The justification (rational) and the proposed wording for 'model' state laws looks to me like a push to sweep all (or as much as possible) energy work into massage. As someone who does and teaches energy work, I am not interested in massage claiming I am under them, or they are in charge of me and my work. A recent survey of massage therapists found 44.1% include some energy work in their practice. I think it is great they want to be broader than just soft tissue work, it makes sense to me because it is effective.

The Model Practice Act language and the rational are intentionally broad and specifically promote that no exemptions should be in the law. In NC the law currently says that if your intention is to impact the energy system you are exempt from the massage law. This may not be an important issue to those of you who do not use energy work, or use it occasionally. For people who do Healing Touch, Kinesiology, Reiki, Reflexology and many other current and emerging systems who have not been invited to participate in this expansion of massage, we are not interested to be taken in via subterfuge. If massage is interested to pull energy work under them, the ethical thing would be transparency and inclusion in the process. If they are not doing this then all the talk about being in charge of 'ethics' makes me wonder if they are ther ones to do that.