Tuesday, December 24, 2013

What's massage; and what's not

Did you see the article last week, when the Northwest Herald took a stab at trying to explain what "real" massage is? Several "masseuses" were arrested and charged with various crimes, such as prostitution and giving massages without the requisite State License.

Cal Skinner sent a FOIA request to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), asking about the last two license checks in Crystal Lake on massage therapists. The IDFPR responded to him on December 19 that it had no documents responsive to his request. Does that mean that the IDFPR has never inspected a massage therapy practice in Crystal Lake? Ever?

One of the places mentioned in the Northwest Herald article was Marigolds [sic] Massage. Woodstock had a "massage" business by that name on Route 47 a couple of years ago; it got shut down pretty quickly.

The legitimate massage therapists in this area are outraged!

The ones I know have spent years building up a professional practice. Initial training is required, membership in a professional association is a good idea, and CEUs cost time and money. Massage is not just for relaxation.

Woodstock massage therapist Stacy Barden, owner of Harmony Falls, a Therapeutic Oasis, established her practice in 1996. She sent the following Letter to the Editor of the Northwest Herald:

"As the owner of Harmony Falls massage therapy clinic in Woodstock I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Northwest Herald and their reporters for once again missing a chance to tell the real story but instead selling out to sensationalism and continuing to publish inaccurate information.

"I do not own nor have I ever owned or operated a “massage parlor”.   My business at Harmony Falls massage therapy is a clinic, opened in 1996.  I am a Licensed Massage Therapist not a masseuse.  I complete continuing education classes in massage therapy and ethics every year.  I am a member of the American Massage Therapy Association and Nationally Board Certified.

"In addition to wellness patients the massage therapy patients that I work with are people with health conditions such as cancer, neck and back pain, organ transplants, injuries, broken bones, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s, diabetes, heart conditions and Lymphedema.

"The article titled “Massage therapist say arrests gave wrong impression to some” (printed on Thursday December 19, 2013) proceeded to repeat an already published article on prostitution arrests as the bulk of the new article.  Shame on you, Northwest Herald, for being too lazy to practice quality journalism, capture the opportunity to educate your readers on massage therapy and profile those who are licensed massage therapists in McHenry County.  I don’t foresee my continued support of the Northwest Herald  without necessary corrections to the article and photo.  Northwest Herald please take note my readership and support to your newspaper are dwindling quickly.

"To learn more about massage therapy please visit
American Massage Therapy Association, www.amtamassage.org 
Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, www.abmp.com
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, www.ncbtmb.org
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, www.idfpr.com

"I would like to invite everyone to learn more about the benefits of massage therapy and to receive a massage in 2014 from a licensed massage therapist.

"Stacy Barden, BS, LMT, NCTMB, BFRP, Owner
Harmony Falls
728 East Calhoun Street
Woodstock, IL 60098
815-334-0842
info@harmonyfalls.net"

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