Pretty much everyone knows that the career-span of a massage therapist is not great. Some sources say 3-5 years, others say 4-6. We burn out and/or hurt ourselves. Then we typically do one of 5 things:

1. quit

2. do massage part time and another job full time

3. specialize in “lighter” work

4. teach

5. learn barefoot massage so we can do deeper work.

3.5 years into doing traditional hands-on massage, I had the usual complaints-mine were pain in my left wrist and tendonitis in my right elbow.

Years earlier, I had actually climbed up onto a table and placed my knees in a client’s bum and proceeded to actually massage with my hands all over her back. Yup. That’s not a “thing”. That’s a bit weird. (She did love it, though!)

When I found a barefoot massage, that was my “aha!” moment.

So barefoot massage was my gig for a very long time. Because I tend to be a rule follower, I did the moves I was taught. If I couldn’t work a muscle a way that I needed to, I’d invent something else.

But that style of barefoot massage was more about the effleurage, and it wasn’t specific. So while I was saving my hands and I wasn’t sore after working all day, I was tired. Because essentially, it was almost like exercising (albeit slowly) all day.

I realized a strange thing the other day. I am 16 years older than when I first learned barefoot massage, and yet I’m not tired after working all day. Yesterday, I did a 2.5 hour massage and 2-1 hour massages immediately afterwards. I’ve not been paying close attention to my schedule lately, and I’ve discovered that – whoops!- I have accidentally scheduled myself for 6 or more hours of massage on plenty of days.

This used to fill me with dread the morning of my busy day because while I do love my clients and the work, I knew I’d come home from work a unit.

Perhaps I’m a slow learner. We have lots going on in our business, so I do work a lot and have a family life. I’m sleeping less.

But I’m not tired after a full day of barefoot massage work.

As you know, during massage, you often have a long time to think. And when the realization popped into my head that I wasn’t tired in the evenings, I had to examine it.

Exercise is the same.

I have not changed my diet.

I don’t sleep enough.

Here’s what I believe it’s boiled down to that I’ve changed over the years.

1. the use of the strap allows me to lean back more easily without gripping onto my bars. Therefore, I’m not straining my upper back/shoulders or forearms.

2. the use of an adjustable strap allows me to lengthen it and sit on it as needed, so I can sink with one or 2 feet more easily into areas that were harder to access via prone or supine positioning.

3. sinking and spending time hanging out. I’m not moving, per se, all the time. I’m chilling out with a virtual mimosa and watching the sun set.

4. using a cream holster instead of plopping it on my arm has reduced the amount of cream I seem to get on my hands. Cream on your hands ends up on the bars, the bars get slippery, and you have to hold on tighter. This makes your forearms tired.

If you’re tired after a long day of massaging with your feet, examine what you’re doing. You may find something you can tweak (in a good way) that will help you feel better after a full day of massage.

One last tip: remember your contraindications, performing ashiatsu only on those who are big and healthy enough. Holding your weight up as you work is something you don’t want to be in the habit of either.

How do you feel after 6 hours of doing massage?