Any Massage Therapists in the House?

[Girl Next Door]

I'm planning on enrolling in massage school come January. I took an "Intro to Massage" class today, it was cool. Anybody else here gone to massage school?

[TeaElle]

Paging The Asbestos Mango, Asbestos Mango, please report to the thread, thank you.

[WhyNot]

Yep, I'm a certified massage therapist, dreading - I mean, looking forward - to taking the NCBTMB exam soon.

I'm glad you liked your class. Did they let you get hands on yet, or is it all theory so far?

One tip: consider taking Qi Gong or Tai Chi classes. Getting used to graceful, flowing movement will make your body mechanics so much better, and the wear and tear on your body less. It always amazes me how much doing Swedish massage is like doing Qi Gong with a body underneath my hands. My tutor for Swedish was a massage therapist with 7 black belts in various martial arts, and he really helped me to move better based on how he moves when sparring. As a result, my teacher told me (in front of the class!) that I had the best body mechanics of any student she's ever taught! Yay! :D

[Chicken Scratch]

Yep. Certified and licensed. Any specific questions?

Welcome!!

[Girl Next Door]

Yep, I'm a certified massage therapist, dreading - I mean, looking forward - to taking the NCBTMB exam soon.

I'm glad you liked your class. Did they let you get hands on yet, or is it all theory so far?

One tip: consider taking Qi Gong or Tai Chi classes. Getting used to graceful, flowing movement will make your body mechanics so much better, and the wear and tear on your body less. It always amazes me how much doing Swedish massage is like doing Qi Gong with a body underneath my hands. My tutor for Swedish was a massage therapist with 7 black belts in various martial arts, and he really helped me to move better based on how he moves when sparring. As a result, my teacher told me (in front of the class!) that I had the best body mechanics of any student she's ever taught! Yay! :D

Thanks, WhyNot. What's the NCBTMB?

The class was definitely hands on. It was ten hours long, and we had a mini-anatomy lesson, followed by a giving and receiving of swedish massage on the given area. It's a required class if you want to apply to the school (http://www.busm.edu).

I like the tip about Tai Chi or Qi Gong. I'm currently taking Tae Kwon Do, which could help a bit.

No specific questions yet, Chicken Scratch. More of a "how's it going?" for now. Thanks for the welcome!

[WhyNot]

NCBTMB is the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (http://www.ncbtmb.com/). I live and work in Illinois, where we are just getting statewide licensure for massage therapists. The DPR (Department of Professional Regulations) are being total dipwads in figuring out the requirements and getting the applications in order, but it seems as if I will be required to take NCBTMB's exam in order to get licensed.* I know Asbestos Mango took the exam recently, but I don't know his (her?) motivations for doing so. In some states, there are marketing benefits (you get to call yourself "Nationally Certified"), in others, it's a requirement.


*Hello?! We're required to have our licenses by Jan 1, 2005 and they can't even tell us for sure what we need yet? Nor do they have applications available? Can I just move to Oregon, please? I'm so over Illinois and our stupid views on Complementary Medicine. [/rant]

[indecisive1]

Can I highjack a moment?

I did a search for an "Ask the Massage Therapist" thread and didn't find one.

I have lots of upper back and neck pain. Doc says it's arthritis. When it flares up, I also have muscle pain. Would massage give me any lasting relief? Like for a few days or something?

Sorry for the highjack.

Hope your training goes well, Girl Next Door

[WhyNot]

indecisive1, massage therapy can relieve muscle pain and stress associated with arthritis. It won't address the inflammation in the joints themselves, though.

[Girl Next Door]

I didn't see that as a hijack, indecisive1. Let's talk about massage!

[indecisive1]

OK! So, I'm guessing that this would be an on-going thing to get some relief. Like, how often would you go in? Once a week? And for how long of a session?

How do you choose a therapist? I would look for the certifications you've already mentioned, but are there other things to look for?

Sorry, these are vague questions.

