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Tag: Hot Ashi

Differences between Fijian Barefoot Massage & Hot Ashi

Barefoot massage encompasses many techniques you may not be aware of, this post is here to help you discover the differences in Fijian Barefoot Massage & Hot Ashi

Barefoot Massage is the umbrella term that encompasses a type of therapeutic application using a foot (or feet) as the tool. 

Many Americans used to believe there was only one way. And that way was a style of sliding, unclothed massage called Ashiatsu which roughly translated to mean “foot pressure.” We now know there was a lot of problems with that translation/understanding

At the Center for Barefoot Massage, we specifically call our style and approach to this work Myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage, or FasciAshi for short. (Follow this link to review the differences between styles of Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage.)

Understand that all westernized Ashiatsu styles as they are generally known across the American massage industry includes a massage table, overhead bar system, and usually involve an unclothed, lubricated session that is styled similar to Swedish massage. The gravity of our foot & body weight lend itself to the experience of a “deep Swedish” session. 

However, there are various other types of massage using feet as the therapeutic tool that do not include Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage. 

In this message, we’ll discuss the differences in Fijian Barefoot Massage & Hot Ashi. 

Fijian Barefoot Massage is the adaption of the ancient medicine system in Fiji brought to the United States by Lolita Knight. The Center for Barefoot Massage felt this work was important to continue as Lolita began retiring her work. CBM has received Lolita’s guidance and blessings to continue her work while adding the fundamental principles of Myofascial Barefoot massage. 

This floor based class continues the understanding of the Fijian people that a deep and fast paced connection with the skin and nervous system would increase healing possibility. They developed a series of specific movements that Lolita adapted to become footwork instead of handwork, and we teach that approach in our course. The receiving person will remain clothed and there is no use of lubricant. 

Hot Ashi is the course designed by Center for Barefoot Massage instructor and author of this post, Sara Newberry. After many years working with a mentor and creator of the Mother Earth Pillows, I began to understand the deep healing of heat combined with pressure. Hot Ashi used shearing gliding that requires the therapist to have control and finesse using their legs and feet. In our course, the therapist is taught the foundation to thermal therapy and nervous system health along with many ways to incorporate the pillows into what they are already offering. The client is clothed and the focus is not to allow lubricant to come in contact with the pillow. 

Thermal therapy can be activating for some clients with a history of trauma but for most, heat can be a transformative for the down regulation into their parasympathetic nervous system where the healing can occur. 

Fijian Barefoot Massage & Hot Ashi Comparison: 

Both techniques keep the client clothed 

Both techniques use zero lubricant 

Both techniques require specific use of your foot/leg 

Both could be great travel options for marketing assuming you have the correct set up 

Fijian & Hot Ashi Differences: 

Fijian is on the floor

Hot Ashi is on a massage table 

Hot Ashi should be soothing and PNS in nature 

Fijian is energizing and uplifting 

Hot ashi uses the overhead bars 

Fijian uses the floor, a chair, & the FasciAshi Strap 

To finish up, one technique is not better than another but instead different for different applications. Both courses will challenge your feet in new ways and what I often encourage as “cross training your feet.” Either of these classes will inform your other Barefoot Massage applications even if it’s not directly a stroke difference, instead another way to move. 

Sign up today and your clients will begin to notice the more nuanced and dynamic way you move your feet right away. They will feel you respond to their tissue that’s specific to that day and time rather than simply moving through the motions. 

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!recommended-ashiatsu-training

How much is ashiatsu training?

How much does ashiatsu training cost?

How much are classes?

  • Fundamentals:  $750(3 days, 24 CE’s)
  • Fijian: $500  (2 days, 16 CE’s)
  • Intermediate: $500  (2 days, 16 CE’s)
  • ROM: $500  (2 days, 16 CE’s)
  • Advanced: $500 (2 days, 16 CE’s)
  • Hot Ashi: $250   (1 day. 8 CE’s)
  • IF IT’S A TRAVEL CLASS: meaning, if the instructor travelled to the location to teach there, then the tuition will be +$100 more than usual to help cover the costs of bringing an amazing guest instructor to town!

