How Barefoot Massage Changed the Way I Work
Techniques, tools, modalities- whatever we choose to call them- are part of how we learn to work with the body. Every massage therapist and bodyworker develops their own approach over time. We find methods that fit our individual interests, our clients, and our own bodies. And with time and experience, those methods change.
I didn't come across ashiatsu barefoot massage until ten years into my bodywork career, but I'm thankful I eventually did. Back then I believed in the idea 'no pain, no gain'. Some clients asked for a lot of pressure, while others had dense, restricted tissue that took a lot of effort to treat. I also had clients who thought deep work depended on how much pressure they felt.
But my idea of what deep work is has changed over time. Deep pressure and deep tissue work aren't the same, and you can't judge whether a type of bodywork is effective based solely on its intensity. It's really important to take the client's preferences into account; keep communication open, consider the body's reaction, and my own intuition. I've learned to listen for what someone really means when they ask for “deep,” while continuing to develop my own understanding of what the work requires.
Using my feet gave me another way to work with pressure, and it helped me continue in a profession my body was struggling to sustain. My body had reached its limits, and I’m not sure I would still be a bodyworker today if I hadn’t found barefoot massage. Learning to work with my feet changed how I met my clients' needs and how I used my own body. I’ve written more about that history, including my transition from massage and bodywork into Rolfing in my blog “Massage, Rolfing and Life Experiences.”
My work has continued to evolve. I no longer practice barefoot massage. I’m an Advanced Rolfing® Structural Integrator, but I use still my feet as a tool. They are a much more appropriate tool for the broad fascial work I do, helping me engage my core, hip girdle, and legs more efficiently than relying on my petite shoulder girdle and short arms.
For me, Ashiatsu barefoot massage training became more than a way to learn another modality. It gave me a more sustainable way to use my body and room to keep developing my work. That experience is one reason continuing education can have a lasting effect on a practitioner. Sometimes what we learn changes not only the techniques we use, but how we understand our own potential for other work.
My story is just that. MY STORY. It's going to be different for every therapist. We each have to find the techniques or modalities that resonate with us, serve our clients, and fit the body we work in. What feels right can change over time. My feet first gave me a way to continue doing deep work. They are still part of my practice, but the work and how I approach the body have both evolved.
Questions Massage Therapists May Ask
What are the first steps to safely incorporate barefoot massage into my practice?
Find a reputable barefoot massage training program and learn from an instructor with substantial experience practicing and teaching the work. Learning a technique doesn't automatically prepare you to teach it well. Before I began teaching, I had practiced barefoot massage daily for four years. I’ve now been teaching for 20 years.
Where can I find reputable Ashiatsu barefoot massage training?
Training programs are available in several places. I teach for the Center for Barefoot Massage (CBM) at the Durham campus in North Carolina. I’m part of CBM’s instructor team, which includes teachers and training campuses nationwide. CBM offers a progressive curriculum, from Fundamentals through Intermediate and Advanced classes, along with specialty courses. Classes are taught in person, where students can practice and receive feedback. CBM also requires students to be licensed massage therapists with at least 500 hours of entry-level education and active liability insurance. centerforbarefootmassage.com
For students, that means learning within a shared curriculum and professional framework, with opportunities to continue building skills as their practice develops. I practiced barefoot massage daily for four years before I began teaching, and I’ve been an instructor for 20 years.
Our campus is in Durham, about 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which makes it convenient for students traveling in. The CBM page about learning barefoot massage has more information about the organization’s approach and training.
How did your clients respond when you transitioned from hands-on to barefoot massage?
My clients loved it. They had no trouble transitioning to barefoot massage, and they were comfortable with the change in how I worked.
What adjustments helped you protect your body while learning barefoot massage?
I invited a Rolfer to watch me practice and offer feedback. They gave me several helpful suggestions. Strategically placed mirrors were one of the best because I could observe my body mechanics while I worked. I still use mirrors today.
As an Advanced Rolfer, I make body mechanics a major teaching point in all my classes. When I teach barefoot massage, I focus on helping massage therapists find the most effective and sustainable mechanics for their own bodies.
