Threatened

Dear friends,

I have been burdened of late and have not written until I could hopefully have some good news to share. You see, over a week ago we learned that the North Dakota Message Board has decided to throw it's weight around. Further, it decided to throw it's weight around in MY direction. It seems that someone on their board has a personal grudge against someone in another energy modality. This person wrote a rather ugly article which the Dickinson Press published. Here are a few of the details.

It seems that this particular massage therapist (I have several friends who are massage therapists and I'm happy of it) took it upon herself to try to stop EVERY energy modality out there. She stated that people who do Reiki, Core Synchronization, Healing Touch etc (BodyTalk falls under the etc.) ARE practicing massage therapy without a license to do so.

There are a few of our techniques which involve rubbing on the skin but we are doing BodyTalk and not massage. Our intention is to normalize stress levels in the body or to move their lymph. We were taught to ask if we are to do the rubbing or if the client is to do so and to act accordingly. This is how I know that I have not ever offended a single one of my clients by touching them if they minded. Further there are no complaints against any BodyTalk or Reiki practitioner from anyone in the state.

Communication attempts have been made on our part, but the massage therapy board is still taking it's complaint to the Assistant Attorney General's office tomorrow at 3:00. Well, what are we to do?

The meeting is open to the public, so many of our practitioners are planning on attending. As I am also a Reiki Master/Teacher this affects me on both accounts. Elizabeth will be representing us as BodyTalk practitioners and the other modalities are also having their leaders speak out about how we are NOT doing massage therapy.

I'm asking all of you to pray that the people listening to the "Evidence" will have clear minds and will listen to ALL of the thoughts presented. Further, if you could pray for me to trust the Lord and NOT GET STRESSED OUT, I would be very grateful!!!

I'm enclosing below (in black) Elizabeth's email from last night for those of you who want to read up on this. If you are interested in attending the meeting, it will be held at 3:00 tomorrow afternoon on the 17th floor of the Capitol building in the Attorney Generals office. I plan to take pictures if I am allowed to do so. There was some talk of television coverage, so this could end up to be a big thing.

One of my main reasons in writing here is so that you will know, if you hear about this on TV or in the newspapers, that this whole thing is motivated by jealousy. We are getting wonderful results and some people have come our way who may have gone to massage therapists previously. It's totally ridiculous, really, as there are so many hurting people that we couldn't possibly have enough alternative health practitioners! Besides this, like I said to Robert, "There's nobody stopping ANYONE in the world from pursuing training in BodyTalk!"

As Elizabeth mentions in this email, a number of BodyTalk practitioners have begun to collect signatures from their clients stating that they are VERY happy with their sessions. If you are one of my clients (or another BT practitioner's) and would be willing to sign such a petition, please let me know. I'm not pursuing this for tomorrow, as there is no way to be sure if they would even take such "Evidence" at this time. However, if the need arises in the near future, I would be VERY thankful for your support. If you could drop me a short email at: savedbybodytalk@gmail.com, or a comment here, stating that you are willing to speak up for your right to continue receiving BodyTalk sessions, it would certainly relieve some of my current tension. May God bless you for it!!!

Please cover us with your prayers tomorrow!

Dawn

PS. Elizabeth is the woman whom God used to save my life in 2007, and I hold her in the highest regard!

Thank you to those of you who took the time to view and listen to the telewebinar concerning the changes to the North Dakota Massage Therapy Law. At the time of that meeting, Xxxxx let us know that there was to be a meeting with the Attorney General’s office on January 29th concerning this law. Since I did not have any prior knowledge of the meeting I could not elaborate on it at that time. Since then I have spoken with many alternative modality providers across the state and learned more about the situation.

What I originally stated in the telewebinar remains true. The ND massage law has changed. The wording of it is suspect that the massage therapy board is attempting to regulate those who do alternative therapies, other than massage. However, the current law that went into effect in August 2009 does not affect our practice of BodyTalk because we are not manipulating tissue for the purpose of massage.

One of the biggest issues has been the ill worded and misleading article that appeared in the Dickinson Press on December 15, 2009. This article overstepped the letter of the law and made suspect anyone practicing alternative modalities in North Dakota who does not have a massage license. Because Reiki, Core Synchronization, Yoga, Healing Touch and Hands on Healing were named specifically and BodyTalk was included in the "etc” many practitioners have been upset and worried about the future of alternative therapies around the state. A news article appeared in the Bismarck Tribune last week, very different from the one in Dickinson and very, very short and factual. It lacked the misleading information and just informed the public that the massage therapy laws has been changed with an address to contact the board.

As stated in the telewebinar the best way to combat this type of misinformation is by having clarity with the pubic including our clients and family that what we “do” is not massage and by the professional behavior of all who practice alternative modalities. For a complete list of what you can do to make sure your clients all understand what you do and the laws of ND please refer to the telewebinar.

Concerning this meeting on Friday, January 29th at 3 pm I have learned that it is an administrative rules meeting regarding the implementation of the statues regarding massage therapy article 49 of the ND century code. This is a strictly a procedural meeting. It is open to the public but it is unclear if any evidence or complaints will be heard. You are welcome to attend.

The meeting will be held in the 17th floor conference room of the North Dakota State Capital. In the last week YYYYYYY has had conversations with the attorney general’s office which makes it seem that attendance is not really urgent at this time. I am planning to attend and invite you to come if you wish to observe the proceedings and lend your support to North Dakotan's having the right to choose alternative therapies for their care.

Some efforts have been started by many around the state to get their clients to sign an affidavit stating that they understand that the alternative modality being provided is not massage and that the practitioner is not a massage therapist and sending these to the state Assistant Attorney General Mr. Edward Erickson, (600 E Boulevard Ave. Bismarck, ND 58505-0040.) This is a great way to show the attorney general how many people this unlawful attempt at regulation may be affecting. Others are contacting their state senator or representatives to let them know that they want alternative therapies available in North Dakota. This is also a good way to let our elected officials know we care about having alternative therapies available in this state.

There is talk and cooperation between the various alternative therapies to join together and form a board of alternative therapies so that this type of overstepping of authority by the massage therapy board will not happen again. North Dakota’s next legislative session begins in a year and a half and legislative sponsors have been secured to create a board so it is a goal that is possible.

Elizabeth Hanson, CBP, BAT, RMT

-- BodyTalk North Dakota--An organization to promote the BodyTalk System of Health Care and support BodyTalk Practitioners in their pursuit of excellence