Share Your Support, Massachusetts!

In August 2016, Yoga Alliance® learned that the Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill, S.2461, which sought to prevent and prosecute human trafficking and to regulate “bodywork” or “bodywork therapy” establishments. The bill has the laudable goals of ensuring that bodywork businesses are safe for their workers and their patrons, but, as described, it could have had an unintended impact on the yoga community by effectively defining bodywork to include yoga. S. 2461 passed the Massachusetts Senate, but expired at the end of the year after the House did not follow suit.

Last week, Senator Mark Montigny introduced Senate Docket Nos. 1083 and 1086, which will become new versions of last year's bodywork and human trafficking bill. This legislation includes specific exemptions from regulation of “the practice or instruction of yoga” while strengthening anti-human trafficking laws and preventing human trafficking and sexual exploitation in bodywork establishments.

We encourage you to write to Senator Montigny to thank him for introducing this carefully crafted legislation.

We’ve provided a model letter for you to express your appreciation. Download it and send it to Senator Montigny.

Email: Mark.Montigny@masenate.gov

Or

Sen. Mark Montigny
State House
24 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02133