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Barefoot Massage Open Challenge 2024: coming in March!

Get ready for this years Barefoot Massage Open Challenge! This year’s topic for the “Open” is on common physical imbalances of Barefoot Massage Therapists that could result in injury. Our instructors have been talking behind the scenes A LOT about all the things that make up “body mechanics“… things like your alignment while working, as well as what movement possibilities and what common restrictions Barefoot Massage Therapists are working around. Together, we’re compiling tips and tricks, videos, exercises and food for thought content for everyone that will help your body be ready and pain free to give a long career full of barefoot massage sessions!

Make sure to subscribe to our new SubStack, which works like a blog and newsletter in one! As we post new content, it’ll show up in your inbox, too! That’s where the challenge will be posted.

We haven’t been able to consistently post an actual ANNUAL challenge, because, well, life. It all started in 2018 and coincided with the CrossFit Open – just something for Barefoot Massage Therapists to push themselves through. We’ve had 3 so far, and this will be our 4th! The goal all along with these challenges has been for you to get out of your box and try something NEW. Our main focus when teaching FasciAshi is for you to make the techniques effective because you are educated on the theory and feel the ease of its application flow through your body. Your inner wisdom shines through when you are able to contemplate WHY or HOW your massage strokes work. When that is put into action in the most physically efficient and effective way possible for your body, you can see progress in yourself, your clients, and you’ll have a seriously better chance of staying in this profession longer.

We’ve got fresh content coming weekly starting March 8th, 2024 – but in the meantime, did you know that we’ve also got an archive of challenges from previous years?! You can dive into them for the 1st time, or the 10th!

Here’s a list of past years’ Barefoot Massage Open Challenges:

(Or just go watch the YouTube Playlist if reading is TMI RN!)

2021 “reSOLEutions”

This was a 3-month long, content creating challenge that pushed you to create NEW content on specific topics that educated YOUR community: Jump in on that challenge here – it was only 1 blog post to pull you through the entire project >>>

2019 “Mobility & Massage”

This was an ambitious 2x/week 5-week challenge that had you moving and massaging in ways to create more physical endurance and mindfulness in your sessions. Jump in on any of the weeks here>>>

2018 “Ashi-Challenge”

This was our first challenge that pushed you out of the routine and encouraged you to work more creatively than robotically. Try these challenges out and see how it changes your approach.

Stay tuned to our new SubStack for what we are preparing for you in March!

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Unlocking the Potential & Break the cycle of repetitive injury

One step at a time with Barefoot Massage 

As massage therapists, we are intimately acquainted with the physical toll our profession can take on our bodies. Repetitive strain injuries, particularly in the upper extremities, are a pervasive challenge, affecting nearly 65% of therapists, with over 80% feeling vulnerability in their hands. Regardless of the injuries we treat, it’s inevitable that massage therapists will encounter their own at some point in their careers, often stemming from repetitive motion, poor body mechanics, or unknowingly acquired habits.

Barefoot and Ashiatsu practitioners are not exempt from these challenges. During a recent instructor meeting at the Center for Barefoot Massage, my colleagues and I engaged in a candid discussion about the injuries we’ve experienced and observed in our practices, staff, and classrooms. While most of our instructor team had encountered massage-related injuries in the past, the adoption of CBM’s techniques, approach to body mechanics, thinking processes during work, and the use of the strap proved transformative. Notably, not a single instructor has suffered a Barefoot Massage-related injury since making these changes – and all of our instructors maintain a full schedule of clients in addition to teaching.

However, all of our instructors observe movement restrictions or imbalances in students, particularly those previously trained in Ashiatsu before ever attending a Center for Barefoot Massage class. There are some common overcompensating movements, and translation of gravity habits that typically need tweaking. The potential for injuries if the issues were not addressed became evident. The solution? Adopting CBM’s approach to how we use our feet and body during barefoot massage sessions: utilizing tools such as straps, stacking, not pushing, pulling or lifting, and alignment ergonomics for the myofascial techniques in ways that prevent overexertion. This approach allows therapists to work smarter, enhancing service quality and contributing to better health outcomes.

