Why Intermediate Ashiatsu Training Is a Must for Barefoot Massage Therapists

If you've already completed your Fundamentals training (or another basic barefoot massage training) and are getting great results with barefoot massage, the Intermediate Ashiatsu course is your next step toward mastery.

This two-day, 16 CEU massage continuing education workshop is more than just a training—it's a transformation.

What You'll Learn in Intermediate Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Training

This class expands your toolbox with supine and sidelying techniques—positions that allow you to access the neck, chest, arms, obliques, psoas, quadratus lumborum (QL), and more. These strokes are essential for treating stubborn mid-back pain, chronic hip issues, shoulder dysfunction, and the kinds of fascial restrictions that don't release well from prone.

Here's what you'll walk away with:

• Targeted myofascial work from all angles—including detailed work in side-lying and supine positions

• Mastery of the FasciAshi strap for leveraging pressure without strain

• Specific strokes for the adductors, hip rotators, and even the deep core muscles like psoas and iliacus

• Tools to customize pressure, conserve your energy, and offer therapeutic barefoot bodywork clients didn't even know they needed.

Why This Matters:

Real Talk from the Treatment Room

Just this week, a long-time Bull City Soles client shared something that stuck with me. She’s seen three different therapists trained through our studio—many of whom had taken the Intermediate course—but said, “I’ve never had side-lying work here.”

That moment hit hard.

It made me realize how often massage therapists—even those with solid barefoot training—default to working only in prone or supine positions. We get comfortable. We stick with what we know. And before long, it becomes a habit to avoid venturing into side-lying, not because we don’t value it, but because it feels unfamiliar, awkward, or secondary.

But side-lying isn’t a backup plan. It’s a powerful, underused tool that can open up a completely different therapeutic experience. It offers better access to lateral structures, supports clients with mobility or breathing challenges, and creates space for working intensely without compressing sensitive areas.

And yet... It’s often skipped even when it’s been taught.

That’s a missed opportunity—not just for the therapist’s growth, but for the client’s healing.

As massage therapists, we owe it to ourselves—and the people on our tables—to keep refining, evolving, and using the full range of skills available to us. That includes embracing positions and techniques that challenge us, especially when they have the potential to shift someone’s pain pattern or mobility completely.

The Side-lying position is a secret weapon for dealing with numerous issues. If your client is dealing with:

• Chronic low back pain

  
  

• Mid-back tightness

  
  

• Limited hip mobility

  
  

• Tension in the neck and shoulders

...then sidelying work should be part of your go-to strategy.

Build Confidence in Advanced Techniques

During this barefoot massage CEU workshop, you'll give AND receive bodywork from your peers, observe demonstrations from the instructor, practice on a student clinic client with instructor feedback, , and gain access to videos post-class through the CBM alumni portal.

If you've already taken the Intermediate class and want a refresher, we offer refresher opportunities to help you get back into the flow and sharpen your skills.

Bottom Line

This class is for massage therapists ready to take their barefoot work—and their career—to the next level. It's for the therapist who's ready to break out of the prone-only routine and develop a more sophisticated, anatomically informed approach to treating pain.

If you're ready to go beyond the basics, join us for our next Intermediate barefoot massage class in Durham, NC. Classes are limited to 8 students and often fill quickly—visit ncashiatsu.com to view upcoming dates and secure your spot.

Already taken Intermediate but need a refresher? Reach out about review options or sign up for a future refresher day.

Prerequisites for Intermediate Barefoot Massage

To enroll, you must have completed:

• FasciAshi Fundamentals, or

• Another live, in-person barefoot massage training that awarded at least 16 NCBTMB-approved CE hours.

Please email a copy of your CE transcript for review. If your training was more than five years ago or cannot be verified, we may request a short video audition to ensure you're ready for this level.

How to proceed:

1. Start the registration process and go as far as the system allows to create your student profile.

2. Once you reach the stopping point, text or call 210.816.1241 or email info@centerforbarefootmassage.com with the dates and location of your prior training.

3. We'll verify your eligibility and unlock your registration, allowing you to reserve your spot.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help you take the next step in your journey with barefoot massage.