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New Choices in Natural Healing: Getting Rubbed Right

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Getting Rubbed Right

Getting Rubbed Right

Fifteen or 20 years ago, finding a legitimate massage therapist could prove a little risky--or downright risqué. There were places to get a massage, after all, and then there were adult entertainment places that operated under the guise of massage.

Fortunately, things have changed for the better, says Elliot Greene, past president of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). These days, to find a reputable massage therapist all you need are a phone and a couple of minutes to ask questions.

Start by calling the AMTA. This nonprofit national body can provide you with a list of qualified massage therapists in your area, including those who specialize in techniques other than Swedish massage. Some of these other massage types also have national organizations that will send additional information on their methods and help you find a therapist in your area. The address for the AMTA is listed in the resource list on page 641.

Different states and localities have different licensing and registration practices. A licensed massage therapist in one city, county or other place may have to meet entirely different requirements than one in another jurisdiction. While 19 states require some form of licensing, the others don't require that therapists be licensed or otherwise regulated. The AMTA can give you details about your home state's regulations for massage therapists. So when you call a therapist, be sure to ask a few additional questions: How long have you been practicing? Are you nationally certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Body Work? Do you belong to a professional organization such as the AMTA? Did you train at a school accredited by the AMTA Commission on Massage Training Accreditation/Approval? Ask your friends and colleagues for recommendations.

When you go for your appointment with a therapist, you should feel comfortable. It is your right not to do anything that makes you uneasy, Greene says. And if you don't like the personality or mannerisms of the therapist, find someone else with whom you are more comfortable.

Prices vary widely depending on the area and the experience of the therapist, Greene says, but for Swedish massage, you can expect to spend $25 and up for an hour-long massage.

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