The following is a list of modalities which CMMOTA recognizes for the purpose of granting insurance through our liability insurance provider. In order for a member to gain recognition for the Modalities listed below, they must meet the criteria laid out under each section. If you are practicing massage therapy in an unregulated province or territory please refer to Appendix 19 for a list of modalities related to your professional practice. If you are practicing manual osteopathic therapy, please refer to Appendix 34 for a list of modalities that are related to your professional practice.
Section 1 Spa Therapist Member Core Modalities
Criteria: A member must meet the eligibility requirements to become a Spa Therapist Member which are indicated under CMMOTA Bylaw 3.2.9.. The following core modalities may be practiced without supervision while they are a “Spa Therapist Member:”
• Deep Muscle
• Hydrotherapy
• Joint Mobilization
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage
• Myofascial Therapy
• Relaxation Massage
• Swedish Massage
• Therapeutic Massage
• Trigger Point
Section 2 Spa Therapist Member Additional Modalities
Criteria: In order for a “Spa Therapist Member” to practice any of the following modalities, the modality must be granted by CMMOTA’s Professional Liability Insurance provider. A modality may be granted if the following are provided to the Association:
1. A Certificate from a CMMOTA approved Continuing Education Course which meets both the approval of the Professional Liability Insurance company, and CMMOTA’s minimum standard of hours and hands on training required to grant the specified modality; or
2. Diploma from a CMMOTA accepted Massage Therapy programme accompanied by Transcripts and Course Outlines which include hours of training in any specific modality type – the course outline, preferably with a breakdown of theoretical hours and practical hours, would have to be from the specific year that the programme was delivered to the therapist, as we recognize that programmes change from time to time. Any modality would need to meet the minimum standard of hours and hands on training required to grant the specific modality and would require approval from the Professional Liability Insurance provider as sufficient proof of education.
This is the list of additional Spa Therapist Modalities that CMMOTA recognizes. Any Modality not on this list would have to be considered by, Administration, the Board of Directors, and the Liability Insurance Provider before it would be added to the list. If there is a modality that you would like to have considered that is not currently on this list below, please contact info@cmmota.com so that we can inquire directly with our liability insurance provider to see if it may be added to this list. The Association reserves the right to add to or remove any modality on this list at any time for any reason it deems necessary.
• Acupressure
• Active Release
• Alexander Method
• Aroma Massage (use of industrial produced/blended oils only)
• Aromatherapy (requires 200 hours CE training, allows for therapist produced/blended oil use)
• Aroma Touch (use of industrial produced/blended oils only)
• Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy
• Athletic Taping and Bracing
• Bowen Therapy
• Callanetics (Exercise Program) *
• Certified Athletic/Sports Therapist *
• Cupping (no heat)
• Esthetics *
• Fascia Stretch Therapy
• Fitness Instructor *
• Graston
• Healing Touch
• Hellerwork
• Hot Stone Therapy
• Indian Head/Foot Massage
• Infrared Sauna *
• Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM)
• Jin Shin Jyutsu
• Ki-Hara Resistance Stretching *
• Lomi Lomi Massage
• Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT)
• Meridian Massage
• Nordic Pole Walking *
• Nutritional Consulting *
• Personal Training *
• Pilates *
• Qi-Gong
• Raindrop Therapy
• Rattan
• Reflexology
• Reiki
• Salt Stone
• Shiatsu *
• Sleep Consultant *
• Somatics
• Spin Instructor *
• Suction Cupping (no heat)
• Tai Chi
• Therapeutic Touch
• Touch for Health/RESET
• Traditional/Thai/ Thai Yoga Massage
• Trager
• Yamuna Body Rolling *
• Yoga *
• Zumba *
PLEASE NOTE that those modalities followed by a * may require an insurance surcharge for professional liability insurance coverage – please contact the office for current pricing.
Section 3 – Services/Modalities Outside of Scope
Members practicing or offering any modality or services not listed above, please contact the CMMOTA office to assist in obtaining additional professional liability insurance coverage. Practice or offering of additional services which are not listed above cannot be billed or invoiced using a CMMOTA Spa Therapist membership number.
Section 4 – Regarding Manual Osteopathic Therapy Training
CMMOTA has designated this modality as a separate professional designation.
Manual Osteopathic Therapy may not be practiced as part of a spa therapy treatment plan. As a separate professional designation, practice of manual osteopathic therapy must have a separate appointment time, separate billing, and separate treatment notes.
Date of Last Revision: January 28, 2026
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