[WhyNot]

The most important thing about choosing a massage therapist is finding one who's touch and philosophy echo yours. Think about what you like when it comes to touch generally. Do you like deep, dig-in-there shoulder rubs? Then you might like deep tissue massage or Structural Therapy. Prefer back scratches or light touches to deep back rubs? Try Swedish. Are you a little nervous and high strung - do you jump and feel titchy if someone touches you unexpectedly? Try Shiatsu. For a really unique, beaten to a pulp and it feels soooo goooood, try Thai massage. (Maybe save the Thai for a later visit - it might be rough on your joints as a first timer.)

Next, figure out how you feel about massage and alternative medicine in general. Is this an indulgent thing for you? Is it a treat, but you're generally sceptical of alternative medicine in general? You might be happiest in a spa setting. Are you curious about aromatherapy, herbalism or acupuncture? You might look in an alternative newspaper (like the Reader) for a therapist who emphasizes "healing" "holistic" or "mind-body connections." (If they spell it "wholistic," please don't go there as a personal favor to me. Pet peeve of mine.) They may not be herbalists or acupuncturists themselves, but they'll likely have a conversational knowledge and a network of referals if you're interested. Do you want to keep it clinical and westernized? Many chiropractors have massage therapists working out of their offices these days.

I'd schedule a single appointment first, to make sure you and the therapist work well together. You can expect to need work once a week or so for about 6 weeks, and then perhaps every other week. (I say this having never seen or touched you, so take it with a block of salt.)

Submit everything to your insurance company twice (they'll undoubtedly reject it the first time.) Even if you're working with a self-employed, not-on-anyone's-preferred-provider-list massage therapist, all you need is their social security number and license number (if they have one) to make a claim for an out-of-network reimbursement. More and more policies are covering massage therapy, even if they don't say much about it. This is even more likely if you can get a written referral from your doctor. Here's a list of CPT (insurance billing) codes (http://www.thebodyworker.com/insbillcodes.html) for common massage therapy techniques. A diagnosis code has to come from your MD or chiropractor, not your massage therapist.

The American Massage Therapy Association (http://www.amtamassage.org/) has a searchable index of providers, as does NCBTMB liked above. Many states and/or cities have licensure, as well, with searchable links at their Department of Professional Regulation's website.

Here's some vocabulary you'll likely see bandied about:

Certified = went to school and got a piece of paper saying I'm a massage therapist. Most programs are around 500 hours. Some are much longer, 1000 hours or more, and some are shorter.

Licensed = a governmental body (city or state) looked over my transcripts and made sure I met their criteria for licensure. Licensure criteria differs from state to state, and only 33 state currently require a license. The fewest hours of required education is 300 contact hours (Texas), and the highest is 1000 (Nebraska).

Nationally certified = took a test offered by NCBTMB and passed, paid them membership dues and take continuing education credits every few years to qualify to give them more money to keep being a member.

Member of AMTA = confirmed 500 hours or more of education OR licensure in those state that have licensure OR successful passing of the NCBTMB exam. Membership gives you a subscription to a massage magazine, liability insurance and legal advice, should it be needed, as well as being listed on their membership directory. It costs roughly $250 annually to be a professional member of AMTA.
There are several other massage associations that offer benefits similar to AMTA, but AMTA is the largest and most well known.

Approved school = the school has submitted a detailed application which includes course offerings, instructor credentials, facility and equipment lists and financial data to their state's board of education and recieved approbal from the state to teach the program. They've also (in Illinois at least) purchased lots and lots of liability insurance and surety bonds to protect the students in case of disaster or bankruptcy.

Accredited school = the school has completed a lengthy and expensive accredidation process, usually through COMTA (http://www.comta.org/), meeting their financial and educational guidelines. Schools do not have to be accredited to be perfectly good and legal.

Hope this is helpful! :)

WhyNot,
who worked for massage therapists and ran a massage school for 5 years before succumbing to the temptation and getting certified herself.

[Shirley Ujest]

OK! So, I'm guessing that this would be an on-going thing to get some relief. Like, how often would you go in? Once a week? And for how long of a session?

How do you choose a therapist? I would look for the certifications you've already mentioned, but are there other things to look for?

Sorry, these are vague questions.

There are alot of yoga moves that can help with the stiffness of the upper back and neck area.

