Chair massage business Oriental Chi has been told by a state board that it can no longer give massages until its therapists have state licenses.
The Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy and the state Attorney General's office are negotiating an agreement with Oriental Chi to make sure the business operates according to state law, said Robert Wilson, the board's deputy director.
Previously, Oriental Chi's workers performed quick chair massages in local malls without massage licenses. In a past Star story, Oriental Chi's owner, Steven Chen, claimed his Chinese workers were not technically performing massages but less intensive "energy work," which does not require a license in Arizona.
Now, Chen said he is paying to have his massage workers licensed. About a dozen work for Oriental Chi in four locations: Park Place, Tucson Mall, Foothills Mall and the Mall at Sierra Vista.
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Under state law, people found to be practicing massage without a license can be charged with a misdemeanor and possibly fined. The state massage board can also seek an injunction to stop the business from operating.
For now, Oriental Chi is permitted to practice "reflexology," which involves pressure areas on the hands and feet, Wilson said. Chen said workers will practice reflexology at all locations while he works to get them licensed or hires other licensed massage therapists.