"Would you make a good massage therapist? The flexibility, numerous approaches, and various philosophies embodied by bodyworkers are what so often attract people to the profession. Perhaps you are considering a career in massage therapy and would like to learn more."

I recently received an e-mail message with this question and observations. It is from one of the associations that offer insurance to massage therapists. The Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals hosts a  public education site website www.massagetherapy.com.

This month, the website features a brochure to help potential professionals consider and plan for a career in one of the most rewarding fields available. Check it out.

Would a career in massage therapy be right for you? To determine this answer, you need some insight: What specific employment opportunities are available? What are my state's requirements? How long does training take, and how much does it cost? What are the financial expectations? And what else do I need to know? To help guide you in your decision, fill out the form to download our comprehensive 16-page brochure,"Your Massage & Bodywork Career."

Whitney Lowe has written an insightful piece in the Jan/Feb issue of Massage and Bodywork magazine. You can read it all here (full text):

http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/2008/JanFeb2008/TheFutureofMassage.html

I heartily recommend you read the entire article. Whitney has done an excellent job of researching and analyzing the profession of massage therapy. His writing is clear and concise. He begins with an observation about where the massage therapy profession is now:

"In the last few decades, a division developed in the profession between massage as a healthcare modality and massage as a personal care service. The boundaries between these styles are sometimes blurry and practitioners often practice both. However, an increasing number of therapists are choosing to identify with one aspect of the practice over the other. Each style has different professional and educational interests that can either merge or be quite disparate."

Another tidbit that will catch your eye:

"... close to 1,530 massage training programs are currently in operation in the United States. That number is up 7.8 percent over the figures from 2004. It is also notable that while the school numbers were going up, total enrollment went down. The number of students enrolled in or graduating from massage programs declined from 2004 to 2006. Thus today we have a greater number of training programs competing for a declining number of students."

Oh, and in case you thought the massage school community was immune from corporatism, he astutely explains:

"Another influential trend that is likely to continue is corporate ownership of schools, which often entails the purchase of established schools. As a rule, corporations are primarily concerned with efficiency, growth, and financial viability."

So, what do you think? What parts of the future look good to you and what parts concern you? And, how do you like distinguishing massage as a healthcare modality vs. massage as a personal service?

Aloha! On behalf of John Sanderson, the Maui Academy of Healing Arts principal, I want to welcome you to the MAHA BODY BLOG! This blog is for students, prospective students, graduates, practitioners and anyone else with an interest in the massage therapy profession.

As a teacher at MAHA, I want to facilitate a dialog on current topics related to massage therapy. I will do my best to keep the subjects interesting if not controversial, but I am depending on you and your comments.

We begin the MAHA Body Blog with a couple of questions about ethics. Do you have a legal opinion? Are you practicing massage with full knowledge of the law? (Those are not the two questions.) Let’s first look at the Hawai’i Revised Statutes, Chapter 452, Massage Therapy (emphasis added):

Section 452-1 Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall be adopted:

"Massage", "massage therapy", and "Hawaiian massage" commonly known as lomilomi, means any method of treatment of the superficial soft parts of the body, consisting of rubbing, stroking, tapotement, pressing, shaking, or kneading with the hands, feet, elbow, or arms, and whether or not aided by any mechanical or electrical apparatus, appliances, or supplementary aids such as rubbing alcohol, liniments, antiseptics, oils, powder, creams, lotions, ointments, or other similar preparations commonly used in this practice. Any mechanical or electrical apparatus used as described in this chapter shall be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Two Questions

Is it inside the scope of practice for a massage therapist, licensed and practicing in the State of Hawai’i, to:

1. Release the iliopsoas and the diaphragm, arguably the deepest muscles of our bodies?

2. Perform intra-oral techniques (e.g., lateral pterygoid, masseter, and other structures inside the mouth)?

I doubt that we diverge on the importance of releasing hypertonic muscles that often hold trigger points, causing pain and dysfunction. And it is well documented that low back pain can be caused by iliopsoas trigger points and that jaw pain can be caused by trigger points in the lateral pterygoid.

So, given these circumstances, I have chosen to study these muscles, the related anatomy and physiology, the pathophysiology, and learn hands-on techniques from experienced teachers. It is my practice to assess and treat these muscles. I am thinking that the spirit of the law does not intend to restrict me from respectfully treating my clients, even if that means treating deeper tissue, or muscles that may not be easy to access.