Footnotes, Massage, Pro tips, research, Why FasciAshi? by BossladyJeni 3 days ago 0Comments

Can You Feel “Knots” During Barefoot Massage? The science behind feeling with your feet.

(This article was originally published on 6/11/2024 by Jeni Spring here, and the social media recap from Julie Marciniak was posted 4/16/2025 here and here.)

One of the questions that we Barefoot Massage therapists get asked VERY often is “Can you actually feel knots when you massage with your feet?”

Yes, we can! OF COURSE we can feel things through our feet! It’s not 100% the same as how detailed we can feel things with our hands – but that’s just biologically how humans are made.

Lets help the world better understand how feet have feelings, too!

I would hope that the public would better trust that every Barefoot Massage therapist is feeling something on some level while using their feet like hands professionally – BUT, feet are often misunderstood, trust has to be earned, and the foot-feel skill set needs to be honed. This question is easy to brush off with a short “Yep!” but it can the beginning of a great conversation and a fun experiment to use as public education.

I do want to clear up one thing though, and that thing is “Knots.“ I left that word in this posts’ title for SEO and common conversation reasons, BUT, what is a knot, really?? Massage Therapists know this answer and I want us to do better about educating our clients about the many things that a “knot” could be. I’ll save that for another post, but for now, let’s just call knots “ADHERED LAYERS OF TISSUE”, and not get tangled and tied up over it today, I’ll break it down better later 😉

What is in this message!?

Info summarized from studies and research articles on how feet feel things through haptic perception, the sensory homunculus, mechanoreceptors, proprioception & more
Activities to hone your own palpation skills
Self care tips to help your feet “see” more clearly
Research sited at the end for you to go down the rabbit hole even deeper

Anything hands can do, feet can do (better?)

I love singing this little sentence, hoping to help push my students to hone their foot skills and confidence to match up with their hands. OBVIOUSLY feet can’t do all the things hands can do, it’s just fun to try.

Our feet are meant to move us across uneven surfaces and varied textures. Think about the difference of walking in your back yards grass, walking on the paved sidewalk, walking on the beach. Even different sand densities or different distances from the water along the sand will completely change the way your feet need to work on that surface to create movement in your body. Nice plush blades of grass, or fine golf course grass, will make you walk differently than that dried up, scratchy spindly grass in the forgotten corners of the elementary school playground. Even without “movement”, standing can be harder on different surfaces, but your feet help you figure that out subconsciously.

Crazy detailed, right? A Barefoot Massage therapist is doing that kind of foot-calibration while they massage a body! We balance, sink, adjust, grip, slide, step, tilt, and mold our feet to meet the “kneads” of the anatomy underfoot based on what is felt through the sensory information gathered by feet. It’s almost like feet have sonar that penetrate into the surfaces below them – which is something that helps us work on the depths of the human body.

Our instructors Hillary and Ashley during the AMTA National Convention in Phoenix, having fun giving Barefoot Massage together.

When anyone touches an object, we receive a significant amount of information about it. This capability comes from our skin’s extensive network of nerve endings and touch receptors, which are sensitive to various kinds of stimuli. A stimulus can be any factor that activates the receptors in our skin, such as pressure, temperature, vibrations, or pain. Upon activation by a stimulus, these receptors trigger a series of nerve impulses that are transmitted to our brains. Our brains then process this information to identify the object. However, passive contact with an object is insufficient for identification. To really get a scope on its shape and details, we have to actively explore its surfaces and the object as a whole by moving it in our hands, a process known as haptic perception.

This also happens in our feet! The detail level is different – maybe not “less than hands” but definitely different. The nugget of a summary in one research article that was neat is the following little quote:

Recognition by foot was slower (7 vs. 13 seconds) and much less accurate (9% vs. 47% errors) than recognition by either one or both hands. Nevertheless, item difficulty was similar across hand and foot exploration, and there was a strong correlation between an individual’s hand and foot performance.

The foot still felt and recognized whatever they were doing to it, just at a slower and dulled rate than hands. That’s not exactly what I wanted to hear, but OK. This helps support another reason why a myofascial barefoot massage therapist will want to move as slow as a sloth: so that all parties can perceive things as best as possible. (I still swear I can feel things better with my feet – there’s my bias coming out.)

I often see a quotes floating around about there being something like 10,000 nerves in the sole of the foot, (I even found some posts stating as high as 200,000 – but no sources sited) all of which implies that number is way more than what is found in the palms of our hands… but when you look at the sensory homunculus, a map along the cerebral cortex of where each part of the body is processed, the hands and mouth show to take up a larger footprint on the brains sensory readings than feet. (Maybe that’s part of why I love Sasquatch so much: he is the homunculus I relate to.)

