One of the issues in the massage profession is how we define massage and bodywork.

Each state that is licensed has a different definition of what massage is and who can do it. I am not sure where the term Bodywork started but it is also used to describe structured touch. The difference between what is massage and what is bodywork is very unclear since we don’t define either for ourselves and let the licensing boards do so.

Is Bodywork a type of massage or is massage a type of bodywork?

When I hear the word massage I think of only Swedish massage which is what is taught in basic massage school.

Bodywork is thought to be more therapeutic than massage and works to make changes in the physical alignment and function of the body. Those who are bodyworkers such as Rolfers or other structural integrators believe that there is a big difference between massage and bodywork.  I agree with this having been trained in a structural integration offshoot -Zentherapy.  When I learned Zentherapy I had to unlearn most of what I learned in basic massage school.  We didn’t move fluids toward the heart and worked in places such as the mouth, armpit and behind the knee and other endangerment areas that were not allowed in basic massage. I also learned to work on inflamed area of the body that were recently strained or sprained (within hours of occurring) with positive results.

And what about all the other different types of massage techniques?  Is Bowen therapy massage?  Is polarity therapy massage?  Is Reiki massage?  Is cranio-sacral therapy massage?  Is Berry work massage? Is the Rosen method massage?

Also as I research the different ways massage and bodywork is defined by the various states for licensing purposes there is a great variation in what is allowed and what is not. We can never have reciprocal licensing that allows you to practice in every state until everyone agrees on a definition of massage and bodywork.

So how do we as a profession define Massage and Bodywork?

What do you think???

Related posts:

1. Defining Massage Therapy and Bodywork
2. Defining Massage Therapy
3. Utah Massage Therapy Schools, Licensing, Jobs
4. Proof of Harm in Massage Therapy
5. Massage Therapy Licensing and Legislation Issues

This entry was posted on July 9, 2007 at 10:25 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted in Licensing and Legislation by Julie Onofrio No Comments Yet