Massage Therapy Licensure - Senate Bill 731 and More

Senate Bill 731
With the new year comes new regulations regarding the licensing of massage therapists in California. It is a hot topic since it changes (increases) the requirements for practicing massage therapy. I wrote an article from a national perspective that came out in the Dec 08 issue of Massage Therapy but here is what CA State Senator, Jenny Oropeza had to say about the changes in CA:

Up until now, regulation of the practice of professional massage therapy has been left to local counties and cities. In larger metropolitan areas, different massage practitioners could be subject to several different sets of rules and regulations, all within a few miles. Some cities require a license, proof of training and/or a background check. Others have no requirements at all.

Legitimate massage therapists, many of whom undergo hundreds of hours of professional training, at great expense, are offended by being tarred with the brush of illegality and harassment from investigators. The system, if it can be called that, is clearly broken.My bill creates a new non-profit statewide organization, the Massage Therapy Organization to certify legitimate massage practitioners and therapists.

Our goal is to help both massage therapists and law enforcement by setting clear, consistent statewide rules. In addition, statewide certification of massage therapy will provide consumers with recourse if they are harmed in the process of receiving a massage. These new rules will also help consumers determine which providers are legitimate and which are not.

Here's the lead in to my article on the changing regulatory landscape for massage therapists.

A Strong Foundation by Camille Hoheb
Although regulation can sometimes be confusing and frustrating, legal recognition of the massage therapy profession is good for everyone. Misconceptions abound, and changing people’s perspective isn’t easy. But with more and more consumers seeking out massage therapy, having a clear, easy way to define your profession is important.

Regulation is a good foundation to stand on when you’re trying to educate consumers. Having laws in place that work to protect your clients and raise the reputation of the massage profession can be invaluable to massage therapists who are working to bring the benefits of massage to more people.

To read more of "A Strong Foundation" click here: tp://amtamassage.org/journal/winter08_journal/winter08_art4-1.html

Spa Person of the Year

Colleague and friend, Felicia Brown of Inspire Skin and Body and Spalutions is up for nomination for "Spa Person of the Year"

When I voted earlier, Felicia had 30% of the votes and was in the lead!

Click Here to Vote!

Please cast your vote after reviewing the candidates profile and help spread the word by asking your colleagues and industry associates to do the same.
VOTE FOR THE SPA PERSON 2009

Join the DSA Annual Meeting on March 16 in Las Vegas during the Day Spa Expo to cheer the winner!

2009 Top Ten Spa Trends

SpaFinder just came out with their Top 10 Trends List...some trends came as no surprise while others were more thought provoking.

1. Energy MedicineIn 2009 the spa industry will follow suit, with high-voltage buzz around energy medicine and therapies like reiki, qi gong, chakra balancing, healing touch, and magnetic, light and sound therapy.

2. Casinos and Spas: A Good BetPlacing a high-end spa in a casino hotel was once a long-shot idea, but today casino spas are the most profitable spas in the world. These world-class facilities cater to a free-spending clientele that sees the value both of high-octane indulgence and recharging, healthy pursuits.

3. The Medical and Spa Tourism ShuffleWatch for the line between spas, medical spas and hospitals to become ever more creatively blurred as the phenomenon of medical or wellness travel evolves. Global consumers are increasingly journeying to access the services they want, need, and can afford.

4. Eco-Embedded Spas: A Deeper Shade of GreenThe eco-embedded spa embraces environmental processes that are quietly and meaningfully enmeshed throughout the entire spa, so there's no demanding efforts required by the spa guest, who is, after all, there to relax.

5. Trains, Boats and Planes: In-Transit Spa-GoingSpa-ing while traveling is reaching a whole new level: trains with fully equipped gyms and spas, planes with spa showers and massage treatments in-flight, health and wellness-oriented cruises, and more. What began as a novelty has turned into big business that uniquely targets today's captive, over-stressed traveler.

6. Brain Health and Mind GymsBrain health is on spa-goers' minds today, with a vast, aging Baby Boomer population, an Alzheimer's pandemic, and medical reports touting the need tokeep the brain active to avoid decline. As a result, brain workouts are popping up on both the day and stay spa menu, with activities, education, technologies and therapies that function like gyms for the mind.

7. Learning Labs for Stress ReductionSpas, out of necessity, will increasingly become learning labs for stress reduction, as consumers realize it takes less than an hour or a ton of expensive treatments to elicit the relaxation response. Look for spa staff to become teachers of take-home, DIY relaxation techniques, as well as a shift from trendy spa rituals-of-the-month to effective stress therapies like breath work, hot baths, meditation, exercise, massage, and even an emphasis on psychological support and the sharing of feelings.

