Category Archives: Pro tips

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Warm pillow for client comfort

In this Tuesday Toesday tip, we’ll show you how to add in a delightfully warm pillow to enhance your barefoot or hands-on massage. It’s perfect for the winter or even if you keep air conditioning running in your massage room year ’round.

Items needed (in addition to your massage table and all that jazz):

❀ an inexpensive heating pad. I actually like them better than the expensive, flexible ones for this trick.
❀ a standard pillowcase to cover the heating pad. Small is good.
❀ a king pillow (not a bolster) with a pillowcase on it. King is better than standard as even your sprawling clients will have support under their legs.
❀ a massage table heating pad, turned on

(The “how-to” video’s at the bottom of this post.)

Cover the heating pad with the standard case. You could use the one that comes with it, but you only get one and it will need to be washed if you stand on it. Fold the corners over like you’re wrapping a present so you know where the heating pad actually is (this prevents you from placing the pillow on what appears to be the heating pad but is actually just the pillowcase).

Place the heating pad on a stable surface-I use a stool with a folded blanket on top to protect the wood. I have also used a heat-resistant cutting board. It’s misplaced in a “safe place” right now, though.

You could use a chair or a table with something to protect it from the heat on it or even on top of a large hot towel cabi. Whatever you use, make sure the surface won’t get ruined with a hot heating pad on it.

Turn on the heating pad. I turn in on HIGH. When using one that has an actual temperature gauge, I set it to the 140°F’s to 150°F (60°C to 65.5°C. Make it too hot, and you’ll start dancing the Hot Foot Jig.

Place the pillow (in the pillowcase) on top of the heating pad. As it lies there, it’ll get super warm wherever the pillow is touching the heating pad.

When your client’s on the table, flip the pillow over so the heated side is UP, and slide it under your client’s legs. It’ll be super warm and feel amazing.

If you’re doing barefoot massage, put the heating pad on the floor and stand on it after you’ve cleaned your feet (I stand on it when I’m lubricating my client’s back). Your feet will be super cozy and warm when you start your barefoot massage. (You can see HERE how I keep my feet warm on even those days when I’m chilled to the bone.)

They can’t believe that you have even more magic feet than your amazing moves have shown thus far.

Do your massage thing.

When it’s time to flip the client over, pull out the pillow.

TURN IT OVER so the side that WAS down is now UP. Place it under your client’s legs.

More oohing and ahhing will commence.

You’re welcome. 😉

Who needs to have an awesome tip like this? Share this quick and easy, inexpensive tip to help them improve their massage!

 

 

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Before you sign up for our barefoot massage training

Jeni and Mary-Claire did a podcast earlier in the year with Allissa of Massage Business Blueprint entitled, “What to Know Before Taking a Massage CE Class” (episode 147). In it, we covered many important things to know before signing up for any massage class.

Today, I’m going to mention some specifically relating to our ashiatsu classes (we can go on and on ad nauseam on the subject in general.)  😉

Before you sign up for our barefoot massage class, understand basic yet important need-to-know items such as:

❀ What are your goals for learning barefoot massage? We don’t want you 2 feet deep into class before you realize that your client base (or target clientele) won’t want deep tissue barefoot massage. If you want to work (or do work already) on athletes or deep tissue clients, then perfect!

❀ Do you have health issues? Can you receive deep tissue compressive massage? You’ll be receiving a lot in our classes- 2 + hours for each of the 1st 2 days.

Topical allergies? Please let us know ahead of time. We don’t want you breaking out due to someone’s detergent or foot cleaner. 

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How to prepare for your next massage class or convention!

You’ve been saving up all year – stashing your tips, making the most of your work schedule so that you are prepared to take time to travel far and wide to that 3 day massage class, or 4 day massage convention that you have been SO excited about….

MAN THAT SOUNDS SO AWESOME! 3 days of receiving massage? A working vacation!??!

OK wait. This is the part not everyone thinks through all the way.

Your body is about to get weirded out for a few days, best prepare.

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Awesome scheduling software for solo therapists-getting started with Bodywork Buddy

While most of our instructors have employees, I (Mary-Claire) have steadfastly remained a solo therapist. There are a variety of reasons, but that’s the way I like it. As our team loves to share different ideas and products that we love, I HAD to let solo therapists know about the awesome scheduling software I’ve used for many years, Bodywork Buddy.

I like to think of myself as Bodywork Buddy’s (BWB) unofficial mascot since I truly love their services and praise the software to anyone who needs a scheduler.

To say that BWB is an online scheduler is true, but there’s SO. MUCH. MORE. I’ll cover some of the features today, but I have plenty to say about lots more, so we’ll add another blog post or three. Maybe more. Seriously, I love them that much.

In this series of post, I’ll start with the ease of use for both clients and the therapist and how to start setting it up.

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Why doing barefoot massage all day doesn’t wipe me out anymore

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.

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Self care-rolling your feet

Whether you are a barefoot massage therapist or one who simply stands all day at work, our Tuesday Toesday tip may help work out those crunchies in your tootsies! All it takes for feet self-care is a little hand weight that you may have sitting around at your house.

It’s important that your hand weight has rounded edges, otherwise, it won’t roll.

It’s easy like Sunday morning.

Simply sit somewhere comfortable (you can stand too, if that’s your preference) with your hand weight on the ground. Experiment with rolling different parts of your feet and see what kind of knots you may find there!

