I’ve said for years in class that learning the right amount of lubricant for Ashiatsu is really one of the trickier things to figure out. If you use lotion, it absorbs too quickly. Oil tends to be hard to reapply-I’ve felt it drip on my back from 3 feet up. Gross. And we’ve tested various massage creams too. Some are dry, some are more viscous.

So what’s the best Ashiatsu massage cream?

It’s really very individualized. We’ve found that some therapists want to stick with what they’ve been using for hands-on massage. Sometimes that works, sometimes not so much.

Too dry, and you’ll give your client a back waxing job that they didn’t come into to the office for. Too slick, and you’ll slide around like you’re on an ice rink in socks.

Here’s some of what I’ve tried in my barefoot massage over the past 15 years and my results (remember, you may have a different experience):

? Name brand, expensive “deep tissue” cream: too dry, and I felt like I got “stuck”.

? Aveda hand cream, brought by a client who was convinced she was allergic to above cream: my feet felt lovely afterward, but I spend half my time reapplying. Terrible for massage, but it felt great on my skin.

? Olive oil: used when I ran out of cream. Too sticky. Plus one client thought he smelled “like a salad” after the massage.

? Large company house brand: I liked it, but it had paraben. It worked well, but I didn’t want my feet stewing in paraben. Easy to reapply.

? Coconut oil, organic: couldn’t control the liquid vs. solid, and it depended on my room temperature.  Great price but it’s too messy for learning ashiatsu and virtually impossible to reapply well.

? Coconut oil, fractionated: too light. I do like it as a combo when my client is hirsute. I apply the oil first to go in between the hair onto the skin then use cream to slick down the hair. It is difficult to relubricate with oil, though.

Fractionated coconut oil has a long shelf life and no smell, and even those allergic to nuts can usually use it.

I do have one client (and I’ve heard of another therapist whose client has the same problem) who has some sort of reaction to the coconut oil after the massage. My client smelled “funky” and his wife would request that he showered when he got home. The other client smelled like vomit. Sooo…

? Lotion, any brand: too light, absorbs too quickly.

? Massage gel: has alcohol in it, dries up quickly on client’s body.

Ashiatsu cream we like to use…

? Pure Pro!

We’ve been working with Pure Pro’s Deep Tissue creme this year. The grip and sensation of a thick creme, without feeling thick or greasy to the client, is so surprising! Plus there’s not a silicone-like slip to contend with, making the control of our glide and grip *jussst* right!!

This deep tissue massage cream is excellent for frictioning, fascial and trigger point work, but it has enough of a glide that you won’t feel “stuck”. It’s great for dry skin and client’s who have extra hair on their bodies.

It’s nut free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan. Basically, it’s good for every client. And for you.

There are no parabens, formaldehyde & phenoxyethanol.

Plus, it’s American made by a massage therapist!

When you come to learn ashiatsu, we’ll use Pure Pro massage cream and even you’ll receive a coupon for a big fat discount so they can buy it after class. (Students if you haven’t gotten a coupon, check with your instructor.)

Quad work and neck ashiatsu shown above is taught in our 2-day Supine / Side-body, 24 CE hour massage class.

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