Massage laws regulate the profession of reflexology with no educational requirements. The outcome to non-competitive licensing is higher cost to the consumer with no guarantee of quality or safety in the delivery of services. They give domaine of the entire bodywork field to those who are licensed for massage and not necessarily those educated or experienced to professional standards of specific bodywork fields. Reflexology is a distinct native healing tradition. The state-mandated control of the belief system is counter to court cases relating to first amendment rights.
Reflexology is a non-nude service.
In areas where such laws have been in effect over time, the cost of services has increased and the quality of services has decreased as experienced practitioners are forced out of business. The laws create state-mandated monopolies over reflexology practice to practitioners who are not required to have any qualifications to practice. The supply of qualified practitioners has been nearly eliminated in New York City by the state law. A barrier is created for the individual who seeks to exercise his or her first amendment right to provide or have provided the health belief service of choice. A barrier is erected for the experienced service provide who cannot afford the time or money to receive education in another profession to continue his or her established business.