This is my favorite for back tension. (http://www.yogabasics.com/)


Seated Spine Twist (http://www.yogabasics.com/)

Tie yourself up into knots (http://www.yogabasics.com/)

All three are my favs.

Naturally, take it easy and go lightly into these. You will probably feel some stiffness for a day or two afterwards, but if you do them regularly, the benefits will appear.

[Chicken Scratch]

indecisive1, where do you live? Maybe one of us (therapists or fellow Dopers) can recommend someone.

WhyNott, that was an amazingly thorough & perfect response. Color me impressed!

GirlNextDoor, I absolutely love my job. I've worked in spas and holistic centers, and a couple of different states, and I've enjoyed it all.

[indecisive1]

Very helpful WhyNot!

I'm interested that you mention the Spa setting for someone more interested in a treat. My feeling was that I should avoid the "beauty Salon" massage, because people there would be less trained, and less apt to care about what they were doing. Am I wrong? Of course I'm wrong... I'm sure, just like with anything else, it depends on the person.

Shirley I tried going to your links but they all go to the same place. I didn't take the time to search around the site, but I will. Yoga is another thing I've been thinking about. A couple of years ago I tried a yoga class. Well! Here's this room full of beautiful healthy young people gracefully going through the moves. And then there was me. I'm flopping around about 30 seconds behind everything, Confused about which was my left and right and if I should be stretching down or up. You get the idea, I'm sure. I bought a video to try it at home. Haven't actually watched it yet...

Girl Next Door thanks for letting me highjack. I'd be interested to know why you decided to go into this line of work. It actually sounds like rather a tough job to me. Lots of standing and I bet your hands and arms get really worn out. Plus, there you are dealing with people who don't feel good! Man can we be crabby!

[FilmGeek]

I just want to add that having a friend in massage school is the coolest thing ever.

I get weekly massages, for free. Yay for labs!

[WhyNot]

indecisive1, where do you live? Maybe one of us (therapists or fellow Dopers) can recommend someone.
Good point. indecisive1, I've been pretty open with my location: Evanston, IL. If that helps you out, email me.

WhyNott, that was an amazingly thorough & perfect response. Color me impressed!
Gee, thanks. I was hoping it wasn't too long winded. (I can have fun with the old word-box, sometimes.)

I'm interested that you mention the Spa setting for someone more interested in a treat. My feeling was that I should avoid the "beauty Salon" massage, because people there would be less trained, and less apt to care about what they were doing. Am I wrong? Of course I'm wrong... I'm sure, just like with anything else, it depends on the person.

Well, yes, it depends. There is a bit of snobbery among massage therapists, and a teensy bias against spa massage, but mostly that's nonsense. Any spa in a state with licensure has to employ only licensed massage therapists, so they've had the same training any other licensed massage therapist has had. You can ask to be sure. They are often overworked, though. I'd schedule early in the day, when your therapist is likely to be fresh.

They also tend to fall into the "spa rhythm" which is a one-size relaxes everybody treatment (10 minute back, 7 minute arms, 7-minute legs, flip, repeat on front, 5 minute face., done.) Of course, this is a really nice treatment that gets the whole body done in an hour. It's very efficient, and lets the therapist sorta go into trance and do what needs to be done. It's not always the best treatment for YOU, though. Sometimes your shoulders just need more time. Sometimes the feet are begging for more and the arms can be ignored today. Generally, if you communicate with your therapist, s/he can tailor the session to what you need. Obviously, the intention and integrity of the individual person is more important than the setting.

People choose to work in a spa for the same reason anyone in a profession chooses to work for someone else: job security and low overhead. Renting your own office space, paying for your own laundry, massage oils, table repair, etc. gets really expensive. Of course, you have more control over your schedule and pay if you work for yourself, but everyone has to weigh the pros and cons for themselves.

The only warning I have about spas is that you want to avoid "Japanese Spas," especially if they have a teahouse or restaurant attached. They're usually a completely different profession. IfyouknowwhatImean.

I just want to add that having a friend in massage school is the coolest thing ever.
Oh yeah! :D

By the way, Girl Next Door, I looked over the website of your school, and it seems like a great choice. I like the curriculum, the teachers (I've heard of several of them) and the "feel" of the institution.

