On Wednesday, I wrote about the deliciousness of using heat during a massage. Because of the multitude of benefits that the combination of heat and massage can provide, instructor Sara Newberry and I  (Mary-Claire Fredette) teamed together to create the world’s first…

Hot Ashi!

It’s a combination of heated Mother Earth Pillows and, you guessed it, barefoot massage! It’s first in our specialty class lineup.

A little history on how this came about…

I’ve been doing barefoot massage since 2002. The trouble is that my hands and feet were always cold after washing them. A heating pad has been my feet’s friend since about Day 1. When I learned “thermal connective tissue release” Pillossage with Mother Earth founder Karen Kowal back in 2011, I knew I had found the answer to my cold hands.

Sara had taken Pillossage in 2014 and started using it in her multi-therapist location. Sara’s background and training in nervous system centered bodywork informed her use of heat and how her staff implemented these tools in their sessions. Before Karen retired, she and Jason Erikson of Dermoneuromodulation (DNM) teamed to create Hot DNM. Karen and Jason created a 1-time instructor training for Hot DNM to just 6 people, one of whom was Sara, and it was her who got the permission and blessing from Karen to create a Barefoot Massage adaptation of the work! (Karen was even one of our test-receivers underfoot to feel the new ideas and gave us some great feedback and pointers.)

Using heat of Hot Ashi to create additional movement in the shoulder girdle.

I had been wanting to create a Hot Ashi class, a combination of barefoot massage and heated pillows, for many years, as I had been using the heated Mother Earth Pillows in my barefoot massage practice for some time. Sara had been doing the same and she now had the extensive training, blessing and go-ahead from Karen Kowal, so it was a perfect combination.

The rest, as they say, is history: the world’s first Hot Ashi Barefoot Massage.?

Why Mother Earth Pillows

Flax is preferred over other mediums (such as rice, corn, etc.)  because the oil of the seed holds the heat for a longer and consistent temperature. We recommend and use Mother Earth Pillows in class because their flax is not only grown in the Northern US, but it’s high quality. Their pillows last for years, and they are consistent from order to order.

The Flax grown for Mother Earth Pillows® is cleaned, food-quality-grade that contain 30-40% oil.  When warmed or chilled, these little gold seeds hold HOT or COLD temperature better than brown flax or any other pillow fill.  The fresh scent of Golden Flax blends beautifully with our delicate herbal blends.

Flax seeds move in our pillows to conform to all contours of your body.  These seeds also provide a therapeutic weight that provides compression and acupressure over tender areas.  The thermal effects and weight will help increase circulation and help improve lymphatic efficiency and provide pain management and comfort.”

And now, getting 2 feet deep into class details…

Sara’s using our strap for balance, and the pillows for heat and joint movement. (Also, don’t hold on to your strap like this, LOL.)

✓ Hot Ashi barefoot massage training is a 1 day, 8 CE course.
✓ The cost of this barefoot massage training is $250 (March, 2022).
✓ Pre-requisite: therapists MUST be certified in Fundamentals.

✓ All Mother Earth Pillows and hot towel cabinet supplies will be provided for your use in class.
✓ Currently, Hot Ashi is offered in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Dallas and Colorado Springs with other locations coming soon!

✓ Instructors may have Mother Earth Pillows available for purchase.

✓ YOU can set up a wholesale account with Mother Earth Pillows to create an additional revenue stream at your business: Your clients will love these hot pillows that you use in the sessions, as an alumni on this class you’ll get special rates and the option to resale them. Woohoo!

What you’ll learn

✓ The benefits of using heat
✓ Contraindications with medications (there are a LOT!)

✓ Care and use of flaxseed pillows
✓ How to work with the heated pillows

✓ Shearing versus compression
✓ How to use pressure appropriately through the pillows
✓ How amazing it feels

Rave Reviews

Pure Magic

“Adding Mother Earth Pillows to barefoot massage was pure magic. The heat and weight of the pillows is both nurturing and sedating. The effects of the heat add a dreamy, melty, factor that my often butt kickin’ therapeutic work can overlook. The pillows add much value to a barefoot session. I would use this on anxious clients, clients not wanting to disrobe, or as a pre-ashi tissue warm up. I cannot wait to add this to my menu, and my practice.”

-Katie, LMT

Divine Experience

“When I was receiving, the addition of the pillows during my session not only helped ease my low back discomfort but also made me feel calm and relaxed. The combination of Ashiatsu with the warm Mother Earth Pillows was definitely a divine experience!”

-Ashley Shears

Perfect amount of quality oomph

“What I appreciated most about using Mother Earth pillows was the extra allowance of client’s comfort and ease of moving back to their natural rhythm and structural flow. It made the effectiveness of barefoot massage all the more effective and beneficial. Living in Oregon especially during the winter seems like something is missing now when I don’t use a heated flax pillow.

It adds the perfect amount of quality oomph to make an amazing massage even better. I use with almost every session. “

-Sarah Tumpane

Click on the photo to sign up for class!

Look for “Relax Track”. Once you hit it, it’ll say “Hot Ashi”.

Who wants to receive Hot Ashi?

We do! Your clients do, too. ?

It’s just a 1-day commitment to improving your career!