I was able to find a study explaining that researchers found a total of 104 cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the sole of the foot. That’s not the 10,000-nerve science I was looking for, but it was really interesting. Their findings suggest that skin receptors in the foot sole behave differently from those receptors found on the same kind of skin in our hands. I wasn’t able to find a study that listed the number of cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the palm of the hand for comparison — maybe if you find that info you can link to it in the comments below — BUT there is a higher concentration of some kinds of nerves in the sole and a higher concentration of other kinds of nerves in the palm. This may reflect the role of sole skin receptors in balance and movement control – something you can’t really get from walking on your hands, cuz it’s not like we do that every day (although it seems like it sometimes in traditional hands-on massage techniques!!!)

To identify an object through haptic perception, we rely on different types of receptors, each responsible for sensing various stimuli. Mechanoreceptors, for instance, detect sensations such as pressure, vibration, slip, stretch, and contact force. While thermoreceptors respond to an object’s temperature. Nociceptors, or pain receptors, detect anything that might cause skin damage, and proprioceptors sense the position of different body parts relative to each other and the surrounding environment. These receptors collectively enable us to determine an object’s shape, temperature, and surface texture through touch alone. The gathered information is then processed by our brains to facilitate object identification.

So yes – these feet are made (mainly) made for walking, but when it’s time for these feets to walk all over you, other factors come into play that can help a Barefoot Massage Therapist find and feel the adhered layers of tissue with more accuracy.

Often, a Massage Therapist who is giving a Barefoot Massage will still use their hands on the clients body at some point. Even if it’s just to apply lotion, oil, wax or other lubricant(s), or at least in the act of positioning the sheets/pillows, we’ll have a chance to touch you with our hands. These are ideal moments to double check different points of interest. We often palpate our work with hands once our feet find something curious, or the client gives feedback about sensations coming from tissues underfoot. Also, sometimes it so happens that the people we massage with our feet started out as people we massaged with our hands, so there is already a felt sense of their unique tissues that carries over into the new massage tool.

Feet can’t 100% replace hands, but they can get to deeper tissues with a broader base of pressure, usually causing less discomfort than smaller tools from the LMT’s upper limbs during the process of diving deeper. Because we are able to sink easier, our feet tend to feel underlying tension and adhesions with a bigger picture, without the tactile distraction or battle from a clients flinching muscle guarding around these restrictions.

Deepen your senses

Another element of how exactly an experienced provider of any style of Barefoot Massage Therapy can palpate, locate and seemingly disintegrate “knots” (::Cringe:: I said it. Remember that I’ll get back to explaining those adhered layers of tissues better in another post later…) anyways, the reason may be also due to things like this:

The LMT’s knowledge and ability to recognize of the shape, position, density and location of different anatomical structures in relation to each other.
The LMT’s mental and physical grounded focus in the moment.
The joint ability of both the client and Massage Therapist to connect and communicate to help paint the picture of sensations being noticed on both sides of the foot. Comparing what each person feels from that heel can refine the direction, intent and approach to how the massage is given.
The confidence, curiosity and trust that the LMT has gained in the palpation and assessment skills in their own feet from extensive training, practice, more practice, and lots of experience.

Palpation Station:

Want to practice feeling from your feet?? Anyone can try this fun exercise to explore waking up and fine-tuning their foot feelings. Protip: use this at your massage businesses next open house, or even one-on-one with those clients who show up really early to their appointments – give them something to do!

Feel something with your foot with your eyes closed. Like maybe the carpet. Then feel it with your hands, (still with your eyes closed.) Notice the differences. Notice how your hands may paint the picture better of what the carpet fibers might look like. Continue working with this idea and try it on anything you are allowed to touch! (Keyword “allowed”… Maybe don’t crawl into the Santa Barbara aquariums Sea Anemone or Sting Ray petting tank like I was tempted to do last month. I wanted to feel their little suction-y tendrils and slippery wings with my toes like a TOE-tal weirdo. I didn’t do it, don’t freak out.)

You can level up this sensory exercise and put the touchable thing underneath something. You can create a Palpation Station of your own with the following items:

A friend in the room with you (so they can laugh at you)
A sheet, blanket, sweatshirt or some kind of fabric that you can lay flat.
Have your friend collect various things from around your house or massage office, and don’t let yourself see these things before they are hidden! Have your friend find things like a flat butter knife, a rubber band, a piece of string or yarn, your dogs leash, a piece of paper or mail… lego’s if they want to be mean to you.

Seen here is a group of Massage Therapists at our Intro to Barefoot Massage class during the World Massage Festival in Las Vegas. Everyone is working on their TOE-prioception and strength by picking up marbles with their toes and dropping them into little cups.

Your friend will need to lay all those things out and then cover them with the fabric sheet/blanket etc. Then you go on a scavenger hunt to feel and identify each of the things with your feet through that fabric. The thicker the fabric doesn’t always mean it’s harder to discern the “thing!” Sometimes the volume increase from the surrounding tissue, I mean fabric in this case, actually helps you find and feel the hidden objects easier.

