Is Barefoot Massage Safe?

Is Barefoot Massage Safe?

​If someone asked you to try a deep tissue massage in which the licensed massage therapist uses their feet instead of their hands to give you deep, consistent pressure throughout the Massage, would you do it? 

Wait, Are you going to walk on me?

Simply put, No.
Sometimes, barefoot Massage is called body walking in layperson's terms. People will describe it as someone walking on your back. This is an oversimplification of this technique and can give an unclear idea of what barefoot Massage actually is, making people who are new to it hesitant. They might question, "Is barefoot massage safe?"
The good news is that barefoot Massage is safe under certain circumstances. Your licensed massage therapist must be licensed by the state (or hold whatever the equivelent of licensure is for that particular state) and have additional training in. barefoot massage to make it safe. Your LMT is trained to do a complete intake to ensure it's safe for you. If your therapist doesn't have forms for you to fill out and doesn't ask you any medical questions, this is a red flag, and it's time to consider finding a new massage therapist who will take the time to get to know you and customize a safe session.

Massage Education is Key

Pictured Above: Hillary Arrieta, LMT working on her advanced techniques in FasciAshi Advanced class with Jeni Spring in San Antonio, 2018

​It might not seem that massagers would need an in-depth education. It's just rubbing, right? Well, not exactly. Licensed massage Therapists spend many hours studying and training in the art and science of massage therapy. We study sciences such as anatomy and physiology, pathology, and kinesiology and learn what we call endangerment sites. Barefoot Massage is an advanced technique, so your massage therapist should attend at least 24 hours of training in this style before offering it as a service to clients. Even more training is needed any where from 40-80 hours of training or more if they commit to the technique and become specialists. Coupled with that training, your intake forms, health history, and opening communication throughout your session, you can be assured that your Massage is safe. All of these elements together create the most effective and safest session. 

pressure scale and adverse Effects.

I use a pressure scale with my clients at The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage. I found this to be a very effective communication tool. When using the scale, 1 being no pressure and 10 being excruciating, we keep it at no more than a 7. Of course, the scale is subjective, and we explain it more deeply during our intake process. This way, our clients can use introspection to give good feedback. ​We also educate our clients on the adverse effects of massage therapy.

​Did you know that there are times when getting a massage is a bad idea because you can have unintended or unpleasant after-effects? I always talk to my clients about this if I see something in their intake and health history or if we're doing our daily intake just to make sure that they will benefit from barefoot Massage and have the best outcome.

That technique that starts with an A…

​Ashiatsu is an Eastern massage technique from Japan. Not only is it hard to say for some Texans, but the Westernized Ashiatsu style is much different from the traditional Japanese version. That's why we are dropping the "A Word" and using barefoot Massage to give a more straightforward, less appropriated description of our beloved massage style. The Center for Barefoot Massage is leading the way on this change and that's just another reason I love teaching with them. While some may stick with the original technique and not challenge themselves further, continuous learning and access to new information help me stay informed and interested. That's a huge deal when you've been a massage therapist for half your life...(Side note: I'm writing this during my 41st year of life and 20th year working full-time as an LMT!) For an LMT like me, it's not a selling point to stay with "the original" or old techniques that never change when we know the science of massage therapy and our understanding of the human body constantly changes. I'm always looking for training that is one step ahead of me and will challenge me. 

My most recent Fijian Barefoot Massage class in San Diego, CA.
​Massage Students who are commited to their growth. 

A commitment to excellence

As a barefoot massage specialist, I continuously train in the art and science of barefoot Massage. EVEN as a teacher, every year, I spend a week training in barefoot massage specifically to ensure I'm keeping up with the latest information. The Center for Barefoot Massage is committed to evolving and improving Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage to ensure that it is effective and safe. Additionally, ​At The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage, I train licensed massage therapists from all over the US, and I even have students come from other countries! As an approved instructor for The Center for Barefoot Massage, my office also serves as a training studio where I hold workshops at least once a month to ensure that my students get as much training as they need to be successful barefoot massage practitioners.

Author

Hillary Arrieta, LMT helps clients and students reach their full potential through Barefoot Massage. Her Studio is located in East Plano, in the Dallas, Texas metroplex. 
Learn More at www.theheelinghut.com​