Recent news reports about raids on illicit businesses masquerading as massage establishments in Florida are disturbing, particularly to ABMP and its more than 80,000 members who are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of conduct and ethics in the profession.

The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) has announced key updates to their Operating System and Board Renewal Requirements.

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) recently purchased Massage Today from MPA Media and began publication with the February issue. Massage Today had formerly been an independent voice in the profession since 2001, publishing news and information across the range of organizations involved in massage and bodywork.

Five Wellbeing Studio + Spa (Five Wellbeing), a Littleton-based day spa and yoga destination, recently partnered with non-profit Wellness for Cancer to adapt wellness treatments specifically to the needs of those affected by cancer, including cancer patients, survivors, and their caregivers.

The International SPA Association (ISPA) Foundation began accepting applications for the 2019 Mary Tabacchi Scholarship on Friday, February 8, 2019.

In a randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, researchers examined the effects of whole-body massage on adults with knee osteoarthritis.

The International Massage Therapy Research Conference (IMTRC) is looking for massage therapy research posters for its 2019 conference.

As reported in the Daily Camera, ABMP member Jonathan Grassi of Lafayette, Colorado, took third place in the 2018 World Massage Championship in Denmark.

ABMP’s insurance carrier has seen an increase in claims from massage tables collapsing or malfunctioning while a client is on the table.

In recent years, the wellness industry has been growing more rapidly than ever. At the same time, the focus of spas has shifted from beauty to overall transformative well-being, creating a new set of tendencies that will be driving the spa world in 2019.