In the quest for injury prevention, small adjustments to technique can make a monumental impact. Learning and practicing good body mechanics are paramount, especially when dealing with chronic repetitive motion injuries. The improved body mechanics taught in our classes were developed as a direct result of our instructors watching their staff work with their feet daily and see where the restrictions and common issues arise. By embracing newer techniques, the risk of injury can be significantly reduced. It is crucial to prioritize body care and use proper techniques to ensure a successful and enduring massage therapy career. Many of our instructors have been massage therapists for over 20 years: we attribute that to not only Barefoot Massage, but also constantly evaluating the approach to Barefoot Massage.

The Center for Barefoot Massage specializes in a unique approach to Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage through our live Continuing Education classes. We emphasize anatomy and technique, teaching professionals how to provide therapeutic relief and prevent injuries both in themselves as well as their clients.

Our philosophy centers around the “Give it weight, then wait” theory, a pivotal aspect of our barefoot massage approach, targeting the Neuromyofascial web. Our “FasciAshi” technique involves working with fascial integration, navigating muscle and bone contours, and applying broad, consistent pressure at varying angles to address the body as a functional whole. Progressing through our courses, you’ll grasp the significance of sustained pressure and anatomical specificity to impact clients’ interoception.

Our Myofascial Barefoot Massage technique transcends the ordinary – it’s a dance of pressure, broad strokes, and efficient deep tissue work that sets your practice apart. Under the guidance of our expert instructors, you will learn how to use your feet to deliver controlled deep-tissue work with minimal strain, reducing the risk of overuse injuries on your joints, and tissues. Our classes focus on balanced weight distribution, and stability, and incorporate overhead bars and a suspended overhead strap to ensure proper body mechanics, making your practice more sustainable and effective.

Integrate Barefoot Massage with traditional techniques like deep tissue and trigger point therapy or cupping, and unlock a world of possibilities. Our classes offer a refreshing perspective on traditional techniques, enhancing efficiency and effortlessness. The Center for Barefoot Massage is committed to providing education on proper body mechanics, ensuring your practice is sustainable and effective. Our Barefoot Massage technique seamlessly integrates into preventive measures, promoting better posture and reducing strain.

With Barefoot Massage, you elevate your self-care practices, boost physical resilience, and become part of a community that celebrates the power of this transformative technique. The life of a massage therapist is undoubtedly challenging but armed with the right tools, techniques, and mindset, you can overcome obstacles and flourish. Join us at The Center for Barefoot Massage and embark on a journey that promises to revolutionize your approach to massage therapy.

How can I prevent injury to myself as a Barefoot Massage Therapist?

Stay tuned for our March 2024 blog series, this year’s edition of our annual ‘Barefoot Massage Open Challenge!’

This year’s topic for the “Open” is on common physical imbalances of Barefoot Massage Therapists that could result in injury. We’ve got tips and tricks, videos, exercises and food for thought content for everyone that will help your body be ready and pain free to give a long career full of barefoot massage sessions!

missy-anderson-fritch-barefoot-massage-instructor

Written by Missy Anderson-Fritch

San Luis Obispo, California

She teaches FasciAshi Fundamentals, and the Intermediate (Supine/Sidebody) class.

https://www.slosolesbarefootmassagetraining.com/

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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, 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚 & 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙘𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 & 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. 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. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 & 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 strategically 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀. 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!)

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Integrating Barefoot Massage Into Your Matwork

Hey, you! Yeah, YOU! I see you down there on your mat doing all those awesome Thai and Shiatsu moves. Do your wrists hurt? Are your knees and low back feeling a little battered? Let me turn you on to another mat-based modality, one where you can sit, YES SIT, in a chair while working on your client.

Fijian Barefoot Massage Student

Sounds weird?

Well, a lot of people still think “massage” on a mat is weird, but okay.

Here at Center for Barefoot Massage we embrace the unorthodoxweird and teach you how to do it too! If folks think your mat practice is already peculiar, why not go all in and learn some barefoot massage to really enhance and enrich their bodywork sessions? Lots of barefoot massage therapists already know it’s a great way to deliver a deep, healing massage without the wear and tear on our upper bodies and lower backs and it’s really not weird at all. It makes so much more sense than tearing up our bodies when we have the tools designed for heavier use readily available.

If you’re adding to your existing mat work, it blends right in with the addition of a chair and a face cradle keeping the needed equipment light. You can add in the FasciAshi Strap (read more about it over here) if you already have it, but it’s not required. And because no oils or creams are used in Fijian Barefoot Massage, clients remain clothed during the session. This barefoot massage style is the perfect adjunct to an existing matwork practice.