Payment plans are available, read more here

 

 

Included in your tuition costs:

  • Alumni Membership Website access, which includes curated resources and materials to start your new barefoot massage practice.
  • Study videos demonstrating each stroke taught in class.
  • Online networking and support group with fellow practitioners and instructors.
  • A printed and bound class workbook, with:
    • anatomical references to each stroke
    • THe structural goal to each stroke
    • pro-tips from the founders,
    • your notes and journal entries from observation time in class.
    • Specific Cautions and Contraindications to the strokes learned- and each section of our Pathology and Contraindications were reviewed by Ruth Werner, BCBMT.
    • Strap installation instructions in each workbook,
    • Bar Installation instructions included in the Fundamentals class workbook.
    • Client evaluation forms to help gather feedback during your self-study practice sessions.

Any additional costs?

  • Optional Sole Provider boosted listing on our alumni locator map: ranging from FREE-$80-$150 (Basic listings are FREE!)
  • Optional Pro-Membership for upgraded study videos, with monthly anatomy and marketing challenges: Price TBA upon next release
  • Bar installation cost varies greatly depending on supplies, design and labor. Common costs range between $150-$400
  • Support Straps (Ashi-Straps) are $25 each, and you’ll want a few to switch between clients.
  • Portable Bar designs available for $150! You’ll save on shipping and will be able to custom design your travel bars to your exact measurements for the best body mechanics. Contract a local welder to build the portable bars off our designs, and you’ll be supporting local businesses in your area.
  • ~Eventually~ a level of Endorsement will be available after testing: price TBD.

Is the Center for Barefoot Massage an Approved Continuing Education Provider?

ncbtmb continuing education provider

The short answer is: YES, of course!

Our CE Provider #1333 status with the NCBTMB and we have maintained that approval since March 2017.

 

The long answer is: it may depend on your state.

If your state has NCBTMB reciprocity, meaning that they acknowledge and accept NCBTMB approved courses for your Continuing Education hour requirements, then our classes are automatically valid for you.

Our provider numbers for select states are available for your review below.

CE Broker tracking number: # 50-20211

New York NCBTMB CE Provider Number: 1333 (approved as a part of our NCBTMB affiliation) Fundamentals, ROM, Intermediate, Advanced, Hot Ashi, HandsFree

Florida CE Broker Tracking Number: 50-20211 All Classes Approved

Georgia CE Broker Tracking Number: 50-20211 All Classes Approved

Mississippi Provider Number: 2642  – Approved for Fundamentals (Program #518) and Fijian (Program #541)

Louisiana Provider Number: 236  Approved for Fundamentals (#LCEU0002384) and Fijian (#LCEU0002385)

If your state is not listed:

They may have automatic NCBTMB Reciprocity! We cannot help you determine if the CE’s are valid in your state: you will need to check directly with your state to ensure our NCBTMB approved course will be accepted.

If your state does not have NCBTMB Continuing Education Reciprocity, then we will only consider expanding into their network once we notice a high demand for the most popular class(es). Until then, we hope that your love for barefoot massage and your plans to learn this work are not detoured merely because your state doesn’t recognize the credits. You may be able to easily fulfill your state renewal requirements through inexpensive local and online classes in other topics, and utilize our myofascial ashiatsu “FasciAshi” classes for your own professional development and career focus that takes you above and beyond your states standard! The lack of our ease of access in your region may be discouraging other LMT’s, which just leaves more space for you to stand apart from the rest.

Some state massage boards have created their own guidelines or limits for content they are willing to accept, along with content they require to be completed. A few of these state boards overrule the industry-standard NCBTMB CE Provider approvals and are instead requiring Continuing Education providers like The Center for Barefoot Massage to apply for and register each individual instructor on their team for each individual class they each teach.

It’s unfortunate that not all states acknowledge the NCBTMB. State-by-state approval of CE courses in massage therapy can be time-consuming, costly, and inefficient – so the Center for Barefoot Massage may not apply for CE Approval in states with additional requirements until a higher demand is seen in that region.

