Questions

• I notice that your advertisements all call this "body therapy", "bodywork", "touch therapy", etc.  As a client, is Reiki-ssage massage, and why don't you just say "massage" to be clear?
  
• I am a Certified Reiki-ssage Practitioner.  Do I need a massage therapy license to practice in Illinois?
  
• I attended a few Reiki-ssage classes, but I am not a Certified Reiki-ssage Practitioner.  Can I practice legally under the law?
  
• I have completed all of my classes, but I have not taken the exam.  Can I work professionally (charge a fee)?
  
• The American Massage Therapy Association's Illinois Chapter Web Site clearly states that a massage license is required to practice Reiki-ssage because it simply Reiki with Massage.  Who is right?

Questions and Answers

• I notice that your advertisements all call this "body therapy", "bodywork", "touch therapy", etc.  As a client, I have to ask... is Reiki-ssage massage, and why don't you just say "massage" to be clear?
  
  The new Illinois Massage Act provides for something called "title protection".  The law dictates that only massage therapists licensed by the State of Illinois are allowed to call what they do "massage".  Because Reiki-ssage is specifically not massage therapy, we cannot legally call this work "massage".  Many of the techniques have close relationships to massage, and if you were to observe someone doing massage and Reiki-ssage side-by-side, you may not notice a major difference.  However, the "magic" of Reiki-ssage is the way we use energy and spirit to blend with the physical touch.  What happens "under the surface" is what makes Reiki-ssage so different.  Since the very first Reiki-ssage Workshop years ago, we have been very clear that Reiki-ssage is not massage therapy training.
  
  
• I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and I do Reiki.  Therefore, I do Reiki-ssage right?
  
  Not even close!  Reiki-ssage is not massage with Reiki.  It is a very specific approach to healing that offers a unique therapeutic intention and a unique therapeutic approach to help the client move into the ideal state for the body to begin healing itself.  
  
  Reiki-ssage training is not massage therapy training and massage therapy training does not teach you do Reiki-ssage.  The use of the term Reiki-ssage is protected by the U.S. Trademark Office and unauthorized use of the name is illegal.  In the same way that massage therapists wanted to separate themselves from prostitution through licensure and title protection, Reiki-ssage has its own title protection to prevent imitators from confusing the public.
  
  
• I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and I do Reiki.  Can I just take the Reiki-ssage exam?
  
  No!  Reiki-ssage is based on a very unique understanding of what is health and how touch, energy, and spirit combine together to create true healing.  The systematic approach through the subtle bodies, the methods of working with the energy system, and the process of working with the spirit are exclusive to Reiki-ssage.  To be effective, you must know the system and the philosophy that supports it, and you can get that training no where else.
  
  We have had medical doctors, chiropractors, nurses, physical therapists, and massage therapists all come through the program.  No matter what previous training they have had, Reiki-ssage is different.  You must complete the education before you can take the exam.
  
  
• I took some classes from an organization teaching Reiki massage, is that the same?
  
  The developers and trademark owners of Reiki-ssage have granted the Reiki Council the exclusive authority to provide Reiki-ssage training.  All Reiki-ssage Classes are sponsored by and presented by teachers certified by the Reiki Council.  If your certificate is not from the Reiki Council, it is not Reiki-ssage and it is an imitation.  
  
  
• I am a Certified Reiki-ssage Practitioner.  Do I need a massage therapy license to practice in Illinois?
  
  No, the State of Illinois has provided a series of exemptions for therapeutic modalities that are similar to massage therapy, but do not claim to be massage therapy.  To qualify for these exemptions there are a series of rules.  The first rule is that you must be granted authorization to work by the modality's governing body (the Reiki Council for Reiki-ssage).  This demands the completion of all class and practice requirements and successful passing of the Reiki-ssage Certification Exam.  The second rule is that Certified Reiki-ssage Practitioners cannot use the term "massage" in promotional material unless they are also a licensed massage therapist.
  
  
• I attended a few Reiki-ssage classes, and I'm really good.  But, I am not a Certified Reiki-ssage Practitioner.  Can I legally practice professionally under the law?
  
  No you cannot.  Just as the Illinois Massage Act has exclusive legal right to the terms "massage", "massage therapy", and "massage therapist", only Certified Reiki-ssage Practitioners in good standing can call their work Reiki-ssage.  The term "Reiki-ssage" is protected by a trademark through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Only individuals who are Certified Reiki-ssage Practitioners are entitled to the legal exemption under the law.
  
  If you are a current student, you can work as a student to help you complete your required practice hours.  However, you must identify yourself as a student, and you cannot charge a fee for your services.  The Reiki Council does allow students to accept voluntary gratuities.
  
  
• I have completed all of my classes, but I have not taken the exam.  Can I work professionally (charge a fee)?
  
  No.  One of the rules set forth by the Illinois Massage Act is that to work under an exempted modality, you must be fully certified.  That means you must have demonstrated competency in an exam setting.
  
  By the way, this policy also applies to experienced massage therapists.  Reiki-ssage is a very different approach to bodywork, with a very different intent, and a very different approach.  To practice Reiki-ssage professionally, you must be Certified by the Reiki Council.
  
  
• The American Massage Therapy Association's Illinois Chapter Web Site clearly states that a massage license is required to practice Reiki-ssage because it simply Reiki with Massage.  Who is right?
  The AMTA was instrumental in spearheading the licensing of massage therapists in Illinois and many other states around the country.  In the process, they have been known to "misinterpret" the law or "provide incorrect opinions" on the meaning of the law, and it is always to their favor.  At one point, they "interpreted the law" in such a way that the only massage therapy association in the country that was acceptable was the AMTA.
  
  Once again, the AMTA is wrong on an important matter affecting the right to practice for hundreds of practitioners in Illinois.  They have been contacted on several occasions and have refused to correct their incorrect statements.  The law they sponsored is clearly on our side and seven independent attorneys agree.
  
  
• What does becoming a member of the Reiki Council professional association do for me as a practitioner?
  
  The biggest benefit is that it helps you to be a part of a professional network for communication and education.  Plus, being a member of the Reiki Council as a Certified Reiki-ssage Practitioner also gives you the benefit of a second legal exemption that supports your freedom to practice without needing a massage license.
  
  
• I am a Certified Reiki-ssage Practitioner and I am being challenged by the Illinois Massage Board.  What do I do?
  
  First, don't panic.  The law is clearly on our side, and this is merely a formality.  Print out the hand-outs using the links below.  Contact the Reiki Council and let us know what is happening.  By presenting the clear interpretation of the law outlined within the hand-outs, you should absolutely no problem with the process.  It would be helpful to make sure that you are a member of the Reiki Council Professional Association so you have two exemptions protecting you, but the Reiki Council will help guide you through the process.  As long as you are Certified by the Reiki Council, you are permitted to work professionally in the State of Illinois.