[indecisive1]

I'm in La Crosse Wisconsin. Any recommendations would be great.

I have tons of other questions, like do you tip the person, and should I get all worried about my crappy zitty skin. Don't want to be puked on!

[Girl Next Door]

Yay! This thread is very helpful and informative!

Which leads me to answer your question, indecisive1. I'm chosing this path after a lot of soul-searching. I've been a stay-at-home mom and a struggling writer for the past 13 years. My kids are getting older and a lot more independent, and while I've had some very minor success with the writing thing it has just never been something I've been able to get really ambitious about. I considered the ministry. I considered teaching. Finally, in one of my many hobbies (TaeKwonDo) my instructor told me of the school she had just started attending. "Man, that's cool" I said. "I've always thought of becoming a masseuse." Ever since I was a little girl, I used to love to give people massages. My whole family would say "Leslie, rub my feet!" and I would be happy to do it because it made them happy. I'm doing it because I see it as a ministry, of sorts. Not a religious one, but a spiritual and healing ministry.

I'm glad you like the look of the school, WhyNot. While I certainly don't have a broad knowledge of how these things go, I have an intuitive enough sense to see that this place seems pretty great. That Saturday workshop was fun, and I started an Intro to Anatomy class today that I'm really excited about. The actual program doesn't start 'til January, but they offer this Anatomy "warm-up" class for folks who don't have a strong science background.

[indecisive1]

Girl Next Door you sound like a wonderful caring person. I sure you'll be a great masseuse.

Another question: WhyNot you mention this ""healing" "holistic" or "mind-body connections." (If they spell it "wholistic," please don't go there as a personal favor to me. Pet peeve of mine.) What would a person with this focus do? encourage meditation or something? I tend to shy away from alternative medicine, but I'd be interested in looking into it.

[WhyNot]

I'm in La Crosse Wisconsin. Any recommendations would be great.

I have tons of other questions, like do you tip the person, and should I get all worried about my crappy zitty skin. Don't want to be puked on!
Give me a day or two and I'll see if I know anyone up there. (Any Wisconsin Doper Massage Therapists?)
"Man, that's cool" I said. "I've always thought of becoming a masseuse."
Girl Next Door you sound like a wonderful caring person. I sure you'll be a great masseuse.
Just so you know, "masseuse" is an outdated and somewhat offensive term, due to it's historical connection with both snake-oil sales and prostitution. Using "massage therapist" or simply "therapist" if we all know we're talking about massage is both PC and polite.

Tipping is always welcome. It is expected at spa type settings. It is optional for independant therapists. Generally, I tip $10 or 10%, whichever is more generous.

Don't worry about your zits. We've seen 'em before. If you have open sores, the therapist will either work around them or wear gloves. (You can't feel the gloves once the oil's on.)

"Holistic", "healing", and "mind-body connection" are trendy buzzwords that tend to indicate the therapist was trained, has an interest in, or is marketing towards the alternative medicine crowd, as opposed to the body-as-a-machine Western medicine philosophy. (This would include me, so please don't feel I'm being disparaging.) Holistic medicine considers not only physical health but also the emotional, spiritual, social, and mental well-being of the person.
I was trained and recognize that the body, mind and spirit are inextricably entwined. I can work on your body, but if your mind is racing or your spirit is under stress, you will continue to have problems. Problems in the body create problems in the mind and spirit, and problems in the mind or spirit create problems in the body. I choose to work from a holistic perspective, because I see it work so much better. So I might encourage yoga as both a physical stretching exercise and a way to calm your mind chatter and bring your spirit peace. There are plenty of ways to stretch muscle tissue that don't involve focus of the mind, but I don't personally find they work so well or for so long.

YMMV, of course! :p

Let's see. What else are you probably not asking yet:

Do I have to be naked?
I usually tell people to undress to their level of comfort, and mention that working around bras and underwear is difficult, but I can do it if they're more comfortable leaving one or both on. Personally, I can't stand wearing a bra when I'm getting a massage. I always take everything off. I set up the table (we don't call it a bed for obvious reasons) with two sheets (sometimes called "drapes"), and instruct the person to undress to their level of comfort and lay between the two sheets, face down. Then I leave the room to let them undress in private.

