It's articles with headings like these that set us back

[Zeid]

This article was in my local paper today and seeing the headline infuriated me. "Massage Parlor". And not just that, but the fact that they are relating it to an establishment (an actual Japanese massage parlor where sex acts were performed) that was raided and shut down 11 years ago.

I long for the day when massage therapy is a regulated profession in every state!!! The rules for operating a business in this city are so archaeic, one of the regulations is that you cannot have locking doors and instead, you have to do it in a curtained area. Ridiculous!

http://www.dailytribune.com/stories/081007/loc_massage001.shtml

 

[katiet93]

Good grief. Can they have helped matters by naming the spa "Sweet Dreams Love All" ?

What a brilliant journalist - "rubbed one elected official the wrong way." Oh, no one has ever used that line about massage therapy before. So original!

Well if you need us to start a letter-writing campaign let us know. We've done it before.

 

[Dianne S]

Yeah, as soon as I saw that name I just rolled my eyes....

 

[Kevin.Hiroki.Lee]

Wow, that business name strikes a weird chord... almost as weird as this "unique" option available at a local "rejuvenation center": http://www (dot) sanmeirejuvenation (dot) com/products.html#summer

What type of clientele is this business trying attract?

I agree with the original poster; it would be great to see some consistent regulation that would do away with outdated notions of the profession!

EDITED to deactivate link per request from forum admin. You can still type it into your own browser, of course.

 

[hot lips]

Wow, that business name strikes a weird chord... almost as weird as this "unique" option available at a local "rejuvenation center": http://www.sanmeirejuvenation.com/products.html#summer

What type of clientele is this business trying attract?

I agree with the original poster; it would be great to see some consistent regulation that would do away with outdated notions of the profession!

OMG!! Did you read the description of the 'Exotic Thai' massage following the beach wear one????

"Clients are placed in more exposed and submissive positions while our therapists take a more dominating and controlling role that will allow them to administer therapy that positively affects both the physical and the metaphysical." t092

 

[leapfrog44]

What type of clientele is this business trying attract?

Obviously the kind that doesn't mind paying $25 more to have the "therapist" wear a bikini while doing the massage.

My clients would probably pay me $25 to put more clothes on if all I had on was a bikini!!

t046

Angie

 

[Pompal 09.]

Wow, that business name strikes a weird chord... almost as weird as this "unique" option available at a local "rejuvenation center": http://www.sanmeirejuvenation.com/products.html#summer

What type of clientele is this business trying attract?

I agree with the original poster; it would be great to see some consistent regulation that would do away with outdated notions of the profession!

OMG!! Did you read the description of the 'Exotic Thai' massage following the beach wear one????

"Clients are placed in more exposed and submissive positions while our therapists take a more dominating and controlling role that will allow them to administer therapy that positively affects both the physical and the metaphysical." t092

"Booty shorts" Good grief! :roll:

I remember the Japanese Sauna. I grew up right down the street from it, way back in the '70's. It would occasionally get raided, found guilty of solicitations, and yet never closed down...oddly enough. (My Christian grandmother was beside herself that it was so close to our house.) I'm amazed that they finally shut it down permanently.

If you look at the ordinance language in most towns, you will see that the language is archaic. Troy lists all spas as "massage parlors" if the revenue for massage exceeds 10% of the total revenue. Rebecca already listed the lamest regulations our city imposes.

I'm wondering what it will ultimately take for individual cities to stop regarding massage therapists as potential solicitors for the sex trade, and have respectful language placed in equally respectful ordinances. Perhaps legitimate therapists should bring these issues up at the city council meetings where they practice, and continue to do so until changes are made?

I don't know...just thinking out loud here. Anyone have any ideas?

Namaste,
Carole

 

[Sgod]

I'm wondering what it will ultimately take for individual cities to stop regarding massage therapists as potential solicitors for the sex trade, and have respectful language placed in equally respectful ordinances.

Legalizing the sex trade would be one way. That way they wouldn't have to pretend to be a legitimate massage business. They could be a taxable business doing their own thing while we do ours. It seems to work okay in Nevada

 

[Peyton]

I'm wondering what it will ultimately take for individual cities to stop regarding massage therapists as potential solicitors for the sex trade, and have respectful language placed in equally respectful ordinances.

Legalizing the sex trade would be one way. That way they wouldn't have to pretend to be a legitimate massage business. They could be a taxable business doing their own thing while we do ours. It seems to work okay in Nevada

Yes, I have thought of that as well, although it's not likely to happen here. If it did, the transition period will be tremendous, and not sure how many in the sex trades will cooperate right away, or their customers for that matter.

I still think education and example are key.

Namaste.

 

[Brutus]

The city of Hopkins, MN has one of the better approaches I've seen in my state:

Massage Therapy Licensing and Application:
http://www.hopkinsmn.com/permits/massage.html

City Code: Regulation of Massage
http://mail.hopkinsmn.com/weblink7/DocView.aspx?id=4266&dbid=1

Unfortunately, many other cities here still equate it as borderline sex trade. :evil:

 

[rentjunkie]

I could be way off here, but I don't think legalizing the sex trade would work. Where I live, there are XXX stores and yet, the in home "passion parties" are raking in the dough because too many people don't want their cars to be seen in the parking lots of the stores. I would imagine that we'd also find people not wanting to have their cars seen there as well - but like the more "hidden" massage parlor title instead. I would never be caught dead in one of those places, but I think that if I were to go to one, I'd go to one disguised as a massage place rather than one that is a legal sex place. Know what I mean?

I'm curious as to why these people aren't being turned in all the time. If I were someone who knew about a "spa" doing sexual stuff, I'd be calling every day turning them in....and I'd be using different phone numbers, different voices, telling everyone I knew to call, etc. You know what they say, "The squeaky wheel gets oiled". I'd be making that awful place so dang squeaky that we'd DEFINITELY be heard and they'd at least have the police investigating there every day. If they don't get shut down, I'd at least make sure they were annoyed with raids all the time.

It may be a little dramatic, but in my opinion this gives us a bad name just as much as those priests with their "sexual issues" give other priests a bad stigma, ya know? Yet its all so unkown and quiet for our profession...that's our fault. We need to speak up to the public and let them know what's going on and that we won't stand for it. Get our integrity back, if you know what I mean.

Wishing you well,
Heather in Texas

 

[skanda or lord muruga]

I'm wondering what it will ultimately take for individual cities to stop regarding massage therapists as potential solicitors for the sex trade, and have respectful language placed in equally respectful ordinances. Perhaps legitimate therapists should bring these issues up at the city council meetings where they practice, and continue to do so until changes are made?

This is the approach that usually works. Please consider banding together w/other MTs in your area to fight this professionally, visibly, and with AMTA logos splashed all over the place! Like I said, please let us know if we can help with a letter-writing campaign, and please involve your state AMTA president and government-relations chair. They will have experience in this area. And we have done board-wide letter-writing campaigns before. You are not alone.