Deep Tissue Massage Therapy Classes

One of the most popular requests at day spas and clinics is deep tissue massage. Unfortunately for massage therapists, performing that style of massage can often cause damage to the wrists, shoulders and low back, especially when doing high volume massage.

The average career lifespan of a massage therapist is only 5 years. That's one of reasons our team of barefoot ashiatsu instructors love to offer our style of deep tissue massage therapy classes. Gravity assists in creating deeper work for the client, and the therapist can take full advantage of that.

Thai yoga massage training, however, is not the same thing. Oftentimes, clients get Thai massage, shiatsu massage and Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy (now known as Deepfeet Bar Therapy) confused.

Thai yoga massage is traditionally performed on a floor mat with the client's head turned to the side. Wrist issues are commonplace for the Thai massage therapist as they use their wrists at a 90 degree angle to apply palm pressure.

Our Ashi Thai massage class is a perfect way for the massage therapist to use his or her leg strength to perform stretches and compression.

Both Chinese and Japanese cultures are known for their shiatsu massage. This style is also, like Thai yoga massage, done through clothing. The practitioner uses some kind of support if using her or his feet--it could be a chair or some kind of parallel bars, for instance. Unfortunately, the use of parallel bars creates shoulder issues for the therapist over time.  Shiatsu massage can also be performed with the therapist's fingers working specifically through clothing.

Deepfeet Bar Therapy (AshiatsuOriental Bar Therapy) is performed with the therapist's nimble feet skating on the client's body. The client lies comfortably on a massage table, and the therapist uses overhead parallel bars for support and balance. Those therapists who may be concerned about absorbing some for the client's negative energy during hands on massage can rest assured that now, 5 feet or more above the client's body, it's not an issue.

This style of barefoot massage is a wonderful alternative for those who perform deep tissue massage.It's comfortable for the therapist to give and for the client to receive as well.

Deep tissue massage therapy classes, Ashiatsu style, can be found in Cincinnati at www.ashiatsuworkshops.com. You can find classes nationwide at www.deepfeet.com, as well as a list of certified graduates there.

Learning Through Teaching Barefoot Massage

In the summer of 2002, I read a long article in Massage Therapy Journal about Ruthie Hardee and Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy (now Deepfeet Bar Therapy). I wanted it, needed to do it. In September of that year, I flew to Houston and took the class that saved my career.

The class physically was very demanding. Exhausted on day 2 of 3 and having my feet not do what my brain told me them to do, I cried. I was so frustrated, because I HAD to do it right. When I got home, I took all of my guest client's feedback to heart and fixed everything they said needed to be improved upon. But that wasn't the end of my barefoot massage training.

One might think that how good I am now at Ashiatsu is a direct result of class. Well yes, of course, class was the foundation.

But what I have really learned has come from my students and from the other Deepfeet Bar Therapy instructors.

As with many processes/procedures/modalities, we can often perfect our skills by learning what not to do, from seeing others' clumsy mistakes. I will be the first to tell anyone that I have made a ton of mistakes from doing ashi. I've almost fallen off the table, whacked a person's head with my leg/foot, and once even sat on a client's hair. (Seriously). I am less likely to tell you how good I am, which makes my husband crazy. Because, according to my clients, I'm amazing. Um, yeah, ok, thanks...I think.

Where I've gotten is actually more the result of teaching, observing, feeling the strokes of other therapists while they do deepfeet therapy.We instructors receive the barefoot massage from our students on the 2nd day of training as some look just awful when they work but are actually quite smooth and others may look fabulous but be off thismuch.

Do I walk on the table like that? Does it shift when I walk??? Oh, man, are MY feet that rough? Am my strokes even when I work? I have learned how important it is to have warm feet and to not touch the client's ribcage with "refreshing" toes. How to be careful when draping a new client, how to remember that my hands-on approach is just as important as my feet on. Each one of these tidbits have been a process as I've traveled through my teaching career.

And some of the students are so graceful that I'm in awe. Do I approach my client with such skill? Is my pace that even and perfectly slow?

