To give your client a safe, comfortable and effective barefoot massage, it’s important to support them with specific bolstering for Ashiatsu where needed. We do this in many unique ways, from how we use a flat pillow for ankle and knee support while prone or supine, to what tools we use to position their body to best absorb and distribute gravitational forces and our weight.

Bolster #1: The Boob Pillow.

The purpose of a breast support pillow, when it comes to Ashiatsu, is to position “the girls” while supporting the sternum, clavicle, ribs and cervical spine when under pressure. Keep in mind that the table below the client is resisting your weight, and pushes back into the client’s body.

This “Oreo” of pressure coming from above and below your female client’s torso can translate into suffocating force in the chest, or a position of their head and neck that adds compression to the throat.  Having a cushion helps your client maintain thoracic, cervical and shoulder alignment so that she may comfortably absorb the pressure applied by your feet. Keep in mind that the breast recesses built into massage tables don’t always work well with Ashiatsu because the table is still there to push back on the throat – so give the girls some lift, and put an added level of padding underneath!

Here’s a video that shows you how to make your own breast support pillow with easy to find supplies to keep your cost under $20. You can also watch that video here! Earthlite, NRG, Body Cushions, and other massage equipment manufacturers in the industry have fabulous pre-packaged and ready to buy products that range in style and price, check to see whats right for you and your client!

Bolster #2: Face Cradles.

A face cradle and it’s cushion can make or break your massage: for real.  So, we recommend upgrading your cushion to something with more padding. The firm but squishy memory foam cushions are always nice, and they feel much better than the standard face pillow filled with stiff material. The Boiance from Oakworks is a favorite in the Ashi community because of it’s fluidity under pressure.

The platform that the pillow sits on is something to consider changing, too. Double action adjusters will change the height and pitch of the angle that their head rests at – which is much more ergonomic and alignment-friendly than the old school wooden platforms that don’t budge. Earthlite’s Flexrest platform has a forehead “mind melder” (as I call it) that moves as pressure is routed through the C-spine, and it bends its cheekbone supports out of the way, allowing for the clients head to move organically. Every massage table manufacturer has their own line of face cradle platforms and cushions, so be sure to check out what works with the table you already have. (If you are ready to upgrade to a new Ashiatsu massage table, read this post!)

Pro Tip:

Use the Boiance Face Cushion and it’s matching “Float” booster seat to support the clients head and maintain a straight spine while in the sidelying position: Click Here to see Julie explain this!

Bolster #3: Shoulder Holders.

Massaging the rotator cuff and scapular attachments in a variety of positions while the client remains in a passive position can be tricky for tight shoulders. You can’t always use your foot as a bolster, like we do in class, so in real-life, try using Flax Seed pillows from Mother Earth and cuddle it under their acromion process to decrease the strain on the joint- or place it in the space between the upper arm and the table to support the weight of the arm- and that should help your client rest into a handcuff position comfortably.

Bolster #4: Hard Yoga Cushions.

We use this whenever the client is in a sidelying position. Of course you could use soft pillows, but you’ll need more of them, and often times the client falls out of alignment when it’s bolstering is squishy. The firm, flat resistance that these standard yoga bolsters provide to your client will help you keep their hips “stacked” and the lateral line of their torso accessible to your foot.

There’s more bolstering props that we utilize in our FasciAshi barefoot massages: I’ll do a Bolster Booster post in the future with more tips and tricks, but I’ll leave you with these ideas to try for now! (BONUS: if you are a FasciAshi Alumni in our Facebook Group, I shared a link in there to a cool new bolster product that I found special for you!)

As of 2022, the Center for Barefoot Massage has chosen to no longer serve as a direct vendor with Earthlite, and we will not be taking orders moving forward. You can order directly through Earthlite, Massage Warehouse, and even Amazon. Check with your massage association(s) to see if you qualify for a discount through them, and follow their process for ordering at their reduced rate.