Dear Editor:
I was extremely disappointed by the BizBeat announcement about the opening of Blue Lotus Asian Massage Therapy (or as the heading referred to it, "Massage Parlor") in Jefferson City. I am a licensed clinical massage therapist in Jefferson City and I have been practicing here for about seven years. Before that I practiced in Chicago, where I received my initial education in clinical massage therapy from The Soma Institute.
I know a great deal about this profession and was taken aback when I saw the Tribune's announcement for this new massage therapy business. The headline was immediately a red flag, "Massage parlor opens Monday." Did the News Tribune really just announce a new "massage parlor???" Surely this is a mistake, but no, no mistake. In the description of Blue Lotus, which included the address, modalities offered and hours of operation, it was referred to again as a "massage parlor."
Let me explain the problem. In the massage therapy (MT) profession, and outside of the MT profession, it is well known that a "massage parlor" is where illegal activities beyond actual therapeutic massage take place. Our profession has been fighting this stereotype for decades. We have been fighting to be taken seriously as healthcare providers and we have made great progress in doing so. More and more medical doctors refer patients to licensed massage therapists not only for lowering blood pressure and relieving headaches, but for rehabilitation from whiplash and recovery from surgeries and preventative care for sports injuries and so on. "Massage parlors" are the polar opposite of what we stand for and it is quite an offensive term to licensed massage therapists operating reputable businesses and ethics. To see this business announced in print as a "massage parlor" in my local paper was extremely disappointing. Clinical massage therapy is the career I have chosen, and have fought for the honor of, all the way from Chicago to Jefferson City. I take this seriously as do my LMT peers that I know all around the world.
Please, take a minute to be sure you are current on the semantics of a profession before you put into print what could defame an entire business before it even opens. Professional massage therapists, well-trained and licensed by the state, are serious healthcare providers deserving of respect and providing a public good.
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