Archives for May 2014

The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards has just released a document that should be of grave concern to anyone practicing reflexology. The Model Practice Act sets out to define and regulate the practice of hands-on healing therapies in the USA to include pretty well any form of therapeutic touch. If this draft is accepted by the state legislatures and massage boards, it could very well make it IMPOSSIBLE TO PRACTICE REFLEXOLOGY IN THE US WIHTOUT A MASSAGE LICENSE, EVEN IN THOSE STATES THAT HAVE EXEMPTED REFLEXOLOGY FROM MASSAGE.

Read the Model Practice Act.

The public has until JUNE 15 to post comments. PLEASE take a few minutes to post yours in the Article 1 box, Title and Purpose. THE RIGHT TO PRACTICE REFLEXOLOGY AND RECEIVE REFLEXOLOGY FROM A TRAINED INDIVIDUAL MAY SOON BE ON THE LINE IF WE DO NOT MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.

Even if you practice or receive the benefits of reflexology in another country, you ultimately stand to lose when authorities attempt controlling measures such as this. So, PLEASE ACT NOW.

Feel free to use some or all of the wording prepared by the Reflexology Association of America (RAA), the American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB) and the American Commission for Accreditation of Reflexology Education and Training (ACARET):

“l think that the draft of the Model Practice Act should be amended to clearly exempt reflexology in writing because…” – put in your own reasons or you can choose from this list:

The profession of Reflexology has its own:

• History, vocabulary, theories, and techniques separate from any other profession. It works primarily with reflexes through the nervous systems versus the musculature. The effect of Reflexology is seen at a distance from where the pressure is applied; its intent is not to change the soft tissue of the body nor to practice medicine in any form. The intent behind Reflexology is to bring the body into balance through the relaxation process, thus promoting stress reduction and well-being.
• Schools and educational programs that far exceed any course taught in massage schools;
• Professional membership associations at the state, national and international levels;
• National certification through an independent, non-profit organization with a psychometrically valid exam;
•  4 State laws (ND, TN, NH, WA) and 33 exemptions from massage laws;
• Endorsement from the AMTA. Their Government Relations Committee strongly recommended in 2003* that Reflexology be exempt in proposed legislation citing the following wording:  “Persons who restrict their manipulation of the soft tissues of the human body to the hands, feet or ears and do not hold themselves out to be a massage therapist or do massage therapy”;
• Body of research studies from around the world (over 300) to prove the efficacy and safety of Reflexology.

Your comments should end with the phrase: “All of the above points demonstrate the uniqueness and independence of the field of Reflexology. Therefore I am respectfully requesting clear wording within the document that excludes Reflexology from being considered a sub-technique of massage.”

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH REFLEXOLOGISTS AND REFLEXOLOGY CLIENTS WHO STAND TO LOSE THEIR TRAINED PRACTITIONER.

If you practice reflexology, you may want to take advantage of this offer to join the Reflexology Association of America NOW.

The Reflexology Association of America is open to all practicing reflexologists, whatever the level of training; however, in order to qualify for the Professional level membership, applicants must show proof of at least 200 hours of training in hand, foot and/or ear reflexology. That is about to change, hence the heads up about acting now.

Beginning July 1^st, RAA will require Professional members to have a minimum of 300 hours of training in hand, foot and/or ear reflexology. Applications received online by June 30^th or postmarked by June 30^th, will still get in under the 200-hour requirement.

Mission

It might be useful to know what RAA’s mandated mission is and how the decision to raise hourly requirements came about.

The Reflexology Association of America is a nonprofit organization that promotes the scientific and professional advancement of reflexology. The organization’s mission is to elevate and standardize the quality of reflexology services available to the public. The Reflexology Association of America works to unify and support state reflexology associations in order to create one national movement toward greater excellence, integrity, research and public safety.

Historical Decision

A forum on global education criteria at the 2008 RAA conference in Maine revealed that the United States was beginning to lag behind in its national standards for education. (Some countries require 1000 hours of education.)

The RAA Board recognized its responsibility to take a leading role in creating a higher benchmark of education in the United States that would serve to further advance the field in the eyes of other healthcare professions and provide reflexologists with a more thorough knowledge and application of the discipline and its impact on society. This, as well as reinforcing public safety.

Moving Forward

At the 2012 conference in Florida, the RAA Board, with input from its members, agreed to adopt a 300-hour requirement for Professional level membership, and turned over the responsibility of developing a plan to implement the change to the Education Committee (chaired by yours truly).

As I said above, that change goes into effect July 1^st, so now is a good time to act.

I hope that you will consider joining RAA, the only national membership organization of its kind in the United States. There are many benefits to joining, both to you as a practicing reflexologist, the field and the public in general. Read about the benefits here or go straight to the application page.  Fees are very reasonable.

While you’re at it, please wander around RAA’s brand new website  – the other task that I’ve been involved with as a RAA Board member. The Website committee is pleased with what has manifested. Early feedback informs us that we met our goal: it’s user-friendly, attractive, adaptable to all screen sizes and loaded with information.