Do they massage breasts and genitals?
No. Well, there is a specialty called breast massage, but I don't personally know anyone who does it. It's illegal in Illinois. Here, I must keep "draped", or covered with a sheet, any part of the body I'm not currently working on. Breasts in women and genitals must be covered at all times. The buttock may be exposed from the PSIS (Um, that bumpy bit above your buttcheek to the side of your spine) to the femoral head (the top of your leg) but the gluteal crack (the buttcrack) must be covered at all times.

We spend a lot of time early on in massage school learning to drape and undrape correctly. We're taught how to do it so that we take the entire weight of the body part we're undraping and lift it gently to tuck the sheet around and under in a very secure way.

What if I get an erection?
It happens. Don't freak. We've seen it before. If you're on your back and pitching a tent, a good therapist might casually rearrange the draping to help mask it. It generally seems to happen more often when men are lying on their stomachs and I'm working their backs. In that case, they start to squirm a little, which I take as a cue to gently disengage and go get a drink of water or more massage oil or something.

What if I actually ejaculate?!
This has only happened to me once. Luckily, it was a good friend and he told me what was up. He actually ejaculated without orgasming. He's also a bodyworker, so he was more interested in it clinically than sexually. "Wow! That's never happened before! Has that ever happened to you before?" We both laughed a little and I got him some tissues to clean up with. If it had been a client, I probably wouldn't have noticed until I was cleaning up my sheets, frankly. And I do disinfect my table between each client, so I wouldn't freak out about it.

What if I'm allergic to perfumes?
Some therapists do use scented massage oils. If you are sensitive or allergic to scents, let them know when you make the appointment so they can be sure to have unscented oil on hand. Some prefer lotions or creams. For Swedish massage, you do need some sort of lubricant to get the long, luxurious strokes without chafing the skin.

When should I not get a massage?
If you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, heart disease, varicose veins, diabetes, epilepsy, history of fainting or seizures, any neurologic problems or a very recent trauma, I won't work on you unless you have a doctor's note. If you are pregnant, bruise easily or are on blood thinners, let your therapist know. If you feel you have a cold coming on or have had a cold for less than 5 days, do not get a massage. Time and time again, I've been called in when a collegue's done a massage on a newly sick person and it's made their illness worse. (Chinese medicine has explanations for this, I don't think Western medicine does. Just trust me on this one.)

Umm...that's all I can think of at the moment. Anything else?

[Trunk]

Does this "certified massage therapist" thing contain a whiff of hooey to anybody else?

First of all, it seems REAL trendy right now. It seems like there's a lot of people going into it just on a whim. They even did it on the Sopranos. I think there's a bit of "become a certified massage therapist" marketing going on.

Regardless. . .

Do these certifying organizations really do anything? If I have a good "massage giver", who gives a crap if s/he's not certified. It's not like s/he's a doctor or even a physical therapist.

Are the certifying organizations the same ones profiting from the schools?

Are the accrediting organizations the same ones profiting from the schools?

If no. . .are you SURE?

Are the organizations just set up to protect their numbers, because they know that anyone can just set up a massage parlor?

33 states require a license. Not 50 -- as if you were a pharmacist, or something. Are the government licensers really just set up to collect a few extra licensing fees (and the accompanying renewal fees), and were those laws set up because the massage certifying groups lobbied for it?

Would they really enforce someone practicing massage without a license?

When did these certifying organizations first pop up?

What problems were they addressing?

Now, I'm not knocking massage here. Or people who want to go into it. It seems to me that massage can exist just fine on its own, and that all this certifying stuff is just private enterprise and government trying to skim their piece off the top.

[WhyNot]

Trunk, as I said earlier in the thread, "certified" means you went to a school approved by the state board of education and took a series of classes approved by the state board of education in order to recieve a certificate (in some cases, a diploma) stating that you are a massage therapist.
Do these certifying organizations really do anything?
The "certifying agencies" are the schools, under the supervision of the state board of education.

