Jeni and I have been featured on Massage Business Blueprint’s podcast with the subject being “What you need to know before you take a CE class.” In the interview, we discuss our history into how we became massage therapists and forayed into the careers we have now.
We also go over various points of our experience in having taught for so many years and what therapists should expect before even signing up for a class.
Sadly, because the podcast is only 34 minutes and not a lot longer, we had a lot of points that we wanted to cover but weren’t able to get to. That’s ok, though, because we’ll save those for another blog post.
We’ve got the podcast link below the video. Oh, and feel free to make fun of my ninja skills. ?
We are already 2 weeks into the first annual Barefoot Massage Open, a weekly massage challenge for ashiatsu therapists – and we’re about to step into WEEK 3! Are you feeling tough enough continue to challenge the way you massage!? Are you questioning WHY you do what you do during each massage? Put your game face on, cuz your massage game is about to get REAL up in week 3!
Last week we pushed you to use your non-dominant foot continuously for 20 minutes. How did it go?! Are you feeling a little more ambidextrous?
This week we do what your massage instructors have been telling you to do ALL. ALONG. The thing you’ve been afraid to do ALL. THIS. TIME.
Be like Nike: Just Do it.
If you aren’t yet trained in ashiatsu strokes that pertain to this weeks challenge – then use your hands.
BAREFOOT MASSAGE OPEN: FIVE WEEKS – FEB. 22-MARCH 26
Strange title, right? Why would we tell you to not take our ashiatsu certification training when we obviously want people to take our classes? While this may come across as a little snarky, it’s not meant to be–it’s honest insight on if you’ll be a good fit for our barefoot massage workshops.
We are not for everyone. Craniosacral is not the best massage for the client who wants deep tissue and barefoot massage is over the top for clients who are petite or want a feather touch.
There’s a fair amount of competition for barefoot massage certification training.
You can learn online with some companies. Maybe you think you can figure it out from YouTube videos with no formal training at all. Or find an old DVD on the topic.
Are you tough enough to challenge the way you massage? Can you question the way you think about WHY you do what you do during each massage? Step up to our 5 week massage challenge that will change your massage game.
Last week we had you start at the clients feet and see how that changes your perspective. How did it go?!
This week gives a shout out to the surfers who lead with the “wrong” foot. Once upon a time, a Disney artist drew Goofy surfing with a different than usual foot forward, and it’s been coined as a common phrase in any board sport like surfing, snowboarding or skateboarding.
The goal is for you to try something new within your massages, contemplate WHY or HOW it works, and then market that aspect to your online community. You are marketing to potential customers, not the massage crowd, so the hidden bonus for you is that over the remaining 4 weeks you can generate new content aimed at your target market with a renewed appreciation for how you do what you do, based on the direct feedback of your existing clients.
BAREFOOT MASSAGE OPEN: FIVE WEEKS – FEB. 22-MARCH 26
Today’s Wow Wednesday testimonial features Deb Fukano, a fantastic massage therapist of 18 years! She originally learned barefoot massage about 10 years ago and came into our FasciAshi class to learn new moves and invigorate her career.
She raves:
The more I do the new ashi the more I’m hooked. Love the strap! The slowness is what I love the most. Before it felt like I had to fit all the foot sequence in.
I felt stiff and not myself.
I’m seeing why 90 minutes is needed–it’s 60 before I turn over my client! I’m one very excited therapist. ↬ Deb
Take a peek at her video. We love the excitement that just exudes from her. To find a massage therapist who’s this stoked after 18 years of massage is really a treat.
Thanks, Deb!
Your enthusiasm for barefoot massage is inspiring.
Are you tough enough to challenge the way you massage? Can you question the way you think about WHY you do what you do during each massage? Step up to our 5 week massage challenge that will change your massage game.
To coincide with the Crossfit Open, a 5 week long worldwide online challenge with a different workout every week, I thought we’d do one of our own!!! Whether you massage with your feet or not, whether you know FasciAshi or not, it doesn’t matter: this Ashi-Challenge is open to every massage therapist! Shake things up, push yourself and try to incorporate the challenge into whatever massage you have on the books – lets see what happens.
As I mentioned in our last blog post, our Tuesday Toesday tips aren’t usually rocket science. Sometimes they are easy fixes that just take us a heck of a long time to figure out for some reason. Today’s tip for scooting the client up is one of those — super easy but with big results.
Although I am normal height (5’5″), my legs are short. So for years when I tried to do seated anterior neck, shoulder, and pec work, I’d get myself into some bad body mechanics.
The client was all cozy on the massage table like they were in bed for the night, far away from the head of the table.
Since I couldn’t reach their neck our shoulders well, I’d try a variety of, shall we say, interesting positions.
Perhaps you’ve tried these too:
scooting the stool forward so you can reach the client’s neck and therefore giving yourself no back support.
leaving the stool nestled by the wall and keeping your back there but scooting your rear end forward, giving you no lower back support.
tilting your stool forward, praying that it doesn’t tip over and thrusting you on your client’s head!
hunched like Quasimoto with a foot on the floor and the other foot on your client and using no stool
Once you’ve learned barefoot massage and have practiced, sometimes the biggest challenge is how the heck you get your clients to try it. Let’s talk about the transition to ashiatsu barefoot massage.
The question recently came up in our FB alumni group, so we thought this might be a question that others have as well.
First off, you must practice and accept feedback from non-paying clients about your newfound barefoot skills. Why non-paying? Because if you are fantastic at hands-on massage but only mediocre, at best, from having recently learned ashiatsu, your clients will not love your new skills.
They’ll say, “Thanks, but I’ll stick with what I know and love” or some similar jargon that will deflate you and make you wonder what you’re doing wrong.
I have been an Ashiatsu instructor for almost ten years, and many types of massage therapists have come through my training studio. A few newbies fresh out of school and some seasoned massage therapists that been in the field for several years. But learning ashiatsu can level the playing field when it comes to length of experience for many massage therapists.
Unlike other massage CEUs massage therapists take to when they get out of school, we’re not only learning massage theory; we’re learning to use different TOOLS altogether: the FEET!
I’ve found three things make a great Ashiatsu therapist. Talent, Practice, and Passion. These are the words of a great visionary and architect, Frank Lloyd Wright,
If you are already massaging with your feet, you’ve probably spoken with clients who perceive “Barefoot Massage” to be some kind of foot massage, like reflexology.
“Oh I LOVVVE to get my feet rubbed” is one of the top responses I get when I introduce myself as a Barefoot Massage Therapist.
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