Is Barefoot Massage Sports Massage?

By Hillary Arrieta, Your Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Specialist at The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage.

As I celebrate my 20th year as a massage therapist, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to work with clients in the Dallas, Richardson, and Plano areas of the metroplex. Over these two decades, I have been able to assist my clients in managing the aches and pains that often accompany the stress of modern life. This milestone is a big one! 
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One thing I've noticed over all these years is that many people see massage therapy from a narrower lens than I'd like them to. Massage therapy has many more valuable benefits than relaxation and general stress relief. North Texans love sports. Whether we're rooting for the Dallas Cowboys or heading to the gym to reach our personal best, we love staying active.

Today, I'm talking about the intersection of sports massage and my specialized style of massage, which we call Barefoot Massage. I don't consider myself a "sports massage therapist." Still, I've helped many competitive athletes with barefoot massage and stretch therapy. I love working with clients seeking better movement and injury prevention. 

Barefoot Massage is Deep Tissue Massage.

If you're already one of my regulars, you know I use this technique with different approaches every time you walk in. Whether you're stressed, need time away from the daily grind, or have severe back pain from doing leg day at the gym. The bottom line is that barefoot massage is always deep tissue massage. Barefoot massage reaches deep into the layers of tissue that speak to your whole being. Your fascia and even periosteum. It gets bone-deep. 

That's the beauty of barefoot massage. If you've never heard of it, it's a technique where the massage therapist uses their bare feet to give you a massage. 
In my opinion, the feet aren't that important - just tools like a hand or a massage gun. The massage therapist can use the tool to accomplish their client's goal, which is the real rock star - along with their client, of course. Suppose you've ever heard of Ashiatsu Massage. In that case, this is it - but I'm talking about the Westernized version of that style when I say "barefoot massage." Side Note: I also train licensed massage therapists in this technique at The Heeling Hut as part of the instructor team at The Center For Barefoot Massage.

Barefoot massage is Sports Massage. 

So, with all that said, is barefoot massage sports massage? Well, Yes, it is! Sports massage has some fundamental theories that can align with the way a barefoot massage therapist applies their technique. 

We can easily integrate stretching theory, too, like passive range of motion, active assisted range of motion, and dynamic stretching. I love to layer dynamic cupping and dynamic stretching to benefit clients looking for greater athletic performance. 

These barefoot massage techniques can help athletes with injury prevention, posture, and alignment needed for proper weightlifting form and ease of movement through their sport or activity. 
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You don't have to be a professional athlete to benefit from the sports massage take on barefoot massage. Sitting for long periods can create back pain from compressing your spine, but our steam-roller-type techniques can decompress you back to feeling like yourself in no time. 

If you've tried traditional deep tissue massage and thought, "Meh, I can do this with a tennis ball or massage gun." Then, I challenge you to make an appointment and give barefoot massage a try. ​

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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. 

Sports Massage in Plano, Texas