From the Background Paper for the Future of Bodywork Seminar
"Where Do We Go From Here?" held November 19, 2009
by Jack Blackburn, MTS-SD, LMP
Public awareness
To what extent is the public aware of the actual benefits of bodywork? Is there still confusion in some regions with prostitution? How does the medical profession view massage? Are primary provider prescriptions reflective of understanding what we are accomplishing with clients? How about the other caregiving professions: how much do they understand our work? Do professionals in physical and occupational therapy, chiropractory and osteopathy, feel supportive of bodywork, or competitive? How much does the public view our work as preventative care for physical, emotional, and stress related symptoms? What about our potential conflicts with the pharmaceutical industry, e.g. benefits that parallel placebo effects vs. drugs?
New public awareness
In these times of economic distress and political challenge it is important that we recognize that we have a role to play in calming peoples' fears and tensions. We can offer our services in many directions. But it is also an opportunity to show the public that hard times can be approached gently and that massage and other forms of bodywork can help them feel comforted even in the worst of times. Touch and guns are opposite responses to the perception of fear. Of course the other reason for public education is that still, a huge majority of the public is very confused and distrustful of the work we do. There are even massage schools that are religiously based, that question many aspects of bodywork, energy work for instance... because they don't trust the process or the results.
Salon care, spas
Salon and spa bodywork has definitely grown in the last 20 years. Corporations have entered into this arena big time. Many shopping centers have outlets like Massage Envy where the beginning practitioner has a chance to see lots of clients. Massage schools and media have focused more and more on these aspects of bodywork rather than treatment or clinical work. While there is a growing use of these facilities by the well-off public, there is little representation of the healing aspects of bodywork. Department stores have used "suggestive selling" for years to influence customers to purchase more than their original intention. The same is true in corporate spas and salons, where that practitioner is pressured to sell "spa products."
For more information about this event, or biographies of the panelists, please visit the Future of Bodywork.