Use the outside edge of your foot to scan the surface lightly and feel for ripples in the fabric that lead up to a buried treasure. Use your toes to fumble around and grab things. Use the ball of your foot to see how hard or squishy each thing is, and if you can push into it without it moving or causing you pain. Visualize what you are feeling – then when everything has been found, feel each thing with your hands and look at them to re-enforce and integrate the details that your feet just experienced. Did you guess what everything was correctly?

This is how we feel bodies with our feet. If you are a new Barefoot Massage Therapist, your palpation skills will develop with practice, patience, more practice, and trust. It’s encouraged that you step down and feel things that you think you felt with your foot, and confirm it with your hands. It’s also helpful to practice your new Barefoot Massage skills on bodies that you regularly massage with your hands, so you are familiar with their own buried treasures! And of course: know your anatomy. Know the topography of the bones, and the understand directions that the waves of muscles pull like tides in different positions and movements. Anatomical awareness in every stroke is a big focus in the Continuing Education classes we teach here at the Center for Barefoot Massage.

If you have zero intention of ever massaging humans professionally with your feet, then you can still develop them into smart feelers to help enrich your nervous system and whole body. Smart feet can make for better balance, better movement, better brains and a better quality of life. Take your shoes off and go barefoot more often!

Here is my Amazon list of things to stand on for smarter feet.

Feeling dirty:

…I can’t believe that I just used that phrase here, but clean feet really do make a difference in what is felt. Although the perception aspect of your foots sensory systems work whether you have callouses or not, whether you are feeling all the earthly feels while standing ankle-deep in mud at Burning Man, or feeling through your foot onto someone’s sacrum: keep in mind that as professional Barefoot Massage Therapists, we have a responsibility to keep our feet as clean and sanitary as any other massage tool we would use (like our hands, cups, scraping tools, etc.) The body that you massage underfoot also has feelings, and they will feel your callouses, flecks of dirt, dry or rough spots, long nails, etc.

This topic is also a very frequently THOUGHT question of the public when they imagine what a Barefoot Massage Therapist does. They may not come out and actually ask you if you clean your feet: but you can bring it up in conversation to ease their mind. A portion of the public may be entirely turned away from even just the idea of Barefoot Massage because feet are perceived to be “dirty”. Be the change you wish to see in the world and have the cleanest, softest, smartest feet in town! Whatever your massage license requires for sanitization and cleanliness of your hands needs to also apply to your feet. In some countries or states this may mean that polish is not permitted.

I personally notice that as a Barefoot Massage Therapist, if my feet are too dry and rough then I can’t feel anything BUT that. Maybe that’s the neurotic part of me more than my actual nervous system. The softer, smoother and cleaner that my soles and nails are, the more I can clearly “see” through my feet and feel with more detail and less distraction.

Here are my “every day at work” foot care tips:

I use a Mr Pumice Purple pumice stone thing
My nails are as short as they can be and filed to soft edges with a glass nail file
I keep a nail brush with my office foot care baggie to scrub any exposed nail surface clean.
I use PurePro’s Peppermint Pedango foot creme on my clients feet, which gets on my feet and feels/smells great for us both (save $10 off your first order with code BAREFOOT, *or* thru June 21, 2024, use 5PEDANGO for 5% off!)
I have a glass foot file to use before each massage to keep my heel edges smoothed.

For more of a monthly/weekly whatever schedule of foot care, pedicures are an option to partake in, DIY salt or sugar scrubs are always great, and for a deeper exfoliation, many people love the “Baby Foot” chemical treatment that literally leaves layers of your foot-skin peeling off. (Ew, but neat!)

Here’s an oldie but a goodie: a video of Mary-Claire showing a good trick to know if your feet are soft enough to massage with:

So, to answer the question “Can you feel things with your feet like you can hands…”

…The short answer is along the lines of “Yes and no, but with practice and attention, I can get a different point of view on the same tissues and still treat them effectively.” The combo of skilled hands + feet offers us the chance to experience “all the feels” with multiple ways to observe and study the state of our clients tissues.

If you are a Barefoot Massage Therapist, be honest and educational with your clients so that when they go out into the world and talk about your work, they’ll have a more informed point of view. We hope to help your feet continue to learn through the barefoot work we teach at The Center for Barefoot Massage, and the info dished out in content like this!

We still believe that the future of massage is a foot!

Check out the list of references and resources below to read the research for yourself! Add your findings to the comments so we can all keep learning!!!

References

The Center for Barefoot Massage’s original post and easier answer on this topic
Kennedy PM, Inglis JT. “Distribution and behaviour of glabrous cutaneous receptors in the human foot sole.” J Physiol. 2002 Feb 1;538(Pt 3):995-1002. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2001.013087. PMID: 11826182; PMCID: PMC2290100.
Vallbo AB, Johansson RS. “Properties of cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the human hand related to touch sensation.” Hum Neurobiol. 1984;3(1):3-14. PMID: 6330008.
Ross, R.T., Randich, A. “Associative aspects of conditioned analgesia evoked by a discrete CS.” Animal Learning & Behavior 13, 419–431 (1985).
Lederman, S. J., & Klatzky, R. L. (1987). “Hand movements: A window into haptic object recognition.” Cognitive Psychology, 19(3), 342-368.
Johnson, K. O. (2001). “The roles and functions of cutaneous mechanoreceptors.” Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 11(4), 455-461.
A great episode from the Thinking Practitioner Podcast about the homunculus sensation map.