Probably last year, after giving barefoot massage to my clients for 10 years and having taught for 8, I finally admitted outloud that I'm good. Not in a boastful way, just matter of fact, because truthfully, I am very humble. According to my husband, too much so. So I finally admitted I was good. And then I started really observing the other instructors.

And let me tell you, our team of Barefoot Bar Therapist Instructors are TOP NOTCH when they work. I don't mean good, I mean AMAZING. Sometimes I think, man, maybe really I stink compared to them!

One was my student.  Others I have trained on their path to becoming instructors. Some I've seen give massage, and from others I have received barefoot work.  One was a competive figure skater in a past life, another a dancer. Others do yoga.  We come from all walks of life, yet all share the same passion, which is the barefoot massage that we teach.

To see this team of women teach, to observe them give Ashiatsu barefoot massage, is to truly learn from the masters. If you ever want to improve your barefoot massage skills, schedule an appointment with one of these amazing massage therapists. You'll probably learn a thing or two.

You can find out more about our nationwide classes and our talented team of instructors at www.deepfeet.com.

My class information in Cincinnati is www.AffinityMassages.com.

 

The new BarefootBars -- my thoughts!

It just so happens that I have a brand new set of Ashiatsu BarefootBars, created by founder of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy Ruthie Hardee. Because my husband and I are taking over a ton of responsibility with our headquarters, we are responsible for doing some new advertising campaigns, complete with new photos.

It also just so conveniently happens that we also own a photography business. Knowing the Ashiatsu inside and out is a perfect melding of skills for our bar photos.

I actually own 4 other sets of portable bars, which are quite a bit different from the new ones. My original set was purchased in 2002, right after I took Ruthie's class. They were $1000 plus shipping back then, and I also purchased a ski bag to go with them ($150 back then). These bars weighed in at about 75 pounds and completely broke down. They attached to a Golden Ratio portable table specifically designed for barefoot work and the bars. When pressed for time, I can get a set up in 15 minutes and down in about 10 minutes, but it takes probably 15 minutes to figure out how to get them back into the bag!

Back to the new bars. To the inexperienced eye, they would appear the same. Essentially, they are the same form, but wonderful improvements have been incorporated to this design.

Firstly, they are heavier, and made of maple. They are gorgeous! The arches don't come apart like my older sets, which make them sturdier. 4 additional crossbars attach to the primary crossbars, securing the massage table legs quite firmly. (The previous designs required the therapist to have a table designed to go with the bars, and bolts went through the massage table legs to stablize it to the bars).

Dowel rods run across the arches and over the massage table, inserting in holes at the top of the arches. New custom designed bolts can currently be tightened with the included T-handle (although that design may be tweaked even further as some people over tighten the bolts). This smooth design lends itself to simplicity and a clean line.
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The first time Paul (my long suffering spouse) and I put the bars together, we followed the directions. Unfortunately, the directions aren't completely done, which was also part of our mission the day we set up, taking installation photos, do's and don'ts. So we fumbled a tad but got it done just fine.

Because I was scheduled to do an Ashiatsu / Ashi-Thai demonstration for the northern Kentucky AMTA convention last night, I decided to take the new bars with me. Never mind that I had never actually put them up by myself...

They were already set up in my office, so my first job was to take them down, which I had not done before. I learned some valuable tips with doing things in perhaps not the right order. It took 20 minutes and 47 seconds to take the bars down and place them in the bags. (Yes, I timed myself to keep myself honest!). This included having to run upstairs and get the 2 bags which were hanging on hangers from the photo shoot.

The great thing about these new bars is that they attach securely to almost any 32" portable table. I had taken my old Golden Ratio 42 lb table, and I was quite relieved to not have to lug it inside for the demo. The school lab where I was presenting had all electric lift tables and just ONE portable table stashed away in closet. Last night, I used a Blue Ridge table, and it secured well to the bars.

Usually, tile floors are a menace when using the portables. Last night, I had no troubles with the new set sliding at all, and they remained stable with no negative sway during both my Ashi-Thai and Ashiatsu barefoot massage demonstrations.

