Improving the image of massage therapy
Recently I set up an RSS feed with MyYahoo to get all the news concerning massage and massage therapy. Interestingly enough the majority of news was about massage ‘parlors’ and prostitution. And amazingly enough it wasn’t just an occasional story. There were numerous news stories from around the country.
And just when we thought we had reached the 21st century. I was under the naïve impression that massage parlors were a thing of the past. Apparently not. Even in our local phone book, there are still two sections for massage. One is for certified massage therapists and the other is for ‘escorts’. It’s amazing that this mentality is still going strong.
One of the first things professional and ethical massage therapists learn is that there is a significant difference between a healing touch and a sexual touch. And there is a different energy associated with those. Any certified or licensed therapist who has reached any level of competency knows and respects that difference.
Massage between a couple in the privacy of their own home has it's own healthy uses and place. But there is a HUGE line between that and professional massage therapy for the public. Massage therapy is and always has been non-sexual in nature.
Massage therapy is entirely concerned with the healing benefits of touch. Granted, it probably had some negative connotations early on, but as of 2005, there are now over one-hundred-thousand certified or licensed professional massage therapists who are making a sincere effort to provide a safe, non-sexual therapeutic environment for people to truly relax and heal.
It’s sad and unfortunate that the news is focused so much on the negative. And in spite of a few bad apples, the vast majority are ethical, up-standing and valued members of the healing community. It's also sad, but important to realize that because of those few bad seeds, it's a good idea to always check out the credentials and the reputation of the massage therapist before making an appointment. Safety first.
Now, with continued eduction for the public about the positive, valuable and much needed role massage therapy plays in our society, the image of massage therapy will further improve it's legitimate reach.
It is even hoped that there will be news stories about how individuals are improving their everyday lives by receiving the proven therapeutic benefits of massage. Or how massage therapy continues to gain in popularity and the statistics show more and more people are trying massage therapy now more than ever.
And just when we thought we had reached the 21st century. I was under the naïve impression that massage parlors were a thing of the past. Apparently not. Even in our local phone book, there are still two sections for massage. One is for certified massage therapists and the other is for ‘escorts’. It’s amazing that this mentality is still going strong.
One of the first things professional and ethical massage therapists learn is that there is a significant difference between a healing touch and a sexual touch. And there is a different energy associated with those. Any certified or licensed therapist who has reached any level of competency knows and respects that difference.
Massage between a couple in the privacy of their own home has it's own healthy uses and place. But there is a HUGE line between that and professional massage therapy for the public. Massage therapy is and always has been non-sexual in nature.
Massage therapy is entirely concerned with the healing benefits of touch. Granted, it probably had some negative connotations early on, but as of 2005, there are now over one-hundred-thousand certified or licensed professional massage therapists who are making a sincere effort to provide a safe, non-sexual therapeutic environment for people to truly relax and heal.
It’s sad and unfortunate that the news is focused so much on the negative. And in spite of a few bad apples, the vast majority are ethical, up-standing and valued members of the healing community. It's also sad, but important to realize that because of those few bad seeds, it's a good idea to always check out the credentials and the reputation of the massage therapist before making an appointment. Safety first.
Now, with continued eduction for the public about the positive, valuable and much needed role massage therapy plays in our society, the image of massage therapy will further improve it's legitimate reach.
It is even hoped that there will be news stories about how individuals are improving their everyday lives by receiving the proven therapeutic benefits of massage. Or how massage therapy continues to gain in popularity and the statistics show more and more people are trying massage therapy now more than ever.