A caveat: if you haven’t been rolling your feet regularly, don’t watch an entire episode of something on Netflix or you may have trouble walking for a day or two. (Ask me how I know this. 😉 )

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Do your clients respect your time?

I have discovered recently that lot of massage therapists have problems with running on time in their business. It’s not because they simply can’t keep track of time during a massage (although that does happen sometimes), but rather that the clients seem to not respect the therapist’s time.

When you have a client who continually runs late, how does that affect you? We often try to give them the full time-they’re there to feel better, right? So you don’t want to stress them out by telling them that you’ll have to cut their time short.

You end up getting stressed out during the massage and spend your time thinking about how you won’t have enough time to eat or make notes before your next client. Then you end up rushing after you finish that session and barely have enough time to change out your linens and throw a couple bites of food in your mouth while you just happen to be in the bathroom.

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How to make more room for your feet during barefoot massage

Have you ever gotten really excited to see a new client walk into your massage office because they’re so big that they are going to be an AWESOME barefoot massage client? But then you have a moment of dismay because they are so big that you don’t have room for your feet on the table?

I’ve tried hanging on for dear life with little space for my toes. Why not do this?

  1. Because my gastrocs were screaming at me
  2. my feet were more prone to cramping (try working out a cramp with one foot while massaging with the other. I don’t recommend it.)
  3. and my hands, forearms, shoulders said an unpleasant hello to me the following day.

Today, we’re going to show you a super quick fix for how to make more room for your feet during barefoot massage when your client takes up most of the table.

Best of all, you already have the equipment you need: your short stool.

Your table is usually around 23″-24″ high, and your short stool is 24″. This is a perfect height to shimmy right up flush to your massage table.

I like to place it somewhere around my client’s hip / waist area so that I can easily access the legs, hips, and torso. Sometimes it takes a little finagling to figure out what’s the best place.

Do NOT compromise your body mechanics! If something feels “off” then change positions.

Because your pressure will be shifted into your client, your stool should be stable and not be wobbly at all.

Make sure you put your strap behind your back for safety, and if your stool feels unstable, get down and put it in a more stable position.

Remember that safety and good body mechanics are priorities.

Once you finish working on one side, simply step down, pick up your stool and replace it on the other side to rinse and repeat.

Sliding your feet into flip flops or stepping on a clean towel / yoga mat will keep your feet clean and free of debris so you don’t have to reclean them.

While all this rigamarole may feel like a huge gap in your massage, remember that your client hasn’t any other ashiatsu experience from you, so it will seem completely normal. And it really only takes a few moments to move you and your stool from one side of the table to the other.

Just make sure you smoothly get up and down off the stool and don’t jostle it about or, heaven forbid, whack him on the body with it. 😉

Let us know if you have any other scenarios you need help with by leaving a comment below!

And if you know of someone who could use this tip, make sure you pass it along.

Until next time, keep those toenails short and your feet nice and soft. 😀
And as usual, our class schedule can be found here.

 

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Barefoot Massage Open: Ashi-Challenge 1.5

It’s finally WEEK 5 of the Barefoot Massage Open ashi-challenge!  You’ve started a massage at the clients feet. You’ve used your non-dominant foot for 20 minutes straight. You’ve began a massage with them face up. You’ve done an ENTIRE MASSAGE APPOINTMENT in the side-lying position.  What now? What game changing difference can you POSSIBLY add to your barefoot massages?

Patience, Padawan. Read on to find out.

I think you’ve shown yourself to be tough enough to challenge the way you massage over the last 4 weeks. I’m sure asking yourself “but why?” in every move you make is becoming more second nature.  Just you wait…. there’s SO.MUCH.MORE.

The goal all along has been for you to get out of your little shell and try something NEW. Our main focus with FasciAshi is for you to make this ashiatsu intuitive, but also educated. Your inner wisdom shines through when you are able to contemplate WHY or HOW your massage strokes work, and then put that $#!+ into action!

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Barefoot Massage Open: Ashi-Challenge 1.4

Massage Challenge, WEEK 4. Have you been keeping up with our first annual Barefoot Massage Open, a weekly massage challenge for ashiatsu therapists?! You got this, we’re over half way through. This week WILL make or break you, though. Are you still tough enough to continue to challenge the way you massage!? Are you questioning WHY you do what you do during each massage?  Do or do not, there is no try: and this time there is no crying back to your mom, either – cuz the Week #4 challenge ain’t your momma’s ashiatsu!!!

Last week you started your massages with the client face up. How was it?! Are you feeling more confident in your work?

Just wait till you do a week of what we are about to put you up to. You will be hard-core after this. If you aren’t yet trained in ashiatsu strokes that pertain to this weeks challenge – then use your hands. (And go take the Intermediate FasciAshi class already! You are missing out!)

BAREFOOT MASSAGE OPEN: FIVE WEEKS – FEB. 22-MARCH 26

1.1- Feb. 22-26 Start the massage at the clients feet #FeetFirst #AshiChallenge1point1

1.2- March 1-5 Use your Non-Dominant Foot for 20 consecutive minutes #GoofyFoot #AshiChallenge1point2

1.3- March 8-12 Start with your client FACE UP! #GameFace #AshiChallenge1point3

1.4- March 15-19 Scroll down to see this weeks challenge! #NotYourMommasAshi #AshiChallenge1point4

1.5- March 22-26