Massage Therapy Week Marks 10th Anniversary

The 10th Annual Massage Therapy Awareness Week (Oct. 22-28) was marked by massage outreach and education across the nation. The week was created by the American Massage Therapy Association to raise the profile of professional massage therapy. Members' activities in 2006 included:

• In Florida, Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Department of Health proclaimed Oct. 22 to 28, 2006, National Massage Therapy Awareness Week. AMTA members volunteered massage to hurricane victims and members of local, state and national response teams.

• AMTA members from New York and Connecticut appeared on CBS's The Early Show to promote the week.

• In Orange County, California, members provided massage at: the city halls of Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach; and the Huntington Beach Central Library, Public Works Yard and Police Department. At each location, therapists explained the health benefits of massage to city employees and council members.

• The Silicon Valley unit of the AMTA's California chapter massaged 311 people over six days at Whole Foods Market, De Anza College and the Cupertino City Hall.

• In Warwick, Rhode Island, AMTA members volunteered massage educated consumers about the benefits of massage at Kent Hospital.

• Massage therapists partnered with Hospice Hawaii and provided seated massage for caregivers and nurses. AMTA members appeared on a local radio program to promote the benefits of massage to the community, and members provided seated massage demonstrations on the beach in Kihei, Maui.

• In Tennessee, members participated in the Cruise for a Cure event for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.