Things do not look so good for Reflexology in the USA at the moment.
We have
been observing the USA mostly because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as “Obamacare."
This recent developement is definetely ringing bells.
There are lessons to be learnt here!
We find interesting the wording used to describe massage.
Also inside the red square read how "they" resolved the eternal issue of a common definition (could have been a map) independant of so many different reflexology or massage styles.
What follows is the announcement circulating at the moment on Facebook.
We like that the Reflexology Association of America (RAA), the American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB) and the American Commission for Accreditation of Reflexology Education and Training (ACARET) are working in conjunction on this.
Good luck to you!
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ALERT! The FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) has just released a document that should be of grave concern to anyone practicing reflexology in the United States. The Model Practice Act sets out to define and regulate the practice of hands-on healing therapies 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 THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT A MASSAGE LICENSE, EVEN IN THOSE STATES THAT HAVE EXEMPTED REFLEXOLOGY FROM MASSAGE.
Read the Model Practice Act: http://bit.ly/RMZ0Pg
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 at http://bit.ly/1tYlc7q.
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.
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) in your response:
“I feel 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;
• The AMTA 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”;
• Over 300 Research studies from around the world 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.
