It is my firm belief, and experience has taught me that no two massages are alike. Many can be considered similar, but as bodies vary per individual, so do the techniques that are used on the issues that present during each session. The greatest variance in massage is not necessarily technique, it is only one thing, that is, impossible to quantify; intention. Out of marketing, and the desire to be in a box, the field of massage has evolved into many different spheres of focus – some with definitive boundaries dependent upon technique, and some with more diffuse borders, leading to nebulous understanding. I feel that the more people attempt to define ‘massage’ or ‘put it in a box, readily packaged under one single adjective (therapeutic), the more we weaken the field. Do we need to continue to try to be everything to everyone, or should we attempt to refine our intention, be present in the session, and realize our limitations based on technique and scope of practice?
For example: there is a debate (some say it is already here) between those that practice massage in a relaxing setting, intended for relaxation only, and a medically focused practitioners whose one and only intention is to work on clients and issues within the medical field. Where is the middle ground in this debate? Is there a technique based answer? I think not. Does the answer lie in intention? If it does, is then intention the sole factor determining reality? Part of it may be intention, but education in combination with several other factors, in my opinion, is the most responsible route. I believe that the biggest factors in resolving this debate will be communication, education, and an intimate understanding of what proper scope of practice involves.
Does this mean that we, as the massage therapy industry need to segregate ourselves and our practices to cater to specific demographic groups, or that there needs to be specific certifications and segregated specialties that the massage consumer is aware of? At this point, the best solution is for the field of massage therapy to inform the massage consuming public about their individual practices. At Re, our focus has always been on the individual. Until such a time as the massage therapy industry comes together in one community, and starts to define sub categories of massage, we will hold to our client centered focus and individual attention to intention. What is medical massage – perhaps we can define it by what medical massage is not. If medical massage intends to improve the pathologic state of the human condition, is stress considered a pathological condition? Can you name one pathology that is not negatively affected by stress? Perhaps the only one I can think of (after much consideration and reflection) would be terminal apathy – not depression – apathy, or ‘not giving two hoots about anything’. And if the individual is chronically or terminally apathetic, then they wouldn’t care if they got a decent massage anyway…..Does this entitle all massage therapists to work medically, or do all massage therapists practice medically? The answer lies within the mind of the referring professional and the body on the table. If we, as massage therapists, self-define, it could just be considered marketing, whereas if we let another profession define us, we can be sold into a cycle of dependence with those who defined us, much like Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers. The real power of discrimination lies with the client, examining the qualifications of the individual massage therapists and determining if they want to bring them into a medically focused team, or work with them to promote greater balance and relaxation.
You can easily see the curriculum vitae of the massage therapists at Re . We have somewhat verbose descriptions of what techniques we utilize involve. We have specialties – Pregnancy , Sports , and even technique based descriptions like LDT . But nowhere do we say one technique or focus is the cure or the heal all. We also pride ourselves on referring to some of the best physicians, nutritionists, physical therapists, and athletic trainers in our area. This willingness not being “everything to everyone”, can be considered either a weakness or a strength. Instead of trying to put Rē ‘in a box’, we endeavor to let our clients define us. That is why we are Rē.

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