Pro tips, Why FasciAshi? by Jeni Spring, LMT, BCSI 10/24/2023 0Comments

National Massage Therapy Awareness Week: 2023

Resources for you to use to educate your immediate circles on the benefits of Massage AND ways to help YOU be more aware within your Barefoot Massage sessions.

First off, welcome to this years National Massage Therapy Awareness Week! This long holiday is our professions chance to spend an ENTIRE DEDICATED WEEK to promote the health benefits of massage therapy and their practices.

If you need some facts to share with your local community, follow these links for great resources to pull from:

OK, now lets get to the juicy part:

Our tips to tune into your own awareness while giving a Barefoot Massage session.

Pulling from the resources listed above, we noticed that according to the national consumer survey from the AMTA, & & . It’s important to recognize here that a well-informed Barefoot Massage COULD be perfect for many elements of injury treatment & pain management – depending on the person & situation …both client & therapist.⁣

This doesn’t just automatically happen when you put a foot on someone. & strategically . FasciAshi is Myofascial, Neuromuscular & Stretch Therapy techniques meant to be individually sequenced as needed for each person underfoot. No two appointments are the same. The more you learn, the more barefoot technique vocabulary & reasoning skills you’ll have to customize for these clients: it just needs to be put into practice to elevate the outcomes.

SO how can you pull details out of your massage education resources from the Center for Barefoot Massage and work with more attention on your intention?

If you’ve attended any of our Center for Barefoot Massage classes already, review your manuals & check out some of the “Why’s” & the anatomical focus points to help pick strokes that work for each client individually this week. Don’t do every stroke you’ve ever learned: just do the ones they “knead!” Next, ⁣check into the mindfulness lists from our Intermediate, ROM and Advanced class manuals to hone in on the intent of your stroke as needed for the person.

Here’s an example for you to try this week in practice:

How can you make your movements/strokes more effortless on your body, but still have the same intent and focus of intensity and effectiveness for your client? Now, this isn’t an excuse to massage lazily: we are asking you to reevaluate all the physical effort you are putting into each stroke, and check yourself to see if it’s needed.

Can you relax your grip on the bar?
Can your foot on the table be aimed in better alignment with it’s same side knee and hip in a way to better distribute pressure through the working foot?
Are you moving with breath – and how are your movements impacting the breath of you and your client?
Can you just give it weight, and wait?

⁣There you go!

Take that much of a new perspective to try this week in your massage appointments: our experience has shown that it definitely helps!

(We hope to see you in class soon to teach you more!)

Ashiatsu barefoot massage by Jeni Spring, LMT, BCSI 08/31/2023 0Comments

Recap from the Phoenix 2023 AMTA National Massage Convention

Myself and four of our instructors just got back home after sharing Fijian Barefoot Massage in Phoenix at the AMTA national massage convention! We set up a booth in the exhibit hall, provided about 45 Barefoot Matwork sample sessions, and talked to many of the 1,500+ Massage Therapists in the conventions attendance that visted us!

Meet the feet: We had such a powerhouse of instructors present at this event – I’m not even sure if the visitors to our booth knew the extent of our team’s history and experience in the profession. Myself (Jeni Spring) from Central Texas, Sara from Missouri, Hillary from North Texas, Ashley from Southern California, and Dawn from upstate New York. (Click each name to be taken to their instructor profile pages!)

Center for Barefoot Massage instructors at the AMTA National Massage Convention

Each one of these Barefoot Massage Barbies have been using their feet as massage tools for ~at least~ 10 years – double that in some cases! Dawn Dotson is our FasciAshi Range Of Motion instructor who designed the portable bar system that you can strap into and use with a portable, electric, hydraulic table or a mat. Sara Newberry is an author of the 1st ever Hot-Ashi Barefoot Massage class and has been on many podcasts talking about our Barefoot work. Hillary Arrieta is a published author with her own massage book and is our lead Fijian/Matwork 1 class instructor trainer. Ashley Shears is a Fundamentals class instructor who is making waves with her approach to myofascial barefoot work on the table and on the mat. (Ashley also roadtripped to Phoenix with a knife that came in very handy in the booth all weekend because we forgot to pack scissors!) I was there, too, and I’ve also done cool things. 😉

It was great for this section of our instructor team to meet other leaders and forward thinkers in the industry, to find old friends, to share selfies with AMTA royalty and instructor buddies, to get our feet on the pulse of as many people as we could to share Barefoot Massage with, and to talk with the masses of LMTs in attendance to see what they have questions about. (There were so many people there!!!)

I want to tell y’all all about this experience, from beginning to end: read on and enjoy our journey to the desert!

