FUNdamentals

Some people call it Ashiatsu, or Barefoot massage or a combination of both. But Ashiatsu is just one form of barefoot massage where the massage therapist uses their feet to massage. If you are a MASSAGE THERAPIST, read our blog What is Ashiatsu Massage. If you are a MASSAGE CLIENT read, What is Ashiatsu Massage from Bull City Soles massage and bodywork studio. Both of these blogs give you an idea of what Ashiatsu is from a different point of view.

There is no weight limit for our Beginner, Intermediate and ROM level barefoot massage training. If you progress to the Advance level, then there is a strength and weight restriction. When you start using two feet for barefoot massage you have to take into account the clients weight, body build/structure before you start using your entire body weight on them. We recommend you only use two feet on clients that weigh 50-100 pounds more than you; thick, larger framed clients with dense muscles. Failing to do this and work on inappropriate body types leads to potential injuries for YOU and YOUR CLIENT.

Yes! It's not something that happens overnight and it depends on the sensitivity of your feet. If you are used to going barefoot often and wear minimalist shoes then you are going to have an advantage over someone that rarely engages their bare feet. They need to be strong and flexible and the sensitivity will come! A seasoned barefoot massage therapist can feel trigger points, muscle tension and palpate with their feet just as much as with their hands. Read our blog 'The Things Your Feet Can Do'.

Once you register for class and pay your minimum 50% retainer or pay in full, we hold a spot for you in class. If you need to cancel and move to another class date, you must do prior to 15 day befor the start of class and there will be a $75 rollover fee. Your retainer will be applied to another class with the same instructor. There are allowances for unusual circumstances, with proper documentation of injury, pregnancy, death in the immediate family or extreme weather(airports and highways closed) will be allowed to rollover retainer into another class. There are no refunds for courses attended, even if you fail to complete any portion of class for any reason. Go here for a more details about our cancellation policy.

Due to liability and safety issues, we do not allow any therapist to receive prone or supine work while expecting a baby. Receiving is a part of the class learning experience, so please wait until after the baby is born and you are fully healed to register for our classes at NC Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Training. If you have previous ashiatsu training, read our blog Barefoot and Pregnant for tips on doing barefoot massage while pregnant.

It depends on your setup. We will cover ashiatsu bar construction in class and go over most setups, even homemade ashiatsu bars. Our instructors have come across many scenarios over the years and we have tons of knowledge and resources to help you figure out how to get your barefoot massage bars up quickly and safely. You will also have access to barefoot bar construction info on our Tribe Membership site with the Center for Barefoot Massage. Even when your ashiatsu training is over we are here to help and want you to succeed!

Learning barefoot massage isn't for everyone! But if you are a licensed massage therapist, here are some questions you can answer to see if Ashiatsu barefoot massage might be a good fit for you. *If you have balance issues and are uncomfortable getting up on to and standing on a massage table then you should consider the floor based Fijian barefoot class. Fijian is not on our regular schedule but we have visiting instructors that will come in to teach a class if there is enough interest. Let us know if you would be interested in learning Fijian or keep an eye on our schedule for updates. You can also travel to another instructor to learn. The schedule in in the Fijian barefoot class link right above. *If you have a practice that is predominantly consists of clients that like a lighter pressure then learning barefoot massage may not be in your best interest. *Physical fitness can be a factor when learning barefoot massage. While it is easier on your body to use barefoot massage for deep tissue, myofascial massage or sports massage it can be difficult for someone to learn if they have tight hips, inflexible feet or knee issues. It just depends. Contact your instructor Julie Marciniak if you have any concerns before registering for our massage training. *If you are currently pregnant, trying to get pregnant, recently had breast/gluteal/calf implants and/or some select surgeries within the last 9 months, we can not allow you to take our barefoot massage training until you have had your baby and/or your body has completely healed. Part of the training consists of students working on each other and its a vital learning part of the class that shouldn't be overlooked. Safety AND quality workshops are important to us so it's not our intention to discriminate or discourage anyone from taking our ashiatsu massage training but we have to have standards to protect the public and honor the profession. If you have a specific issue and have concerns then please email me- julie@barefootmassagecenter.com so that we can discuss if barefoot massage training through the Center for Barefoot Massage would be appropriate for you.

Absolutely! Barefoot Massage is just learning how to add a new tool to your toolbelt. You can learn how to do trigger point, myofascial work and deep tissue with your feet and eventually figure out what tool, your hands or your feet, is appropriate for the goals of you sessions. Julie Marciniak, your instructor is an Advanced Rolfer® and has been Rolfing with her feet since 2008! Read more about her barefoot bodywork journey. NC Ashiatsu will also being offering the Clinical Tracks for barefoot massage therapists that want to specialize in treating pain. Our sister studio, Bull City Soles, is a barefoot massage and bodywork study that specializes in treating chronic pain.

There are many benefits to taking our barefoot massage training but the most common one is that it SAVES YOUR BODY! Massage can be hard on your body, especially if your clients continually ask for deeper pressure. What if you work on a lot of athletes? Click here to learn more about The top 5 benefits of ashiatsu massage training.