If we were to maintain every state license/approval for each class and every instructor, above and beyond that of the NCBTMB, it could cause tuition rates to increase due to almost constant licensure renewals.

With 13 instructors on our team and a roster of over 14 versions of our classes on file with the NCBTMB – on top of the inconsistent requirements for what constitutes “a class” or an instructor between each state board – we (along with many other team-based nationally recognized CE Providers,) have chosen not to sign on with every individual state, and not for every single class, and to only apply where we physically teach, or where a good percentage of our learners come from.

Things are evolving in the continuing education accreditation sector in the field of massage, and the current situation may not always be the case – things can change, and we are hoping they will! We have our big toes on the pulse of the industry and are watching closely to where the NCBTMB, FSMTB CE Broker, AFMTE and others are taking us.

Notice: As the Center for Barefoot Massage is working to help keep Barefoot Massage techniques ethically and professionally represented within the scope of practice of Massage Therapy, we will ONLY train reports to ce broker for Florida AshiatsuLicensed Massage Therapists. We will not seek out accreditation with other non-Massage Continuing Education Provider accrediting entities of other professions such as for Physical Therapists, Chiropractors, Yoga Therapists, Acupuncturists, etc.

We are not currently pursuing International Accreditation – but will still require proof of a regionally equivalent Massage Therapy License for any student who wishes to attend our courses. Our focus right now is presenting our courses to licensed massage therapists in the states before expanding internationally. If we can work together in the future to research your countries requirements for the massage profession, and how our continuing education classes could be set up for accreditation in that region, please contact us.

If your state/province is not listed above, contact your licensing or registration board directly to see if they will accept our course for CE credits toward licensure/registration renewal. If you have concerns or questions about your state CE requirements, please raise them with your board.

Do you have questions about what your states Continuing Education renewal requirements are? Google your state’s Massage Board!

Barefoot Massage Class Instructor Spotlight: Erin Poovey

Fun fact: Colorado Springs was recently named the best city to live in for the 2nd year in a row (US News & World Report). Visit Helen Hunt Falls, the Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs, paddleboard in the Springs, or get a massage from one of Erin’s gifted therapists. And now, meet Erin!

Your name?

Erin Poovey

Pets? 

I’m a crazy plant lady but no pets currently.

My husband and I keep talking about getting chickens. I think that would be so fun. 

Tell us about your family!

Married to Justin for 6 years and I’m mama to Norah Luna. She’s 2. I’m a completely obsessed mama so be fair warned that if you follow my personal social media its just Norah. They keep my life full of light and fun.

What did you want to be when you grew up and why?

In elementary school, I wanted to be a teacher. I totally forgot about that until thinking about this question. Guess that came true <3

Where do you teach?

I teach in Colorado Springs Colorado at my business Camino Massage Therapy.

What’s cool about your city (or fun things to do)?

Barefoot Massage Class Instructor Spotlight: Sara Newberry

Sara in St. Louis is the owner of Sole Shine Barefoot Massage, located in an eclectic neighborhood in St. Louis. Fun fact: she has a very large painted plaster foot outside her office (see it in the photo of her studio)!

Your name

Sara Newberry 

Tell us about your pets.

2 Cats- Sully & Weekend (Their names came from the shelter. Weekend is unusual and I thought surely my kids would change her name but it stuck. She came in with a litter on the weekend (hence her name) but her brothers and sisters were all named Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Weekend We ended up with Weekend) 1 Dog- Mickey. He’s super old and barks a lot

Tell us about your family!

I have 2 kids, 1 stepdaughter. I’m a single mom of two with an amazing partner named Stephen. My mom passed away almost 3 years ago and I’ve been a guide for others going through the grief process since then. 

What did you want to be when you grew up and why?

Barefoot Massage Training Instructor Spotlight: Hillary Arrieta

Today’s Barefoot Massage Instructor spotlight is coming at you from Richardson, TX, a suburb of Dallas. Say hello to Hillary!