My verdict: the new bars are fabulous. They are solid maple throughout the main construction (the arches are layered wood). The only downsides I can see in comparison to my old bars are: they are super heavy. I didn't weigh them, but my guess is at least 80 lbs without the arches (although this weight makes them sturdy, they are heavy to carry). I also really loved that the old bars broke down completely and fit (very) snugly into a wheeled ski bag. These bars need 2 bags, one which is custom designed, and the other a massage table bag. This disadvantage really only comes into play when transporting/carrying them and also for storing if you don't have a lot of room. Again, though, this design makes them much sturdier.

The new long bag for the bars is deep purple with "I love ashi" on the side as well as some cute foot prints. A second bag insert is a perfect storage space for the cross bars.

Many will balk at the new price that comes along with the new design. Having used the bars, I can tell you that they are worth every penny--if you scrimp and try to make your own, you will probably look like you are doing massage while holding onto a swing set. It's like buying an Mercedes versus a Kia (and I can say that as I've driven Mercedes and own a Kia). Both may do the job, but one is built for comfort, safety, pleasure and longevity.

Barefoot Massage Training

Don't be fooled by people who offer barefoot massage training if they've learned it from a DVD or on the internet.

The founder of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy spent years perfecting and studying the work in order to make it safe for massage therapists to apply barefoot compression and effleurage to a client. In those years of research, she meticulously logged the style of application, contraindications of each client, the results afterwards and how long they lasted.

Barefoot ashiatsu massage is NOT for everyone. If anyone says something like (and I have seen this in print) "any old fatty can do it"--they are a liability to the modality and massage in general.

In order to properly perform any style of barefoot massage, one must be flexible, potentially strong if need be (in order to lift some weight off a client if need be) and intuitive. The barefoot therapist must have a working knowledge of anatomy and contraindications.

Clients don't alway understand the ramifications of deep tissue massage. Don't take a barefoot massage training class or get a massage from someone without in depth knowledge of the effects that barefoot compression can provide.

All of the instructors for Ashiatsu BarefootBar Therapy have studied for a long time and worked on 1000s of clients in order to perfect their teaching and application of barefoot massage.

Please check out www.Ashiatsuworkshops.com for more information about the deep tissue massage modality.

Ashiatsu barefoot massage portable bars photo

As an Ashiatsu instructor as well as a photographer and now the chief mucky muck at the Ashiatsu Midwest Regional office, I was pleased to be able to do a photo shoot for a modality that I love and teach.

The Hardee Ashiatsu Portable Bars are better than ever. Super sturdy and beautifully constructed, they are a perfect choice for the barefoot therapist on the go. Although they are definitely not appropriate for house calls simply due to their weight and girth, they are perfect for sporting events, health fairs, etc.

 

 

For information about the portable bars, go to www.deepfeet.com. I have my ashiatsu barefoot massage class schedule at www.AshiatsuWorkshops.com.



Ashiatsu class testimonial

Here's a short and sweet testimonial about our Ashiatsu Barefoot Bar class this last weekend:

Also thanks again for an awesome class...you were a great instructor and I can't wait to begin Ashiatsu on my clients.

Thanks,
Melinda Shaffer

Details for upcoming ashiatsu barefoot massage classes in Cincinnati can be found at www.ashiatsuworkshops.com. I have a couple of spaces available in my Barefoot Massage Basics class this November.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2 teaching barefoot massage

One of the things that is wonderful about teaching barefoot bar massage is that we have small classes. This weekend we have just 5 therapists learning the art of ashiatsu massage.

The instructor is able to spend quality time with each student. We do each stroke on each student so that the therapist on the table can give feedback to the one working.

We also bring in guest clients for the students to work on during the 3rd day of Ashiatsu bar massage class. They get real life experience on men who have received a lot of barefoot massage and who give excellent feedback.

Don't think you can learn ashiatsu barefoot massage work from a manual, a DVD or on YouTube. Our students report that working on eachother, the instructor and the guest clients is their favorite part of class.

I do have space available in my next Ashiatsu bar therapy workshop class in November. You can find more information or sign up online at www.AshiatsuWorkshops.com.