Well, I'm a student and my very first client offered me a tip. I guess this is the accepted standard. I was a bit surprized, but I accepted it. A few days before I had a session with one of my teachers and I told her to forget about the change and when she indicated that she didn't accept tips, I smiled and said to "please donate the change to a... See More worthy charity." She accepted the gift. I'm not sure why I am led to give, but I still have all the tips I have received and I plan on passing the blessing on to those in need. As a student with a family, this isn't a light decision, but my spirit knows this is the right direction. The great powers of the universe will sustain me and my loved ones... this is the magic and I am amazed every day of the power we all have access to. Wishing health and happiness to all. ;O}

When I go to a spa for a massage, I tip. I feel a massage in that setting makes it part of a service industry and I always tip the people doing the actual service because often, they are overworked and underpaid. I have a private practice with a no tip policy because I consider what I do in the same light as other health care/wellness professionals... See More like physical therapists or occupational therapists, acupuncturists or chiropractors and you wouldn't think to tip those professionals. In my brochure and on my intake form and website I state that I have a no tip policy - if you enjoyed your session enough to tip, I ask that instead, you tell your friends and family about me and come back when it's time for your next massage. Some people really stress out about tipping - setting my price fairly and not taking tips, simplifies things for everyone.

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well been licensed since 1997 and have no reason to want or pay for a piece of paper.....massage is not rocket science! I would match my massage skills to any nationally certified colleague.

I was hoping that the new MTBOK committee would develop a real standard of what it takes to do massage. The point of a BOK is to set a cohesive set of interrelated standards of what to takes so that we can develop cost effective training. The standard need to be correlated with actual performance in the field. It is like a check list where one ... See Moreneed to achieve all of the skills to the designates level of performance. Unfortunately the first draft is just a shopping list of potential skills with not standards set and including things that are not essential to doing massage. I have set up a discussion with people of all different perspectives at http://www.massageprofessionals.com/group/bodyofknowledge