Rules for the holistic practitioner or well-being massage practitioner

The rules governing the profession of holistic practitioner

Until a few years ago, Italian legislation on the work of the (well-being) massage practitioner was far from clear, and there was great confusion, even among the authorities, who often created obstacles or even prevented the opening of massage centres and holistic studios.

On 14 January 2013 the Italian Parliament approved Law no. 4/2013 on non-regulated professions (those that do not require registration with a professional body); on 26 January it was published in the Official Gazette no. 22, and on 10 February 2013 the law finally came into force.

Since the massage practitioner is one of the non-regulated professions, this law establishes that the holistic practitioner (or massage practitioner) may also work freely, without any special licence. It is in any case essential to know that the holistic (or well-being) massage practitioner is not authorised to perform beauty or therapeutic massage, as these may only be carried out by beauticians and physiotherapists.

That said, the well-being massage practitioner may confidently treat all those who choose to rely on their professionalism to improve general states of unease, great stress and tension, tiredness, as well as those who ask for treatments purely for relaxation.

It follows that the line between the various kinds of massage, although defined and regulated, is often very fine: it is up to the practitioner to work according to professional and ethical rules, respecting the laws in force.

Provisions on non-organised professions

Law 14 January 2013, no. 4 · Art. 1

1. This law, implementing Article 117, third paragraph, of the Constitution and in compliance with the principles of the European Union on competition and freedom of movement, governs professions not organised in orders or colleges.
2. For the purposes of this law, a “profession not organised in orders or colleges”, hereinafter “profession”, means an economic activity, even if organised, aimed at providing services or works to third parties, carried out habitually and mainly through intellectual work, or with its contribution, excluding activities reserved by law to persons registered in professional registers under Article 2229 of the Civil Code, the health professions, and the craft, commercial and public-service activities and trades governed by specific rules.
3. Anyone practising one of the professions referred to in paragraph 2 shall identify their activity, in every document and written relationship with the client, with an express reference to this law as the applicable discipline. Failure to do so is an unfair commercial practice between professionals and consumers under Title III of Part II of the Consumer Code, Legislative Decree 6 September 2005, no. 206, and is sanctioned under that code.
4. The profession is practised freely and is based on autonomy, competence and independence of intellectual and technical judgement, in compliance with the principles of good faith, public and client trust, fairness, the broadening and specialisation of services, and the professional’s responsibility.
5. The profession is practised individually, in associated, corporate or cooperative form, or as employment.

Read the full text in the Official Gazette  ·  Back to the list of treatments

“Learn the technique and then forget it: 90% of massage is love.”Osho