The Body Stress Release Association, which was founded in 1987, is a member of COCHASA, the Confederation of Complementary Health Associations of South Africa. It holds a three day annual conference which is attended by practitioners from all over the world. The members of the executive committee are elected at the annual general meeting which forms part of the three-day conference. The Association controls the mode of practice of practitioners in South Africa, and is governed by its constitution, a legal document by which all practitioners are bound. The purpose of the constitution is to maintain high professional standards of practice which ensure public safety. It provides a code of ethics, a framework to keep practitioners functioning within the scope of practice and disciplinary powers to deal with misconduct.