Testimony on HB 81 — International Association of Structural Integrators and Dr. Ida Rolf Institute (May 24, 2021)

Summary

Testimony dated May 24, 2021, to the House Commerce and Labor Committee on HB 81 from the International Association of Structural Integrators (IASI) and the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, requesting exemption from the bill. It states the law as written is reasonable for the massage profession but that requiring Structural Integration (SI) practitioners to go through massage training would be a burden and restrict their right to practice. It states massage schools do not, and cannot, offer training in structural integration, and that IASI is the only organization that represents the structural integration profession. The signature block names Christine Doo, Manny Aragon, and Libby Eason.

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Full text

May 24, 2021

TO: Members of the House Commerce and Labor Committee

RE: HB 81 Testimony

The International Association of Structural Integrators (IASI) and the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute are
writing to request exemption from HB 81. The law, as written, is reasonable for the massage
profession. However, if Structural Integration (SI) practitioners are required to go through
massage training in order to have a license to practice any manner of touch, this will be a
burden to those practitioners, and restrict their right to practice their profession. Below are
some points regarding HB 81 and its capacity to negatively impact SI practitioners. .
1. Requiring non-massage practitioners to have a massage license will have several negative
impacts.

a) Massage schools do not, and cannot, offer training in structural integration. IASI recognizes
SI schools that have met requirements set by the profession, and administered through IASI.

b) Given that massage schools cannot offer SI training, the massage therapy board members
are not qualified, or even able to qualify SI practitioners, giving massage therapists the authority
to set rules and regulations for SI practice is inappropriate at best. Taking into consideration
that other practices, including SI, are the natural competition for massage therapy, giving
massage therapists control of SI is an immediate probability for restraint of trade.

c) The International Association of Structural Integrators is the only organization that
represents the structural integration profession. IASI recognizes schools that have met the
minimum curriculum requirements, maintains a code of ethics, and standards of practice.

d) The Certification Board for Structural Integration(r) developed the Certification Exam for
Structural Integration, a psychometrically valid certification exam that is offered nationally (and
internationally) through the Pearson Vue system, making it accessible to graduates of all IASI
recognized training programs .

e) The people of Ohio should be able to identify qualified practitioners of SI, and have access
to their services. This protects the public from massage or other practitioners holding
themselves out to be SI practitioners. This happens routinely in a lot of states.

IASI and DIRI, and OH SI practitioners, request that structural integration be exempt from the
massage board. In order to make sure that the Board, and/or law enforcement have easy
access to verify practitioners, the law could contain language that makes it possible to make a
request for an SI practitioner’s credentials. They can be provided with contact information for
the IASI recognized training programs in order to verify legitimate practitioners .

EXEMPTION LANGUAGE:

.1 Nothing in this [article/ordinance/bill/regulation — as appropriate] shall be construed to
prevent, limit or restrict the practice of any person who uses touch to effect change in the
structure of the body while engaged in the practice of Structural Integration, provided that:

a) the person’s services are not designated as or implied to be massage or massage therapy;
and

b) the person is recognized by or meets the established standards of either a professional
organization or credentialing body that acknowledges or certifies practitioners of Structural
Integration based on a minimum level of training, demonstration of competence, and adherence
to established ethical standards.

.2 Exempt persons under [section] .1 include, but are not limited to, practitioners of Rolfing®
Structural Integration, the Rolf Method of Structural Integration and Hellerwork®.

If the Medical Board determines that SI should be licensed, please license SI for what it is, and
require:
             Proof of certification from an IASI recognized training program
             Certification through the Certification Exam for Structural Integration
             Rules and regulations relevant to the practice of structural integration
             Prohibition of unauthorized use of the title, Structural Integration Practitioner or
               any of its derivatives, in order to assure public safety by identifying and licensing
               SI practitioners who meet the minimum standards established by IASI

Attached are documents from IASI for Basic Education Standards for Recognized Programs,
Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics. Information about the Certification Board for Structural
Integration can be found at https://www.thecbsi.org/

The Movement Practices, including members of ISMETA, Trager and the Feldenkrais Guild are
submitting an exemption request for movement practices only. IASI and DIRI support the
exemption of movement practices from the massage statute.
Please contact us with any questions. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Best regards,

Christine Doo, Chair
IASI Law and Regulation Committee
Christine@plavabodyworks.com

Manny Aragon, Chair
IASI Board of Directors
www.theiasi.net
iasimannyaragon@gmail.com

Libby Eason, Chair
Dr. Ida Rolf Institute
Board of Directors
https://rolf.org/
libbyeason@gmail.com


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