back at some “interesting” historical tidbits in our journey.

Remember When . . .

. . . Massage & Bodywork used to include blank Letter to the Editor forms in each magazine, with postage prepaid. Some of the more unusual letters came from prisoners who received the magazine in their library systems.

. . . The public would call ABMP for referrals, back before the advent of the World Wide Web. Consumers and businesses looking for MTs would call ABMP directly for a referral to a member in their area. Clients today can easily find ABMP members via our online member directory.

Have you updated your listing? abmpmembers.com

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. . . Vitamix was one of our early advertisers.

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. . . ABMP was the first massage association to enlist an 800 number. (And we still have one: 800-458-2267.)
Before that, ABMP accepted collect calls.

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. . . Ben E. Benjamin wrote the first article for ABMP on sexual abuse within the health-care field in 1989. He’s still an authority for the profession.

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. . . In 1992, when ABMP was a cosponsor of the Anatriptic Arts Expo, the “world’s first international showcase” of hands-on healing arts. One of the featured events was a Massage Performing Arts Contest where participants performed their “most aesthetic movements” in front of judges, who critiqued the performances. Sound familiar?

A partner event, “Flying Fingers,” invited practitioners to demonstrate their percussion skill in a 3–5-minute performance set to music!