Massage therapists fight permits, changes to rules

Massage therapists are prickling at proposed changes to the rules governing Alexandria's massage industry.

"I see no rationale for the [section] about where certified massage therapists may provide therapy and under what conditions," wrote Rebecca Bowers-Lanier, a consultant for the Virginia Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association. "I believe this is archaic language that refers back to a time when massage therapy was confused with massage provided by persons such as prostitutes and call girls. These individuals were not practicing massage therapy."

Jessica Johnson, of the advocacy group Virginia Stop Modern Slavery, questioned the effect the changes would have on the police's ability to enter establishments that may be engaging in human trafficking or prostitution.

"We've definitely seen [human] trafficking, particularly in the Asian community," she said, citing Falls Church, Annandale and Prince William County as examples.

But Lt. Jesse Herman of the Alexandria Police Department said he hasn't experienced any such problems with licensed establishments in his 27 years.

The proposal would drop the requirement that applicants for a massage therapist permit list their weight on their applications.

Massage permit fees would increase under the proposed changes. The city hasn't raised the fees since 1998, said Bob Custard, Environmental Health Division chief for the Alexandria Health Department.

The home massage permit fee and massage establishment permit fee, both $25, would rise to $100. But Bowers-Lanier wrote that the permit process should be repealed entirely, calling it "archaic and discriminatory."

"Certified Massage Therapists who own and operate their practices in Alexandria should be required solely to obtain a business license and pay the appropriate business tax, using the same process to which other state-regulated healthcare practitioners adhere," she wrote.

But at a time of shrinking resources, some of the proposals are simply intended to make things more efficient, Custard said.

For example, approvals no longer would be sent via certified mail. Much of the mail sent to therapists comes back undeliverable, Custard said.

"Apparently, massage therapists move a tremendous amount," he said.

About 160 massage therapists and 60 massage establishments are in the city, he said.

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