‘Troubling Violations’ Found at Several Arlington Massage and Bodywork Establishments

Police and local health officials found “troubling violations” at several Arlington massage and bodywork establishments during recent town-wide compliance checks, according to a joint police department and town release.

In one establishment, Body Balance Center, employees were living on the premises, according to police. In another, Reliable Bodywork Inc., a customer was found unresponsive in a massage room last month and then died at a local hospital. That case remains under investigation, police said.

Most of the violations were related to false or improper advertisements and code violations. The Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure helped carry out the checks.

The violations:

Body Balance Center, 1205 Mass. Ave., was fined $200 for advertising multiple therapeutic services that its employees were not trained or certified to perform. On-site employees were also not licensed.

• Bi Zhen Zhang, of Brooklyn, New York, an employee at Body Balance Center, was fined $1,000 for unlicensed practice and ordered to cease all massage services.
• Chang Ying Zhao, of Flushing, New York, an employee at Body Balance Center, was fined $1,000 for unlicensed practice and ordered to cease all massage services.

Body Tune, 828 Mass. Ave., was advertising therapeutic services that its employees were not trained or certified to perform. Its owner was ordered to meet with the Arlington Board of Health to be advised of the town’s bodywork regulation process.

Massage Envy, 1398 Mass. Ave., was ordered to post all licenses in clear view.

Reliable Bodywork Inc. and owner Fengzhi Liu, 178 Broadway, will be ordered to attend a hearing with the Board of Registration of Massage Therapy to discuss multiple violations.

The Arlington Board of Health denied Reliable Bodywork a permit in October 2013 for failure to meet the minimum standards outlined in the board’s new regulations. However, the establishment used a loophole to obtain a state license and re-open, authorities said. Police and local health officials are working to close those loopholes, according to the release.

Since Arlington began these joint compliance checks in 2013, six businesses have chosen to cease their operations in town, authorities said.