Ashiatsu barefoot massage, FAQ, Pro tips by Jeni Spring, LMT, BCSI 06/29/2023 0Comments

Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage and cultural appropriation

When we talk about what we do, our instructor team at the Center for Barefoot Massage has been working very hard to deepen the use and understanding of the phrase “Barefoot Massage” rather than using the single A-word, ashiatsu. We see that word in play a lot, especially used alone on its own as a massage service across the nation or in casual conversation.

So today we’d like to offer a gentle nudge and reminder on considering how to refer to the massage work we all love to do!

In the mid-90’s when “Westernized ashiatsu” first came on the scene, it went through a long phase of trying to find its voice, name, identity, and place in the profession. In the massage industry the work became more easily recognized as just “ashiatsu” or “ashi,” but in the early days it went through phases of also being known as “ashiatsu oriental bar therapy“, “ashiatsu bar therapy” or “ashiatsu barefootbar therapy” and others. It really is so hard to define our work sometimes, and it’s been a struggle for so many of us to get it worded right.

Although the attempts at changing its name at the time had more to do with branding than anything, the issue surrounding the name overall is the A-word itself: it’s really not ours to use in the first place.

The traditional practice of Ashiatsu has its roots in traditional Asian forms of bodywork, particularly in Japan and China. Over time, it has been adapted and modified in various ways to suit the preferences and needs of Western practitioners and clients. The traditional practice is not on an elevated massage table, and there aren’t overhead bars or straps in play like we use today. It could cause confusion, therefore, to anyone specifically looking for the traditional work only to find the 2023 version. It’s all wonderful, beautiful bodywork, but let’s be careful to call it what it is.

While there may be concerns about cultural appropriation in certain cases, it’s essential to approach the topic with nuance and respect for different perspectives.

Here are a few points to consider:

1. Cultural exchange vs. appropriation: Cultural exchange occurs when two cultures engage in a respectful and mutually beneficial sharing of practices, ideas, and knowledge. Appropriation, on the other hand, involves taking elements of a culture without understanding or respecting their original context. Whether Westernized Ashiatsu falls under cultural exchange or appropriation can depend on how it’s practiced and presented.

2. Modification for local needs: When a practice like traditional Ashiatsu is introduced in a different cultural context, some modifications may occur to accommodate local preferences, regulations, and safety standards. These modifications can range from adjusting techniques, integrating different massage styles, or using specific equipment. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge and respect the origins of the practice and give credit to its traditional roots without calling it what it’s not.

3. Respect for cultural origins: Practitioners of Westernized Ashiatsu should strive to educate themselves about the cultural origins and traditions of the practice. They should honor and acknowledge the historical background and the cultures that developed and nurtured our modern-day approach of Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage. This includes recognizing and crediting the sources of knowledge and techniques, and including “barefoot massage” at the end of the name to show its different approach.

4. Collaboration and inclusivity: Encouraging collaboration between practitioners from different cultural backgrounds can foster a better understanding and appreciation of the original practice. Inclusivity involves creating spaces that embrace diversity and ensure that practitioners from different cultures have a voice and are respected within the traditional Ashiatsu community.

5. Ethical considerations: It’s important to consider the potential commercialization and commodification of cultural practices. Practitioners should be mindful of offering Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage in a way that respects the integrity and sacredness of the original practice. This can involve engaging in fair trade practices, supporting practitioners from the cultural origin, and avoiding misrepresentation or trivialization of the practice.

Ultimately, the issue of appropriation is complex and can vary from case to case. It’s essential to approach the adaptation and practice of traditional Ashiatsu and Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage with cultural sensitivity, respect, and an understanding of its historical and cultural significance.

The future of massage is afoot…

One of our pursuits is to help define Barefoot Massage as an umbrella term for any massage therapy technique that uses feet as tools, rather than hands. If “Barefoot Massage” is the overall approach, then “Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage” signifies one style under that umbrella term, and our specific lineage of “Myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage” just further specifies the style we teach. It really is so much easier to just say ~ashiatsu~, we completely understand and we occasionally find ourselves slipping back into the ease of that word, too. What we are doing with our feet is not a true representation of that traditional work anymore. So to best represent the truth in advertising and respect for our collective roots, you could generalize and call your westernized work “Barefoot Massage”… but if you’ve just gotta use the word Ashiatsu, be sure to put the extra qualifying descriptive words in when defining and referring to your massage services. 😉

We are currently working on transitioning away from using the phrase “Fijian Massage” for our courses continued on from Lolita Knights lineage. Although she did originally learn and develop the technique directly from her experiences while living in Fiji, continuing to call the work itself Fijian after all the evolutions it’s come through is not true to its traditional form, and we’d like to respect that. You’ll start seeing us refer to this class and body of work as Barefoot Matwork as we step forward.

What’s in a name? For a dive as deep as you can massage with your feet on this topic, we have blog posts discussing “Is Ashiatsu The Same As Barefoot Massage?” and another diving into the differences between “Myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage vrs Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage” Check those out!!! Also be sure to read Types of barefoot massage throughout the world, including Chavutti, Thai, Lomilomi, barefoot shiatsu, and more. (barefootmassagecenter.com) to get a quick overview on many different styles and approaches to barefoot massage (many are not referred to by the “A-word” BTW!)

