Letter on HB 81 — Anna Marie Bowers, Trager Practitioner (House Commerce and Labor Committee, May 23, 2021)

Summary

Letter dated May 23, 2021, to Chair Dick Stein and the House Commerce and Labor Committee regarding HB 81 on massage establishments and massage therapy, from Anna Marie Bowers, who writes on behalf of herself and in support of other Certified Trager Practitioners in Ohio. The letter states full support for the intent of the bill but concern that the broad definition of massage that is proposed could be interpreted to include Trager Practitioners as massage therapists. It states the Trager Approach is not part of massage therapy. It requests an amendment providing exemptions for non-massage professions and says similar exemption language is used in 14 other states where Trager is specifically exempted from massage regulation by name.

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Full text

May 23, 2021

The Honorable Dick Stein, Chair
House Commerce and Labor Committee
Ohio State Legislature
77 South High Street, 12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

RE: HB 81 to revise laws governing massage establishments / massage therapy

Dear Chairman Stein and members of the Committee:

I am writing on behalf of myself and in support of other Certified Trager® Practitioners in the
state of Ohio who may be negatively affected by HB 81 as it is currently written. I have had an
active Trager practice in Ohio for over thirty years, was asked to present this work to medical
students studying complimentary care, and have worked with clients who were referred by their
physicians.

The Trager Approach uses movement education to help individuals re-discover the feeling of
inner quiet and self-awareness that empowers them to find greater ease in movement and
improved quality of life. Some of the work involves touch and use of a massage table. The most
important part of Trager is the tool kit the Practitioner provides to the client to discover their
own patterns, explore different ways of doing things, and integrate what works well for them
individually.

I fully support the intent of this bill to better regulate massage therapy as a profession and curb
illegal activities associated with illicit establishments. However, I am very concerned that the
broad definition of massage that is proposed could be interpreted to include Trager Practitioners
as massage therapists.

The Trager Approach is not part of massage therapy and is not recognized as such by massage
therapy programs. Mandatory massage licensure would mean additional time and expense for the
Trager Practitioners, and in some cases, travel to an appropriately accredited massage school.
The Trager certification program includes in person, hands on training as well as supervised and
documented practice sessions and tutorials both prior to and after certification. Continuing
Education is required for the first ten years of practice.

I am adding my voice to those requesting an amendment to this bill providing appropriate
exemptions for non-massage professions. Similar exemption language is used in 14 other states
where Trager is specifically exempted from massage regulation by name: Colorado, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon and Virginia. Additionally, this language is supported by national
American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) policy, as well as the Federation of
Therapeutic Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Practices Organizations (federationmbs.org).
For movement-education based practices, such as the Trager Approach, Feldenkrais and Somatic
Education, I am requesting approval of the proposed amendment below to be placed in
Sec. 4731.15 (F):

(F) The following persons are not required to hold a license to practice massage therapy issued
under this chapter:
       ……………..
       (5) A person who:
       (a) uses touch, words, and directed movement to deepen awareness of existing patterns of
       movement as well as to suggest new possibilities of movement; provided that their services
       are not designated or implied to be massage or massage therapy.
       (b) and is recognized by or meets the established standards of either a professional
       organization or credentialing body that represents or certifies the respective practice
       based on a minimum level of training, demonstration of competency, and adherence to
       ethical standards
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

Anna Marie Bowers
cc: Jim Noriega, Chair, USTA Law & Legislation Committee


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