Your name

Hillary Arrieta

Tell us about your puppies.

I have two dogs, Winnie (Maltese mix age 11) Luna (Great Pyrenees mix age 3). Both are girls. (And she shamelessly puts capes on them sometimes).

Tell us about your family too!

NAH…hahah! Just kidding. My husband and I have been married for 10 years and we love to do things with our dogs and travel when we can. He has a nerdy job with a company where he makes 3D printed collectibles and props for movies.  

What did you want to be when you grew up and why?

I wanted to work for myself because I have a strong need for autonomy. It’s also in my blood. My grandpa owned his own service station for 50 years in the small town where my mom grew up and I always looked up to him.

Where do you teach?

I teach in a suburb of Dallas, Texas called Richardson at my workshop space at Gaia Bodywork.

What’s cool about your city?

Richardson is a great place to EAT. Especially if you like a large variety for all different kinds of food. 

Which classes do you teach?

I teach FUNdamentals, Fijian, and the Relax track classes (currently Hot Ashi).

How has doing barefoot massage changed your career?

It’s made me enjoy massage therapy so much more. I don’t get bored and I feel like it’s creative and challenging every day. I use my mind and my body which I think helps to keep me engaged.

What do you love about teaching barefoot massage?

I love seeing my students get excited. For some of them, It’s been a long time since they’ve felt passionate about their career. I feel like I get to be a part of bringing that spark back to their massage practice.

Other than doing barefoot massage until you die, what would you do when it comes time to retire?

Move to Costa Rica, be a beach bum, and chill out with a billion dogs on the beach. 

Hobbies?

Herbalism and kitchen witchery, reading, walking, gardening, and skin care. 

Can you drive a stick shift, scooter, motorcycle, boat? (If so, what? Or any other random thing you can drive.

Nope. hahah!

Any tips to keep yourself healthy as a massage therapist?

I think sleep is super important because I need that regeneration time and also taking breaks to keep a healthy mindset. 

What’s a random thing that most people don’t know about you?

I use to take syncronized swimming classes growing up. I don’t think you can get any more random than that! HAHA!

What are your favorite foods?

Pizza.

Where have you been published?

ThriveGlobal.com

✓ Spotlight on Fijian Massage

Where can people schedule an appointment with you? 

At Gaia in Richardson! (Note: Mary-Claire here. I had a client who visited Hillary when he was in town for a wedding. He LOVED his barefoot massage!)

Find Hillary at the Center for Barefoot Massage 

Texas Ashiatsu: Instagram

 GaiaBodywork: Instagram


Hillary’s official bio:

Hillary Arrieta is a holistic wellness expert, licensed massage therapist, industry educator, and small business owner. She specializes in barefoot massage and Ayurvedic therapies to help her health-conscious clients reach their wellness goals.

Located in Dallas, Texas, Hillary’s customized sessions are infused with Western herbalism, aromatics, mediation, and restorative bodywork to ease her clients towards radiance and joyful living.

Hillary has taught massage therapists since 2008 from the basic certification program to her own workshops at Gaia Bodywork. Hillary has the honor of teaching as an approved instructor for the Center for Barefoot Massage. She strives to create an organized and comfortable learning environment.

Success is no accident

Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing. – Pelé

Why you should continue to take continuing ed ce classes in barefoot massage…

This is day 4 of 5- our team of barefoot massage instructors is getting 2 feet deep into learning two of the Center for Barefoot Massage’s new courses.

We began with instructor training with a FasciAshified version of Fijian (with permission from Fijian founder Lolita Knight) and are completing our barefoot training with our new class, Hot Ashi. 

(Not all instructors will teach both modalities-you’ll get to travel to learn from and meet other instructors!)

Our instructors all specialize in barefoot massage.

But there’s always room to grow and to learn.

We instructors all are considered experts in our field, and yet we all continue to tweak our moves and discover new barefoot modalities. We work with other instructors to find how we can do better, how we can problem solve more efficiently.

