If you are a barefoot therapist who wears fingerless gloves to work in, I have a suggestion for you. Ditch them. If you need to wear gloves while you are doing one-footed strokes, you’re working too hard.

In fact, you really don’t need them for 2-footed strokes either. The truth is that if you need to protect your hands from blisters or calluses, you’re working too hard.

Some of you don’t use a strap-maybe you never learned with it, or maybe you never got into it.

I thought it got in the way a lot when I first started using it, so I understand not wanting to use it. But honestly, when I actually trusted the strap to hold me as I leaned back, I could let go of the bars. Those of you with short arms know what it’s like to try to lean back and hang on for dear life.

Using the strap is like having a new boyfriend. You have to learn to trust him.

There’s no doubt that fingerless gloves are better than they used to be. Back in the day (like 15 years ago!) you had 2 options–leather weightlifting gloves and cheapo dollar store knit gloves. The leather on the weightlifting gloves would get all crunchy if you got any cream or oil on them, which would blister your palms fast.

You’d cut the finger off the knit gloves so you’d have a little grip. But my hands would get so stinking sweaty so fast. And I’m not even a person who sweats much. I ditched the gloves.

How do you protect your hands, then?

Let go! Let go of your tight grip. If you are doing one footed strokes on someone who thinks your pressure is too heavy, you are either working on the wrong type of client OR you are holding your weight up in the bar.

Do the “How Do My Biceps Look” test. If they look great when you’re doing a one footed stroke, you are working too hard. Unless you’ve got awesome biceps all the time, your arms should look soft and squishyish. 

That means you’ve actually relaxed.

2 ways to protect your hands

1. Relax and shift your weight onto your stationary foot.

2. Lean back with your strap (that you’ll learn to love if you haven’t already) and loosen your grip on the bars.

If you currently wear gloves to do barefoot massage, try shifting your weight onto your non-working foot or leaning back into the strap. It may take a little practice to break the habit, but it’s worth it!

Share with anyone you know who needs to ditch the gloves!