Our current site has not served us as we had wished. Sooooo, we are creating a new and better site. The new site may live here on our blog or possibly completely on its own – we are still testing. Know that the membership site is a big deal to us and we want you to have the best there is…
Pretty much everyone knows that the career-span of a massage therapist is not great. Some sources say 3-5 years, others say 4-6. We burn out and/or hurt ourselves. Then we typically do one of 5 things:
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quit
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do massage part time and another job full time
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specialize in “lighter” work
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teach
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learn barefoot massage so we can do deeper work.
3.5 years into doing traditional hands-on massage, I had the usual complaints-mine were pain in my left wrist and tendonitis in my right elbow.
Years earlier, I had actually climbed up onto a table and placed my knees in a client’s bum and proceeded to actually massage with my hands all over her back. Yup. That’s not a “thing”. That’s a bit weird. (She did love it, though!)
When I found a barefoot massage, that was my “aha!” moment.
So barefoot massage was my gig for a very long time. Because I tend to be a rule follower, I did the moves I was taught. If I couldn’t work a muscle a way that I needed to, I’d invent something else.
Happy Star Wars Day! Today Mary-Claire is going to tell you about how your barefoot massage training is like Star Wars. Seriously. (Don’t miss todays Foot Note Quote on Instagram from Jeni, and her take on Star Wars and FasciAshi!) Going back to the good old days of young Luke Skywalker, you know from the beginning that his life is…
Whether you are a barefoot massage therapist or one who simply stands all day at work, our Tuesday Toesday tip may help work out those crunchies in your tootsies! All it takes for feet self-care is a little hand weight that you may have sitting around at your house. It’s important that your hand weight has rounded edges, otherwise, it…
I have discovered recently that lot of massage therapists have problems with running on time in their business. It’s not because they simply can’t keep track of time during a massage (although that does happen sometimes), but rather that the clients seem to not respect the therapist’s time.
When you have a client who continually runs late, how does that affect you? We often try to give them the full time-they’re there to feel better, right? So you don’t want to stress them out by telling them that you’ll have to cut their time short.
You end up getting stressed out during the massage and spend your time thinking about how you won’t have enough time to eat or make notes before your next client. Then you end up rushing after you finish that session and barely have enough time to change out your linens and throw a couple bites of food in your mouth while you just happen to be in the bathroom.
This is a question we’ve been getting a lot lately–not only from people wanting to learn barefoot massage, but also from those who are interested in teaching. What’s the difference between FasciAshi from the Center for Barefoot Massage and Ashiatsu massage from other programs? Intuitive versus a routine There are many differences such as how we teach educated, intuitive myofascial work…
Have you ever gotten really excited to see a new client walk into your massage office because they’re so big that they are going to be an AWESOME barefoot massage client? But then you have a moment of dismay because they are so big that you don’t have room for your feet on the table? I’ve tried hanging on for…
It’s finally WEEK 5 of the Barefoot Massage Open ashi-challenge! You’ve started a massage at the clients feet. You’ve used your non-dominant foot for 20 minutes straight. You’ve began a massage with them face up. You’ve done an ENTIRE MASSAGE APPOINTMENT in the side-lying position. What now? What game changing difference can you POSSIBLY add to your barefoot massages?
Patience, Padawan. Read on to find out.
I think you’ve shown yourself to be tough enough to challenge the way you massage over the last 4 weeks. I’m sure asking yourself “but why?” in every move you make is becoming more second nature. Just you wait…. there’s SO.MUCH.MORE.
The goal all along has been for you to get out of your little shell and try something NEW. Our main focus with FasciAshi is for you to make this ashiatsu intuitive, but also educated. Your inner wisdom shines through when you are able to contemplate WHY or HOW your massage strokes work, and then put that $#!+ into action!
“In 3 days, we’ll teach you to intuitively use your feet like you do your hands.” This is true, but there’s more to learning barefoot massage than that. Sometimes we get therapists who look ridiculously amazing when they are in their barefoot massage training class for the first time. Sometimes they have a dance or ice skating background, and other times…
Massage Challenge, WEEK 4. Have you been keeping up with our first annual Barefoot Massage Open, a weekly massage challenge for ashiatsu therapists?! You got this, we’re over half way through. This week WILL make or break you, though. Are you still tough enough to continue to challenge the way you massage!? Are you questioning WHY you do what you do during each massage? Do or do not, there is no try: and this time there is no crying back to your mom, either – cuz the Week #4 challenge ain’t your momma’s ashiatsu!!!
Last week you started your massages with the client face up. How was it?! Are you feeling more confident in your work?
Just wait till you do a week of what we are about to put you up to. You will be hard-core after this. If you aren’t yet trained in ashiatsu strokes that pertain to this weeks challenge – then use your hands. (And go take the Intermediate FasciAshi class already! You are missing out!)
BAREFOOT MASSAGE OPEN: FIVE WEEKS – FEB. 22-MARCH 26
1.1- Feb. 22-26 Start the massage at the clients feet #FeetFirst #AshiChallenge1point1
1.2- March 1-5 Use your Non-Dominant Foot for 20 consecutive minutes #GoofyFoot #AshiChallenge1point2
1.3- March 8-12 Start with your client FACE UP! #GameFace #AshiChallenge1point3
1.4- March 15-19 Scroll down to see this weeks challenge! #NotYourMommasAshi #AshiChallenge1point4
1.5- March 22-26