8. Mindful SpendingIn a challenging economic year, spa-goers will be looking closely for value and tangible results. Spas will be experimenting with creative ways to attract the consumer, earn their trust and exceed their expectations.

9. Move Over Baby Boomers: Gen X & Y Are Spa-ing Their WayThe core spa clientele is rapidly shifting from Baby Boomers to Gen X and Gen Y, and it's more than a simple demographic switch: younger generations are now hitting the spa in record numbers, and they're shaping the experience to meet their unique desires. Spas will need to continue to attract aging Boomers, with their considerable spending power, while catering to new generations who typically reject pampering, embrace wellness, and consider spa-going a natural right.

10. Brands, Brands, BrandsWith almost 72,000 spas around the world, spas that establish and broadcast a truly unique brand identity will attract more visitors at a time when consumer budgets are under pressure.

The California Wildfires - AGAIN

In the last 3 days over 10,000 people have been evacuated from there homes and hundreds of homes have been destroyed. Reports are saying with the dry air, winds and climate, the conditions are prime for creating fires.

Last year I wrote about the California Wildfires and how the affected the spa industry from massage and skincare schools, to spa business, to a 5 diamond resort and many, many personal accounts. Disaster preparedness is such an important topic that the Day Spa Association created a "Disaster Forum" and I was pleased to secure copyright permissions from Skin, Inc from the article below...

I invite you to take a moment to read these articles and take the proper precautions to safeguard your family, home and business.

Best Wishes,

Camille

The California Wildfires and The Spa Industry
http://www.skininc.com/spabusiness/leaders/spas/13944742.html
Here's the intro to the article: Through conversation with peers in the industry, I was intrigued with their stories of evacuation, closures and affected lives. It was then that I realized how widespread and reaching the impact was on the industry—from spas, to esthetic schools, to skin care manufacturers and beyond. My interviews were conducted both by phone conversations and through e-mails, and represent a cross section of skin care professionals spanning from Simi Valley, California, to San Diego. Many thanks to those who shared their stories in the midst of picking up the pieces and moving toward normalizing their daily lives at work and at home.

Here's another article on the CA wildfires aimed specific to massage therapy practices.

Massage Therapists React to the California Wildfires
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTMLfire on Sunday on the local news until .... ERMI, eager to help first responders cope during disasters...www.globalspaandwellness.com/pdf/Wildfires_MNB_MA_08.pdf -

Here's a good resource that I hadn't included in the two previous articles because the focus was on families and residences. Please take a moment to read.

http://www.firesafety.gov/

Walking labyrinth

I'm glad to see that interest in the walking labyrinth continues to grow to such a point that it is fairly common to see them incorporated into spas, and given attention in spa magazines.

I was introduced to this practice at al local Episcopal church. That was many years ago when it was an unsual concept. Below is a link to an article that was featured in USA Weekend.
www.usaweekend.com/98_issues/980412/980412holy_maze.html

Surviving A Worst Case Disaster - MTJ

Writing spa management articles is a wonderful way to share information and experiences which can help other professionals with their business. I'm always on writing assignment and would love to hear from you. Have you had disasters in your spa and if so, how did you manage them? Post them to this blog so others can learn from your experience!

I have found it to be gratifying to help other spa professionals through my writing and was pleased to see this entry and very nice compliment in Felica Brown's Spalutions blog. I had interviewed her for an an article that was featured in the Fall 2008 edition of Massage Therapy Journal. http://www.amtamassage.org/journal/fall08_journal/fall08_art3-1.html

What Would Your Business Do in a Crisis
Disaster sometimes strikes when you least expect it. What would you do if your business suddenly flooded because of a hurricane or you became injured and unable to work? Click here to read a fantastic article in the most recent Massage Therapy Journal by my friend and colleague Camille Hoheb on Surviving a Worst Case Scenario. You'll actually read about a couple of my own dilemmas in the article and how I handled them!

Renegotiating Your Spa Lease

Selecting great locations for spas has been one of my favorite aspects of working with new clients in the start-up phase of their new business. Having secured over a hundred locations and worked with commercial brokers, developers and attorneys, I felt it would be beneficial to slant the article from the perspective of a spa owner who hadn't negotiated favorable terms, or was unaware of certain clauses or hadn't anticpated a tough economy and needed to work with their landlord.

I interviewed a couple of the brokers that I have worked with in the past as well as several spa owners that I had not had the pleasure of working with. I wish new spa owners would seek professional guidance before signing a legally binding contract on a 3, 5, or 10 year lease. It would save them time, money and energy.

For more information on the article go to www.dayspamagazine.com