(Which, sidenote, by the way, if you are an old-school practitioner trained prior to 2017 still using the full phrase "ashiatsu oriental bar therapy": please consider working to transition away from that! Check with the company/school that trained you in the work to see what your specific lineage is now referred to as, because they have been calling it something else for quite a few years! Consider adapting to that new name. The "O" word in AOBT is outdated, and its continued use is perceived as being politically incorrect, derogatory, and even insulting. Representation matters, and a recognized name change is a step to take that shows respect.)

Footnotes by Jeni Spring, LMT, BCSI 02/09/2023 0Comments

I’m already ashiatsu trained – where do I start?

We are SO glad that you found us, and that you are considering learning our myofascial ashiatsu barefoot massage style of work!

If you are ready to ask questions, be challenged, and grow your understanding of barefoot massage, then you are gonna love this game-changing take on westernized ashiatsu barefoot massage. This style will integrate beautifully and elevate the work you already do. You’ll get to challenge yourself by tapping into a beginners mindset and re-learn what you have learned, but from another point of view. You’ll learn WHY and HOW every stroke impacts the body, and you’ll be set free with your own confident knowledge to massage intuitively with your feet in the way your body feels comfortable with.

Existing Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapists can jump into our Intermediate or Range of Motion (ROM) classes with proof of live training in an approved beginner ashi class from another company. Email us your CE transcript with proof of at least 16 live “feet-on” beginner ashiatsu hours from an NCBTMB provider – be aware that not all beginner classes are approved. The providing CE company must have been in existence and teaching that beginner class prior to 2017. We have a very short list of beginner classes that we can vouch for and allow you to skip over our entry-level class. (???????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????’???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????????, ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? & ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????????!)⁣ ⁣This opportunity will not be around forever: we are considering sunsetting this opportunity no later than 2026, after which point Fundamentals would be required for our Next-Level courses.

Here’s how you can get your feet Centered with us:

(Updated 1/28/2024)

If you are already ashiatsu trained – you can jump right into our Intermediate, ROM or Fijian classes!

We’ll just need to see proof of your attendance in a live NCBTMB approved beginner ashiatsu class (A class that used overhead bars – not silks or underhand bars or other balancing items) the class must have been at least 16 CE’s* and be on our short list of approved programs/instructors/lineages that we’ve reviewed or are familiar with.

don't get cold feet - learn hot ashi barefoot massage

*A video audition from you and a course/instructor review by us may also be required if your training lineage is untraceable, or if it has been over 5 years. The providing CE company you trained with must have been in existence and teaching that beginner class prior to 2017. All classes must be live, in-person training: no hybrid or online versions.

Email us a copy of your CE Transcript/Hours to info@BarefootMassageCenter.com, or text a picture of it to 210-816-1241.

(If you’d like to attend the Fijian Barefoot Massage floor classes – there’s no prerequisites, so no previous CE’s required. Just be an LMT and you are set for Fijian!)

If you’d like access to the Hot Ashi class, and any Relax Track courses available in the future, you’ll need to attend our 3 day Fundamentals class. Want into the new Clinical Track classes? The prerequisite is attendance in our FasciAshi Intermediate AND FasciAshi Advanced classes.

To gain access to our Advanced class, you’ll need to first attend our Intermediate course – no exceptions.

To sit in on a Revitalize/refresher on any class, you’ll have to actually attend that same course first and pay the full tuition. Revitalizer classes are a perk reserved ‘solely’ for Center for Barefoot Massage alumni.

Why?

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Because FasciAshi is not the same as anything else on the barefoot massage continuing education market. These are not the same classes you’ve taken with other providers. Even if you’ve trained with any of our current Instructors prior to 2017 – these same instructors are bringing a whole new level of content to the classroom. (We like to say “This ain’t yo’ momma’s ashi!”)

By verifying your previous training, and funneling you through the class progression at certain points along the way, it ensures that we can maintain a standard of education in our upper level alumni. We aim to support the massage industry with high quality, educated, intuitive barefoot providers working the field.

We are creating ongoing training opportunities for LMTs who are serious about a long, successful Barefoot Massage career.

The Center for Barefoot Massage gives massage therapists the tools to become fanatical ashiatsu practitioners, curious anatomy nerds and confident barefoot massage specialists. We aim to teach evidence-based theories of massage that, through your intent and knowledge, can be applied to clinical, sports, and relaxation-based sessions.

FasciAshi is raising the standard of barefoot massage.

Come and continue your studies in massage therapy with our style of myofascial ashiatsu FasciAshi, Fijian, other barefoot modalities hosted at the Center! We are excited to offer a future for existing and new barefoot massage therapists.

