I've seen ads for other barefoot classes that look similar. Why should I take your class? With 23 years of refining my barefoot massage, I'm excited to have partnered with another instructor, Jeni, who also has many years of barefoot massage experience. Together, we've taken our real world techniques and rolled them into a series of classes jam packed with information on how to not only give a barefoot massage, but how to actually USE your feet as a therapeutic tool. It's NOT about the looks but how we can slowly and effectively manage to move the fascia as well as muscles.
Can I learn barefoot bar massage from a video or DVD? Our opinion is that you really need to take a hands-on class in order to learn proper form and palpation skills. In our classes, you feel the stroke from the instructor, give it under a watchful eye, receive feedback from the person you're working on and work on the instructor for detailed feedback. None of this is possible with e-learning.
Can you actually feel things with your feet? Yes, although it may take time, just like when you were in massage school. With practice, your feet can become just as sensitive as your hands. It's also really important to take good care of your feet. The softer they are, the more the therapist can hone in to his or her sensitivity on their feet! We recommend regular pedicures for this reason, and the therapist makes sure to clean their feet prior to every session.
http://barefootblog.barefootmassagecenter.com/can-you-feel-knots-during-barefoot-massage/
I want to learn to do this on my boyfriend, but I'm not a massage therapist. May I take class? In a word, no. It is very easy to hurt someone without a certain amount of anatomical background and palpation skills.
You have to have completed a massage therapy school program and be eligible to legally massage in the state or province in which you live. You'll also need to show proof of your massage license + liability insurance.
Do you have a height and/or weight requirement? No. For FasciAshi Fundamentals, the first class, you only have one foot on the client's body at a time while you're standing up. You are in complete control of your pressure at all times. We do recommend a certain amount of coordination and general fitness, but I have trained therapists ranging from 95-200+ lbs. You must, however, be able to easily stand up on a 24" stool without falling. Check out our video:
I am smaller therapist. Do I need to take the advanced class? Smaller therapists have one thing going for them that larger therapists don't--small feet. The use of a smaller tool will make the therapist's work more specific and therefore deeper.
An understanding of how to use your feet as a specific trigger point tool will be very effective. If you work primarily on women, you may not want to take the advanced class, but I definitely recommend it if your client base consists of larger clients who want the deep work.
Can you do barefoot massage and stand on a table when you're pregnant? If you have good balance and permission from your OB/Midwife, then YES! I worked until 33 weeks while pregnant with twins and until 40 weeks in the next pregnancy. Doing the barefoot massage actually saved my career as I had difficulty bending over to do traditional hands-on massage in my 3rd trimesters.
However, if you're currently pregnant, you'll need to wait to take our myofascial barefoot massage class until at least 6 weeks after your baby is born. This is the safest physically for you (because you'll receive a lot of ashiatsu in class, and pregnancy is contraindicated.)
Can men be trained to do barefoot massage? Absolutely! This modality is great for any therapist who wants to decrease strain and stress on his/her own body.
What are the benefits of FasciAshi ROM Stretch Therapy? Because most people don't stretch enough, we'll teach you how to give them stretches that will increase their range of motion. It can easily be added in to a session with draping. I do hip and leg stretches in a good number of my barefoot massage sessions.
Should I put up my bars/straps before class? No! We will teach you how to customize your bars and straps for your body and give you the best options we’ve found for equipment. There are a lot of small details that need to be made in order to protect your body and mechanics. Tearing down your bars and rebuilding is expensive, time consuming, and if you don't rework them, you'll pay the price physically.
Are the bars hard to install? On the last day of the workshop, we go over how to install bars in a variety of ceiling types. The complexity of installation increases with specialty ceilings such as vaulted or concrete.
I'll spend 1.5 hours going over a variety of options, supplies needed, show you what I have in my studio (and why). We'll make sure you have a barefoot bar set up designed perfectly for you.
What kind of table do I need for ashiatsu barefoot massage? Because tables used for ashiatsu need to hold you and your client plus the forces moving on the table, we recommend a table that will accommodate a minimum of 600-750 lbs of working weight.
I recommend doing a bit of math before you choose a table. Your weight + your biggest client's weight = bare minimum. Do NOT purchase an inexpensive talbe. Portable tables should fold in half with a solid, piano hinge. You'll want to check the knobs for security on a regular basis too.
Electric tables should have a solid deck (no hinges) with a scissor lift. Both types must meet the working weight minimum.
Where exactly is the Cincinnati campus for Center for Barefoot Massage located? I teach in the same studio where I offer ashiatsu barefoot massage:
Affinity Massage Studio
7813 Affinity Place
Cincinnati, OH 45231
It's in Mt. Healthy, just a little north of SR 127 (Ronald Reagan highway), a few miles west of I-75 and about 4 miles south of I-275.
Can I train my staff to do the barefoot massage you teach? The short answer: no.
Barefoot massage is significantly more difficult and nuanced than it appears. And just because you're good at it doesn't mean you're capable of teaching. Plus, it's proprietary, so while we'd LOVE to teach your entire staff (I'm happy to offer a private class!) you cannot teach them once you've learned our style of ashiatsu.
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! (schedule a barefoot massage session with Mary-Claire Fredette)
Massage therapist coaching
Can you learn barefoot massage in a 1-1 private training?
Private training and massage mentoring is available on a case-by-case basis.
It's expensive. But if you're interested, contact me.
Don't try this at home, kids!
(These kiddos are 31, 24, and 22 now.)
Learn barefoot massage in our massage CE classes. Deep tissue ashiatsu barefoot massage training.
