Championship Rules and Information

Participation:

  • Each Massage Therapist can participate in 1 or 2 categories

  • Participants must wear sports shoes, sports pants or yoga pants, T-shirts etc..

  • Shoes are not allowed in Thai Yoga Massage.

  • Participants MUST bring their own equipment (including table/chair), sheets, towels, tools, lotions, etc..

  • The recipient of the massage must wear underwear at all times and have covered their chest (if she is a woman). Any area which is not being worked on must be covered/draped.

  • No cameras are allowed during the rounds and the final. Unauthorized use of cameras and recordings can result in expulsion.

  • Insurance – It is your own insurance that covers both you and the participant you treat during the competition and proof of insurance must accompany your application. YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO COMPETE IF YOU HAVE NOT PROVIDED US WITH A COPY OF YOUR CERTIFICATE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE.

  • There is an absolute zero tolerance policy concerning inappropriate behavior. Any massage of sensual/sexual nature would result in immediate disqualification and expulsion from the Championship.

  • No chiropractic and osteopathic manipulations are allowed during the competition.

  • MASKING & VACCINATION POLICY: UNLESS IT IS REQUIRED BY THE VENUE, face masks and/or COVID vaccinations will NOT be required to participate in the Utah Massage State Championship. By the same token, if you prefer to wear a mask, please feel free to do so. This is a personal decision. Whatever YOUR particular choice, the Utah Massage State CHampionship WILL NOT tolerate any harassment – either by those wearing a mask/vaccinated or those choosing not to wear a mask/unvaccinated. THIS POLICY WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED!! Any violation by anyone causing ANY trouble at all with someone else over their mask/vaccine decision will be met with IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT REMOVAL from the Utah Massage State Championship. THERE WILL BE ZERO TOLERANCE OF THIS!

Massage categories:

  • Classic European Swedish Massage (In this category there are no tools, no stools, no stretching, no forearms, no kneeling. Techniques should be complete, clean and flow seamlessly from one technique to another.)

  • Wellness massage (Hot Stone, Aromatherapy, spa massage, lymph drainage, holistic massage etc)

  • Free style massage (Western inspired) (Combination of different types of western massage methods, self-treatment, mobilization, cupping, massage with tools, bodywork etc.)

  • Free style massage (Eastern inspired) Combination of different types of Asian massage methods (Shiatsu, Acupressure, Thai massage, cupping, massage with tools, etc.)

  • Chair massage (both Western and Eastern inspired massage)

  • Clinical massage (30 minutes hands on + client and therapist debrief. You must show that you can assess and treat a problem area, demonstrate/explain how and why the treatment type was a good choice, exhibit efficacy)

  • ASHIATSU: (Utilize compressive foot pressure along with an overhead parallel bar system AND/OR Sarga Bodywork Attachment & Silk System)

Participants be informed that the judges at the competition are capable of evaluating the individual treatment. Please note, that a treatment can be placed in several categories.

Competition area:

The competition area is divided into sections. Participants must remain in their section to avoid being assessed a default. Participants must provide their own equipment (tables, mats, chairs, etc.) The location of table or mattress for each participant will be assigned. Duration of each round is 65 minutes which includes 5 minutes to examine the receiver before the 60 minute massage is given. Participant’s identification must be placed in their section to be visible for judges.

The Judges:

In the preliminary rounds, the Judges are from all over the world. Judges will evaluate the participants in the following areas with a point system:

  • Techniques

  • Ergonomics

  • Flow

  • Innovation and Development of new methods

  • Client contact

  • Recipient Feedback (only for Clinical)

How can one be judged in the Championships?

  • At the Utah Massage State Championship, focuses on examination, techniques, ergonomics and overall performance in each category – judged by specialists and highly experienced judges in the specific category.

  • By “The flow of the massage” means a continuous non-stop movement and progression of the massage through out treatment.

  • Innovation is the creative variation of effective techniques performed by the therapist.

  • Ergonomics: How does the therapists use their own bodies (work environment) and their remedies (Massage tables etc)

  • Techniques: Different techniques used in each category and in combination.

  • The judges will each evaluate the participants in their field of expertise in close cooperation with other judges. The recipients in the final are also judges, and will give up to 6 points for the treatment. The remaining roaming judges will have up to 3 points to give at their discretion.

The Final:

  • Will consist on only those Massage Therapist that holds a Utah State Massage License.

  • The Duration of the Final is 65 minutes.

  • Massage recipients (Head Judge) can give up to 6 points depending on their experience of the massage they receive.

  • The roaming judges are able to give out 3 points each.

  • The Winner will be the Massage Therapist who gets the most points, and he/she is appointed as the Utah Massage State Champion.

  • The Overall Gold Medal Winner will get a free registration to the American Massage Championship and the World Massage Festival. Winners can only attend the WMF immediately following this year’s AMC competition. The win cannot be carried over to the next festival.