Introduction to Massage Therapy

Professional and legal requirements

Here in the District of Columbia, the practice of massage therapy is licensed by the District government.  Massage therapists must have graduated from an approved massage therapy school that provides at least 500 hours of training in anatomy, physiology, and practical application. Only a nationally certified massage therapist may become licensed in DC. A licensed massage therapist is required to take continuing education classes, including classes in first aid, CPR, and ethics. In order to maintain licensure, every two years, they must prove that they meet these requirements.

National certification is granted by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork after graduation from an approved massage therapy school, and the passing of an examination to prove one’s knowledge of anatomy, physiology, ethics, and manual techniques. In order to continue being a certified massage therapist, every four years one must pass a rigorous recertification process including proof of adequate work experience, continuing education, and ethics training.

The premier professional association for this field is the American Massage Therapy Association. It’s requirements for professional membership are similar to those for certification and licensure.

I have met all these professional and legal requirements for almost ten years, and I continue to do so.

Efficacy

There have been many studies done on the efficacy of massage.  It has been proven to be beneficial for back pain and stress relief, among other conditions.  If you would like to learn more about this research as well as obtain access to a wealth of information about massage, please see AMTA's Information Center.  There are some interesting abstracts of articles about massage from a British web site.  I also invite you to look at the the valuable research done at the The University of Miami's Touch Institute.

Some types of massage

There are many different forms of massage therapy.  The most common are Swedish and Deep Tissue massage, which are very relaxing, and ideal for relieving both stress and muscle soreness. Cranio-sacral therapy, another modality that I practice, gently addresses the body’s deep rhythm to allow the body’s natural healing. Massage therapy promotes healing of injuries, relaxation, and ease and comfort during pregnancy. I welcome you to contact me with questions about massage therapy.

What to expect

All of the work is done with the greatest of consideration for the client’s comfort, well-being, and modesty.  The client’s body remains covered at all times, with only an arm, leg, or the back uncovered separately for the work.  This is your time to relax, to have your aches or problems addressed in a careful way, so that you can leave feeling more refreshed, at ease and vibrant.  You are encouraged to let me know at anytime if there is anything that would make you more comfortable.  I spend time with each client before starting a session to find out where she or he is that day, and how life has been lately.  Then, I tailor the session to meet the person where s/he is at that time.

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