Legislation

What Reflexology is and Why it Should Not Be Included Under Massage Ordinances

An Example
The definition of Massage in the San Diego, CA Massage Ordinance (Section 33.3504) is: "Massage shall mean any method of pressure on, or friction against, or stroking, rubbing, tapping, pounding, vibrating or stimulating the external parts of the human body with the hands or other parts of the body, with or without the aid of any mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, or with or without supplementary aids such as rubbing alcohol, liniments, antiseptics, oils, powder, creams, lotion, ointments or other similar preparations commonly used in this practice."

Conventionally people use the term massage very loosely to include other touch therapies which have nothing to do with standard massage techniques.

Reflexology is the application of on and off pressure with the thumbs and fingers to the feet and hands resulting in stress reduction which promotes physiological changes in the body.

Reflexology has its own history, vocabulary, theories, and techniques separate from any other profession. It works primarily with reflexes through the nervous systems. The effect of Reflexology is seen at a distance from where the pressure is applied; it's intent is not to change the soft tissue of the body nor to practice medicine in any form.

A Reflexologist works on a fully clothed person, only the shoes and socks are removed.

The profession of Reflexology acts in a responsible manner by having its own:

Schools and educational programs

Organizations at the state, national and international levels

National Certification program designed to protect the public through the recognition of competent practitioners meeting certain standards

Research studies from around the world proving the efficacy and safety of Reflexology

Those who profess to be Reflexologists will be able to offer proof of any of any of the following:

Their Reflexology education-there are several legitimate educational programs which provide a certificate of attendance for its students upon completion of the course; (usually 200 hr program)

National certification which is available to professional Reflexologists based on their proficiency

Membership in at least one professional organization, whether that is on the state, national or international level

In several places across the nation (El Paso, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and Henderson, Nevada) Reflexology is governed successfully under a local Reflexology ordinance which requires a business license and the payment of a modest annual fee. Other states recognize Reflexology's legitimate claim of difference. In Maine, Reflexology is specifically exempt from the massage law and in North Dakota Reflexologists have their own law.

Other organizations recognize the difference between Reflexology and Massage. According to Elliott Green, past President of the AMTA and a well-known national authority on massage, massage and Reflexology are NOT one and the same.

Bell Yellow Pages has had a separate listing for the two since 1981

At the National Institutes of Health, Office of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, separate research categories have been designated for Reflexology and Massage under Manual Therapies

The IRS recognizes the Foot Reflexology Awareness Association (Los Angeles, CA) as an educational Association for Reflexology

Reflexology is listed under Reflexotherapy in the Library of Congress; a separate listing from Massage

Placing Reflexology under massage limits the publics right to choice. As valuable as massage is there are those members of the public who want the benefits of stress reduction but do not want to disrobe because of religious convictions or modesty.

For all of the above reasons, Reflexology should be granted an exemption from the Massage Ordinance, create a separate ordinance, or at least create a registration system with standards under the present ordinance.

Reprinted with permission from the ARCB

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