Read more about how the Center for Barefoot Massage and FasciAshi are different:

Footnotes by Jeni Spring, LMT, BCSI 02/01/2023 0Comments

How do I become a Barefoot Massage Specialist?

It’s one thing to want to learn how to massage with your feet – and it’s a whole other world when you realize that you want to do this all day, every day, for the rest of your life!

If becoming a Barefoot Massage Specialist is your “thang”, we want to help you!

The Center for Barefoot Massage offers an innovative series of pathways to help cater your massages exactly to what your clients “knead”

Find your thang, your niche, your specialty… we’ve got the steps laid out in different training pathways to help you achieve success.

In addition to training and our Endorsement process that shows your own approach to the work has been vetted by the founders of FasciAshi, we are also creating tracks of classes for you to “choose your own adventure” and specialize in Relaxation, Clinical or Sports Barefoot Massage!

Are you already trained in other forms of barefoot massage of ashiatsu? We can help you really dig your heels in! Read this page for what to do next.

Are you just MESMERIZED by the barefoot massage and want to do it, too? Do you have a specific niche that you want to focus on?

CLICK HERE to read how you can follow our classes down the rabbit hole that gets more and more specific as you go!

We are actively recruiting students who want to take this work seriously. Our passion for ashiatsu and our drive to build barefoot massages presence within the field of massage therapy is driving this movement. We’ve rallied all of our training and experience down into each class for you (so you don’t have to figure it out the hard way as we did!) We are consulting with industry leaders to create course content that is accurate, modern and ready to apply to your clients. We’ve tried and tested the techniques and have put them to use in practice with our instructors and their local teams. We share our successes and struggles in the FasciAshi Tribe Facebook Group, a supportive community of FasciAshi alumni. We continue to educate beyond the classroom with our #BarefootLikeABoss Pro Membership, which is dedicated to growing and scaling their skills both with their clients & in their business. There are so many ways that we try to help you create a successful barefoot massage career – and as we learn and grow even more, we pass that onto our students.

The future for barefoot massage is afoot!

Here are some more resources that we recommend as you search your SOLE to find its purpose!

Ashiatsu barefoot massage, business, FAQ by Jeni Spring, LMT, BCSI 11/29/2022 0Comments

Find a Barefoot Massage Therapist near me

Are you looking for one of our Myofascial Ashiatsu and Fijian Barefoot Massage trained students to give you the best deep massage of your life? Follow this link to find a trained professional near you.

(Or follow this link for help on how to use the directory!)

Want to be a “guinea pig” in one of our Student Clinics during a Center for Barefoot Massage class? Although our instructors don’t typically recruit straight from the public to fill these spots, every member of our teacher team is still a practicing Barefoot Massage therapist with a local business: you’ll want to schedule a series of sessions with them to get on their radar. We keep a list of our existing clients who would work well with our students for future classes. You can find our list of instructors and track down their local businesses here.

Center for Barefoot Massage alumni can list in our SOLE Provider directory for free!

We have a great network of Barefoot Massage Therapists across the nation – and their clients travel! We all know that once you try Myofascial Ashiatsu, you won’t want to go back to normal massage, so lets help these fans of our work find their favorite bodywork in the town they are relocating to, or visiting! If YOU are a Barefoot Massage Therapist and want to get found, dig your heels in and read more below to get started!

Ashiatsu barefoot massage by Mary-Claire 03/17/2022 0Comments

Tuition policy 3/17/22

One thing that’s really important to us at the Center for Barefoot Massage is taking care of our instructors. They work really hard to keep current on massage techniques & constantly perfect their own barefoot moves.

In fact, all of our instructors specialize in barefoot massage. In our 1st price increase in 5 years, raising our rates allows us to pay our instructors more, supporting them in their endeavors to provide YOU with the best education they can!

If you’re curious about the rates, just look at the blog post below this one. Here’s a reminder of our policy for the remainder of 2022 and into the following years.

Due to a tuition increase that takes effect on March 17th, 2022, if you registered for your training prior to that date, that price is only valid for classes completed by December 31st, 2022.

If you happen to reschedule your registration to another set of dates in 2023, the new tuition price will be applied to your training, and the difference in balance will be due before that class begins.

And thank you to the hundreds and hundreds of students we’ve taught all over the United States in the past 5 years.

We appreciate you allowing us to share our knowledge and love of barefoot massage & to help spread that in our local coummunities.

Thank you!

Ashiatsu barefoot massage by Mary-Claire 05/11/2021 0Comments

3 Reasons to Learn Barefoot Massage

1. Lengthen your massage career.

How long did it take you to discover that the average career span of a massage therapist is 3-5 years (or 5-7, depending on the source)?

They certainly didn’t tell me (Mary-Claire) about that in massage school.

I think I found out somewhere along the way. Maybe it was when I started having tendonitis in my right elbow and pain in my left pisiform.

After a while, I would drive home from work and grasp my steering wheel at a traffic stop, stretching my forearm flexors and pounding on my extensors.

Had I not learned barefoot massage in 2002, my career would have been over. I might have lasted until 2003, but I certainly wouldn’t be going for 22+ years.

