Morning Show Massages
This month, the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) calls on individuals nationwide to relax and rejuvenate through the power of touch. Sunday, July 18 through Saturday, July 24 is EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week. As in years past, ABMP members will hold grassroots events in communities throughout the country to spread the word about the value of professional massage.
In the event’s 16th year, the association is taking things a step further. ABMP recently offered the co-hosts of ABC-TV’s The View a complimentary massage therapy session, on air, at some point during the week. They made the same proposal to Joe Scarborough of NBC-TV’s Morning Joe. The association made these offers in an effort to dispel disrespectful comments about massage therapy that these shows recently aired. The commentary was mostly in light of Al Gore’s headline-making scandal involving a massage therapist in 2006, which was recently leaked to the media.
“There’s no better time than now to tell the world about the value of legitimate, professional massage therapy,” says ABMP president Les Sweeney. “It’s clear from recent events in the news that there are still a few folks out there–including some in the media—who aren’t clear about the code of conduct followed by massage therapists and the therapeutic value of professional massage therapy.”
The association aims to inform a large, televised audience that massage therapy is professional work that requires significant training, licensing and adherence to a strict code of ethics.
We’ll keep you posted on whether these networks will take the ABMP up on their offer. And if so, we’ll be sure to publish the days and times which they’ll be gracing the airwaves.
Is your spa doing anything to commemorate EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week? Tell us about it! Write to koreilly@creativeage.com.—Katie O’Reilly