Is being on the mat getting uncomfortable?

Fijian Barefoot Massage is easier on the therapist’s body, especially if your body is finding discomfort while on the mat with clients. After so much palming and finger work, crouching and crawling around, sometimes your body needs a break. Switching to some seated or standing Fijian Barefoot Massage techniques can offer the relief you’re looking for while still being able to work. Not to mention, what happens when you have an actual injury to your upper body that needs to rest in order to recover? Barefoot Massage gives you the opportunity to let your injuries rest and recover while still seeing clients!

What will my clients think?

Clients LOVE it! While we don’t teach stretching techniques on the mat (we save those for our ROM classes), there’s no reason you can’t blend these mat-based barefoot massage techniques into the stretching you’re currently doing with your clients. The deep, jostling, compressions, and pinpoint trigger point work we teach you to do with your feet combined with your current toolkit will bring a whole new flavor to your client’s experience.

Isn’t this just Ashiatsu?

Nope! Fijian Barefoot Massage is a creation by Lolita Knight. Her experiences with massage while living in Fiji inspired her to create a version of their massage practices using the feet. Check out this article from our Dallas instructor, Hillary Arietta, that covers the differences between Fijian Barefoot Massage and our FasciAshi myofascial ashiatsu barefoot massage.

And while you’re at it this article from our co-founder, Jeni Spring, talks about a bunch of different styles of barefoot massage (only one of which is called ashiatsu). Sara Newberry also addresses key differences between Fijian Barefoot Massage and our Hot Ashi class in this article.

But HOW is it different from Thai and Shiatsu?

Well, the biggest difference is that we address prone, side-lying, and anterior body with our feet exclusively. (Look, Ma! No Hands!) Thai and Shiatsu work with the meridians of the body, which follows an eastern approach to health and wellness. Fijian Barefoot Massage is anatomy-based, addressing individual muscles and muscle groups while being aware of neighboring bony structures and joints and how our work affects them.

Center for Barefoot Massage is committed to helping preserve a method that was in danger of fading from our knowledge base. We have worked with the creator, Lolita Knight, to bring Fijian Barefoot Massage to a wider audience and have received her blessing as we integrate a more anatomically-focused, myofascial aspect to the work.

Fijian Barefoot Massage is a perfect adjunct to existing matwork or for a completely new service offering. Read more about our Fijian/Matwork 1 Barefoot Massage class here. Classes are taught year-round at locations all over the country and we’d love to see you in a class soon!

Today’s post is by our Alabama instructor, Sharon Bryant, LMT

Sharon has an eclectic range of interests and hobbies outside of work. She answers to dog mom, bookworm, computer nerd, herbal medicine enthusiast, terrible ukulele player, aspiring polyglot, and photogenic pirate, among other things.

In her bodywork business, she specializes in deep tissue, barefoot massage therapy, lymphatic drainage with a focus on scar work, and is currently teaching community self-care classes that feature mindfulness, self-massage, breathwork, and vibrational therapy.

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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. 

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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!

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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.)
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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!

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Spotlight! Myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Training on the Central California Coast with instructor Missy Anderson-Fritch

Experienced Barefoot Massage Therapist? Check. Business owner, mom, been in the biz almost a quarter of a century? CHECK! We’re excited to introduce this new member of our team to you: Meet Missy from San Luis Obispo, our Central California Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Instructor!

missy-anderson-fritch-barefoot-massage-instructor

Her 1st class is December 1-3, 2022: sign up by November 1st and join Missy and Jeni for a fabulous weekend in the FasciAshi Fundamentals class!

Sign up here

Your name

Missy Anderson-Fritch

Pets? 

Dog named Mister (a sassy 6-year-old husky/pit mix), 2 black cats- Romeo & Juliette, 11-year-old siblings born on the fall Equinox… how very witchy.

Tell us about your family too.

Single mom of two teenage boys Marshall 17 & Carter 16. Marshall does JuJitsu. Carter is gonna be a rock star.

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Strap in: Jeni started the Ashi-Strap thing.

Hi, I’m Jeni Spring feeling the need to chime in here about the Ashi-Strap! Have you seen something dangling from Ashiatsu Bars in pictures across the internet? Is someone you follow online leaning or sitting in a strap of some kind while massaging with their feet?

I started that trend. You’re welcome! Now the strap is integral to the Myofascial Ashiatsu technique taught at the Center for Barefoot Massage.