Programs vary, as I said before. In my case, that included a bit over 500 hours of training, including 100 hours of anatomy and physiology, 300 hours of hand-on body work in Swedish massage, Shiatsu and other forms of tissue manipulation, 30 hours of practice management and ethics and a 100 hours or so of counseling and therapy for people who aren't psychotherapists.
Are the accrediting organizations the same ones profiting from the schools?
Accrediting organizations are independant bodies. They are paid by the schools that wish to become accredited. This is true for schools that teach massage, schools that teach auto mechanics or schools that teach liberal education. All school accrediting bodies are independant, multi-state agencies that make their money in fees from the schools.
If no. . .are you SURE?
Yes, as I said, I ran a college for 5 years. We taught programs in massage therapy and other healing modalities. All approved by the state. I am very aware of the red tape and burocracies in place. I researched and considered accreditation very carefully before deciding against it.
Are the organizations just set up to protect their numbers, because they know that anyone can just set up a massage parlor?
Accrediting agencies are set up to protect students - to help assure students of the financial viability of a school, first and foremost. After financial concerns are met, educational guidelines must be met. Fianlly, attending an accredited school offers up some additional financial aid options. Some very good schools are not accredited, because it's a very expensive process. Small schools without lots of up-front capital often run for years without seeking or recieving accredidation. My Junior College (Moraine Valley Community College (http://www.morainevalley.edu/)) was not accredited until it had been in business for 50 years. Once again, ALL colleges and universities have some sort of accredidation process open to them, not just massage schools.
33 states require a license. Not 50 -- as if you were a pharmacist, or something. Are the government licensers really just set up to collect a few extra licensing fees (and the accompanying renewal fees), and were those laws set up because the massage certifying groups lobbied for it?
Here's a list (http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/massage.html#q9) of state's that require licensure, and a quick outline of some of their requirements. The only one I have enough knowledge to speak of is Illinois. Bringing licensing to Illinois has been a long and difficult task. I'd say that, yes, legitimate, well-trained people in any profession welcome licensure, although the red-tape it creates can be annoying to deal with at first. Much of the work to bring licensure to Illinois was in fact done by massage therapists and their professional groups. Bringing licensure into a state weeds out exactly those people we are (rightly) disdainful of: illegitamate or poorly trained people, prostitutes or quacks with no training, understanding of anatomy or the very real dangers and contraindications of massage.

Here is an excerpt from the Illinois Masage Licensing Act, detailing the requirements to recieve a license in Illinois. Other states may vary, some with more stringent requirements, others with less. Illinois is about in the middle. If you'd like to read the whole thing, which includes penalties for breach of ethics, the formation of the State Massage Board and other truly dull stuff, click here (http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2469&ChapAct=225%20ILCS%2057/&ChapterID=24&ChapterName=PROFESSIONS%2BAND%2BOCCUPATIONS&ActName=Massage%2BLicensing%2BAct%2E):
(a) Beginning January 1, 2005, persons engaged in massage for compensation must be licensed by the Department. The Department shall issue a license to an individual who meets all of the following requirements:
(1) The applicant has applied in writing on the
prescribed forms and has paid the required fees.

(2) The applicant is at least 18 years of age and of
good moral character. In determining good moral character, the Department may take into consideration conviction of any crime under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof that is a felony or a misdemeanor or any crime that is directly related to the practice of the profession. Such a conviction shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to a license, except in the case of any conviction for prostitution, rape, or sexual misconduct, or where the applicant is a registered sex offender.

(3) The applicant has met one of the following
requirements:

(A) has successfully completed the curriculum or
curriculums of one or more massage therapy schools approved by the Department that require a minimum of 500 hours and has passed a competency examination approved by the Department;

(B) holds a current license from another
jurisdiction having licensure requirements that meet or exceed those defined within this Act; or

(C) has moved to Illinois from a jurisdiction
with no licensure requirement and has provided documentation that he or she has successfully passed the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork's examination or another massage therapist certifying examination approved by the Department and maintains current certification.