If you do barefoot massage correctly (yes, you can do it wrong and injure yourself!), you’ll have unlimited years to work in your field

One of Mary-Claire’s classes. (pre-pandemic)

2. Clients love it

I have never had a client ask me to get off the table and switch to hands-on the 1st time I’ve given them barefoot massage.

But you have to have the right client on the table.

First, there are people who hate feet. It’s not your feet, but everyone’s. Don’t try to convince them to try barefoot massage. It’s a lost cause.

Next, you have the client who needs the work, but they’re reluctant, because it’s “weird”. BUT they’re desperate for results and are afraid that surgery will come next. So they’ll try it.

Sara Newberry is using our strap for excellent body mechanics, heat and joint movement.

Lastly, you have the people who think barefoot massage is going to be the most amazing thing ever. They walked on their parent’s back, they have their kids walk on their back, or maybe they’ve gotten another form of barefoot massage somewhere else.

I have found that clients who try ashiatsu barefoot massage NEVER go back to “regular” hands-on massage if they can help it.

(Of course, you need to practice and be good at your barefoot massage craft.)

Most of my clients have also reported that the results of barefoot massage last longer than traditional deep tissue.

PLUS ashiatsu barefoot feels wwwwaaaaayyyy better than pointy thumbs and pokey elbows!

3. You’ll differentiate yourself from other massage therapists

Once you try barefoot massage, you’ll never go back to “regular” massage. Shirt design by Jeni Spring.

✔️How many massage therapists are there in your city?
✔️How many do deep tissue?
✔️What percentage do barefoot massage?

I am one of the few in a large city (Cincinnati) who specializes in barefoot massage. I have trained others, but they have moved or didn’t get comfortable with it or closed their business (or whatever).

Regular clients drive up to 45 minutes to see me.

In fact, I drive 45 minutes to see MY barefoot massage therapist. Why? Because there’s no one else around, and it’s what I want.

What are 3 reasons massage therapists learn barefoot massage?

Lengthen / save your career
Clients love it
You’ll differentiate yourself from other massage therapists

What’s stopping you from learning?

Or if you’ve already learned, do you specialize! Let us know.

Interested in learning more about barefoot massage?

Visit us at www.barefootmassagecenter.com

We have tons of Tip and Tricks on YouTube!

And check out our Facebook page

Don’t forget Instagram!

Mary-Claire Fredette has been licensed as a massage therapist in Ohio since the last century.

Seriously.

She learned barefoot massage in 2002 and hasn’t looked back, beginning teaching in 2004.

You can find her classes in her natural light studio in Cincinnati.

She co-founded the Center for Barefoot Massage with husband Paul and the barefoot massage idea-preneur Jeni Spring in 2017..

Ashiatsu barefoot massage, business, Massage, Pro tips by Mary-Claire 05/04/2021 0Comments

Are you working to your detriment?

Most of us went into the field of massage because we wanted to help people.

Maybe we already were giving out shoulder rubs on everyone we could get our hands-on. Perhaps we just knew that we weren’t meant to be a counselor (ahem, Mary-Claire here, speaking from experience).

But we had the heart to serve, to help others, to make them leave our offices happier than they were when they came in.

Into massage school we ran, eager to have the license to practice.

Did they tell you that the average career span of a massage therapist is 3-5 years (or 5-7 years, depending on the source)?

Or did you find out later?

Why do you think that is?

While there are a number of factors in play, one of the big reason is injury, pain, and burnout.

Simply stated, we work to our detriment.

What does that mean, exactly?

Most of us do/did our best to provide the massage experience that the legit client wanted.

More pressure? Sure!

Deeper in that spot! No problem.

Can you hang out here for a while? My pleasure.

In the meantime, our backs started to act up. Or maybe we discovered a little tendonitis or tenosynovitis.

We start cracking our knuckles a little more, pounding on our forearms while we sit at a traffic stop, gripping the steering wheel so we can have the added stretch of a bent wrist.

I have a client who was a massage therapist for many years, longer than I have been (and it’s 22+ years for me).

While she had learned barefoot massage years ago, she never got really comfortable with it, was clunky, and the clients didn’t love it.

So she continued to do what she’d been doing-providing her clients with awesome deep tissue massage via her hands.

Until she couldn’t.

She couldn’t push past the pain anymore. Actually, she had to see a doctor because she couldn’t grip things anymore and was starting to drop the items she held in her hands.

Permanent damage, friends.

Permanent damage was caused by overworking herself to make her clients happy.

This is preventable.

If you’re going to offer deep tissue massage as a career, please get good at barefoot massage.

And it’s not going to happen if you take an online class. It may not happen if you only take 1 live class.

You may need to retake your 1st class (especially if it takes a while to get the bars up).

And you will certainly be better with each continuing ed class you take.

Is there anything preventing you from a long lasting deep tissue massage career?

The ball’s in your court.

Interested in learning more about barefoot massage?