Although this seems a month late, it has been on my mind since new years.  Auld Lang Syne.  We sing this at the crack of midnight every New Years Eve, but do we really know what it means.   

Auld Lang Syne was initially a Scottish poem which was turned into a song and translated into may languages including English.  The Meaning of 'Auld' is "Old" and the meaning of 'Lang Syne ' is "Long Since".  It is a remembrance and salute to old times, to things that have passed in the previous year.  It is remembering old friends either here or passed (shared friendship).  "We'll take a cup o' kindness yet" refers to the tradition of raising a glass, (a cup o' kindness) meaning with "good will, friendship and kind regard" and in remembrance of "noble deeds".  The custom of drinking a "health" at a special gathering to the prosperity or good health of another goes back forever.  It is an acknowledgement of the things that you have passed through and made you what you are today.  

The song effectively salutes growth.  It acknowledges and reminds you what challenges you have faced and surpassed as you prepare to face new challenges in the coming year.  It reminds you that you have been through a lot, and you survived, maybe even flourished.  And in that moment of realization, we acknowledge that we are stronger, and are still here, able to continue moving forward.  

We remember and salute people that have helped us along the way, and also those we have helped.  We remember and salute the good done by ourselves and others (the noble deeds).  Then we let it go, and move on.  Yes, we move on.  We have to.  

Life is about moving forward, growing, becoming what we can be.  We remember the things that brought us to this point in life.  But then we let them go so we can continue to move forward.  Carrying the past with us is like carrying way too many bags to go on a trip.  At some point to even be able to take a step, we must get rid of something.  So we stop carrying the past with us.  That gives us room to bring in things in the future.  After all, you can’t fill a glass with more water than it can hold.  Eventually, you will have to pour some out to get more in, or stop pouring water in.   

So at this point, I salute and acknowledge the “long since” and raise a “cup o’ kindness” to all.  And now I leave the past behind and look forward to more adventures (or as some would say, misadventures).   

On New Years Eve, Caring Palms received a call from WJXT-TV asking if we were aware of the new law that was going in effect the next day.  Our response, like 40 others that were called before us was, “no.”  This was a surprise as we had not received any communication from the state government.

The new law (as we were informed by WJXT) was that all “massage parlors” needed to have signs notifying people about Human Trafficking.  First of all, we reacted poorly to the term massage parlor (see other article), but this sent us doing massive research the first couple of days of the new year.  What we found out surprised us, and we are passing it on to you, so you have an understanding as well.

First off, human trafficking is not a joke, and the most common places that it is happening (nationwide) are adult entertainment businesses and massage therapy businesses (angling to those that are performing illegal acts, truly your massage parlors).  Human trafficking is where people are being treated as property.  These are people that owe money, or who have been taken against their will.  The demands that these types of establishments have certain signs alerting people of the possibility, and to look for anything that does not look right.

But the law also excludes massage establishments that are owned by health care professionals as these professionals spent a lot of time on education to get their licenses, and know the difference between healthcare and something else.  Healthcare professionals are defined by Florida Statute 456 as anyone licensed under certain sections of Florida law.  These include massage therapists, doctors or any kind of medical practitioner, acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and a host of other state licensed practitioners. 

Basically, businesses like Caring Palms does not need to post this signage because it is owned by a licensed massage therapist.  However, since most of the corporate chain massage businesses are not owned by healthcare professionals, they must have these signs. 

Unlike what the TV news stations believe, there is a difference between legitimate massage businesses and "massage parlors", and that difference is a business that is focused on healthcare, like Caring Palms.  

Definitions and Terminology

by Brian Dean

Definitions.  We seem to be fighting wars of definitions and terminology.  Nowhere is that more true than the massage industry where commonly used terms are passed down through the years that no longer have bearing.

For instance, let’s start with one of the basics, Massage Parlor.  Now, this term has been around forever.  Back in the late 1800s, when someone graduated from a school of massage, they opened a massage parlor.  In those days, parlor was an innocent word used to describe a lot of things.  In older terms it was used as part of a name with such businesses like Beauty Parlors, or Funeral Parlors.  One definition described it as a somewhat private room in a hotel, club, or the like for relaxation, conversation, etc.  And at that time, Massage Parlor was right in line with those definitions.  However, times have changed.

Since the first massage legislation came about in 1934 (here in Florida), there have been certain requirements for massage therapists and Massage Establishments (yes, that is the proper term).  It set a standard for legal businesses doing massage therapy.  And therapists would prefer that terminology over the older term. 

The term parlor has taken on a sexual connotation in the past 50 years or so (something that does not happen in legal massage establishments).  In fact, when you look online you find these types of definitions…

from Wikipedia

A massage parlor is the term commonly used as a euphemism for a brothel, an establishment that is actually a front for prostitution. However, not all massage parlors are brothels.

from the Urban Dictionary

A place where you get a massage but most commonly refers to a whore house in disguise of a legitimate massage business.

When these are the common definitions of the term parlor, legitimate therapists prefer the use of some other term, like establishment, or business, or studio (our preference).  It hurts when reports by TV news (like the one recently by WJXT, and most of the Florida TV stations that reported on this) refer to massage businesses as massage parlors.  And every reference like this hurts and lowers the perceptions of our business when we go through so much to make people understand the type of work we do and the great need for it.  After all, we are not places for elicit sexual activity.  We are a place of healing.  Most of the people we see are in pain.  They have pulled muscles, soreness, injuries.  We help these people get back to normal function by relieving pain. We also help people relax form the stressful world out there.  This is healthcare.

It is time to educate those that do not understand the difference.

Another term that is commonly misused is masseuse.  Back when Per Henrik Ling created the movements of Swedish massage, and then someone else gave those movements French names, the French terms for massage therapists came about… masseuse and masseur.  Masseuse (which is the most common term and used to describe anyone that does massage) is a female therapist and masseur is a male therapist.  Again, old terms that no longer apply.  The correct term now is Massage Therapist which has the advantage of being non-sexual. 

So, education is the key.  Those of you that know, please spread the word.  Maybe we can educate the people so they no longer look down on this profession.

Brian is having work done at his home this month, and because of that, his schedule may fluctuate a bit.  The work is being done outside so it is dependent on the weather being nice for the people to work.  Brian was told that the work would only take five days, but could stretch out over a 15 day period if the weather is bad, and he needs to be home during this time to make sure his fur babies stay calm.  This could cause last minute cancellation or opening availability.  At the time of this writing, the first scheduled work day is Thursday, February 4th. 

To schedule an appointment, just do what you normally do, go online, call, or email.  If something changes, we will keep you posted.