Some therapists think that if they learn something once, they can “figure the other stuff out” on their own. Maybe, and maybe not.

Did you know that all of our instructors have been in a Fundamentals class at least 3-4 times? We have our own instructor certification process just like you do for the Center for Barefoot Massage’s certification.

And we retake classes. As the co-founder, I drove to St. Louis from Cincinnati to take Intermediate with Jeni and Sara even though I’d already been teaching it.

Why? Because we learn tips and tricks and hear new questions in every class.

We receive barefoot massages (it’s a great way to learn what you like and what you don’t about someone else’s barefoot massage technique), we take massage courses, ask questions and continue our quest for knowledge.

Some massage therapists think if they’ve taken a class once, there’s no need to take it again. Or maybe they believe they should get a “pass” for having done barefoot massage for a few years (or even a lot) and don’t want to start at the beginner level.

Newsflash!

You always learn something new. If you don’t know the intention behind the strokes you’ve memorized, don’t know which muscles you’re working on, then it’s time to study.

This may be by simply diving into your manual again or it might mean taking a 1-day Revitalize refresher. For those who take a long time to put up their bars or don’t do much barefoot massage, we recommend retaking a course.

Want to just get better?

Retake a course. It doesn’t matter if you learn from the same barefoot massage instructor or you go to another barefoot massage training location. Every class is an opportunity for you to be the best you can be.

Here at the Center for Barefoot Massage, our team of Sole Sisters continues to learn and train so we can be the best in our personal practices.

We also want to share our love and knowledge of barefoot massage with other massage therapists.

Our team of instructors is phenomenal. We’ve laughed, worked, brainstorm, and have given feedback on what will make our courses more successful for you.

Top row, L to R: Sara, Hillary, Sharon, Julie, Dawn, Erin, Bottom row: Mary-Claire & Jeni 

Because in turn, we can help you become more successful in your barefoot massage biz. And you can help the public.

How many lives can be positively influenced by your taking more classes?

We’re guessing a lot.

Our class schedule is HERE. We’d love to see you in another class again!

Introducing the world’s first Hot Ashi barefoot massage training

On Wednesday, I wrote about the deliciousness of using heat during a massage. Because of the multitude of benefits that the combination of heat and massage can provide, instructor Sara Newberry and I  (Mary-Claire Fredette) teamed together to create the world’s first…

Hot Ashi!

It’s a combination of heated Mother Earth Pillows and, you guessed it, barefoot massage! It’s first in our specialty class lineup.

A little history on how this came about…

I’ve been doing barefoot massage since 2002. The trouble is that my hands and feet were always cold after washing them. A heating pad has been my feet’s friend since about Day 1. When I learned “thermal connective tissue release” Pillossage with Mother Earth founder Karen Kowal back in 2011, I knew I had found the answer to my cold hands.

What Ashiatsu Contraindications are there for attending FasciAshi students

We will thoroughly discuss ashiatsu contraindications for your clients in every FasciAshi class.

We aim to maintain a safe learning environment for everyone, to massage ethically, and to ensure that every attendee in class gets to experience what the work feels like. As such, there are some ashiatsu contraindications, health cautions and concerns that students need to consider for themselves.

Speak with your instructor to clarify your specific situation and see if receiving 2-3 hours a day of ashiatsu during training through the Center for Barefoot Massage is, or maybe isn’t, appropriate for you at this time.

ashiatsu-contraindications
Ashiatsu Contraindications for Students in FasciAshi Classes

Anything contraindicated for deep tissue, or myofascial release, will be contraindicated for receiving Fasciashi in class

The deep compression provided by this modality could be dangerous for those still recovering from invasive procedures or ailments.

If you are currently pregnant, trying to get pregnant, have recently had breast/gluteal/calf implants and/or some select surgeries within the last 9 months, we regret that you cannot attend the seminar. 

It is not our intention to discourage or discriminate anyone from taking this class, we must focus on a quality workshop experienced by all and maintain the safety standards of the modality.