(b) Each applicant for licensure as a massage therapist
shall have his or her fingerprints submitted to the Department of State Police in an electronic format that complies with the form and manner for requesting and furnishing criminal history record information as prescribed by the Department of State Police. These fingerprints shall be checked against the Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record databases now and hereafter filed. The Department of State Police shall charge applicants a fee for conducting the criminal history records check, which shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check. The Department of State Police shall furnish, pursuant to positive identification, records of Illinois convictions to the Department. The Department may require applicants to pay a separate fingerprinting fee, either to the Department or to a vendor. The Department, in its discretion, may allow an applicant who does not have reasonable access to a designated vendor to provide his or her fingerprints in an alternative manner. The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

Would they really enforce someone practicing massage without a license?
Yes. The City of Chicago (who has had a massage license for decades) regularly assesses fines and jail time for unlicensed therapists (usually in connection with prostitution stings). The Illinois Massage Licensing Acts states that penalties for someone practicing without a license include cease and desist orders and actions "including limiting the scope, nature, or extent of the person's practice or the imposition of a fine, without a hearing, if the act or acts charged constitute sufficient grounds for that action under this Act." So you probably won't go to jail, but you can be fined and if you continue to practice in violation of a cease and desist, you will likely be found in contempt of court and have to deal with the fallout from that.
When did these certifying organizations first pop up?
I don't know when the first massage school opened. Here's a list (http://www.naturalhealers.com/feat-massage.shtml) of some (but not all) the massage schools currently running.
What problems were they addressing?
I don't know what this means. I think it means you were unclear on the concept of "certified." If you mean why did people think it neccesary to start teaching massage formally, instead of just liking the ol' backrubs, then I'm not sure where to start. Therapeutic massage does more than just relax. Here's some of the benefits of massage therapy (http://www.holistic-online.com/massage/mas_benefits.htm). It can also be dangerous, if you have certain conditions, or if the person doing it doesn't know certain things about anatomy, especially vascular structure and weak body protrusions. Plus, it can be dangerous to the person doing massage to do it for many hours a day, every day, without learning proper body mechanics to minimize body strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis and other banes of the massage therapist.
Now, I'm not knocking massage here. Or people who want to go into it. It seems to me that massage can exist just fine on its own, and that all this certifying stuff is just private enterprise and government trying to skim their piece off the top
Some days I totally agree with you. Well, about all except certification. I do think people should go to school and learn to do it right if they want to do it a lot. It's the only safe thing to do. I get really annoyed with accredidation and licensure, though. My school wasn't accredited, and while it made it harder to pay, it also made it a better school, IMHO. There were hoops they didn't bother with because they didn't serve the student - hoops that accreditation would have forced them to jump. Licensure, I'm torn on. I do think it's a good way to "clean up" the profession. I'll be glad when the day comes when I don't have to explain that I'm not a prostitute to people doing :dubious: . It'll be nice to be recognized as a professional who spent lots of time, energy and money to learn how to do something really well and very safely that makes you feel like a pile of mush. :D

[indecisive1]

So, here I am looking through the yellow pages. Nobody uses the term Wholistic, thank goodness (WhyNot, I'll remember you forever... I hate it when people intentionaly use these silly what-ever-you-call-these made-up words)

I notice that several of the listings feature the person's name, rather than a business name. I'm leaning towards those. There's one that lists: Muscle therapy, deep tissue massage, Pregnancy, elderly, disability and relaxation massage, and what really grabbed me... pet and animal therapy. I'm such a sap for animals, anybody who helps them gets extra points.

There's a different one that lists: zone therapy, myofascial release, cranoe-sacral therapy, dowsing/divining. Dowsing/Divining? isn't that searching for ground water with sticks?

[Girl Next Door]

Just so you know, "masseuse" is an outdated and somewhat offensive term, due to it's historical connection with both snake-oil sales and prostitution. Using "massage therapist" or simply "therapist" if we all know we're talking about massage is both PC and polite.

Crap, I just turned in my application and used the word "masseuse" at least once.

Thanks for setting me straight, WhyNot.

[tryout1]

Just curious--I have no connection to either field--but what are the key differences between massage therapy (licensed, certified, etc.) and physical therapy? I realize that physical therapy is usually associated with recovery from an injury, but is there overlap in the techniques used? How far apart are the educational and licensing requirements? Could a licensed physical therapist practice massage? Could an massage therapist who is tired of explaining her profession transition to physical therapy, or is that a whole different field?