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Training Blog for BarefootMassageCenter.com Menu Like me on Facebook Follow me on Pinterest Check out my YouTube channel Watch my videos on Vimeo Subscribe to my RSS Feed menu Blog for BarefootMassageCenter.com Myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Training Home CBM Instructors Learn about our classes Class Calendar Video Gallery Contact Us Search Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2024 Barefoot Massage Open Challenge 2024: coming in March! G et ready for this years Barefoot Massage Open Challenge! This year’s topic for the Open” is on common physical imbalances of Barefoot Massage Therapists that could result in injury. Our instructors have been talking behind the scenes A LOT about all the things that make upbody mechanics … things like your alignment while working, as well as what movement possibilities and what common restrictions Barefoot Massage Therapists are working around. Together, we’re compiling tips and tricks, videos, exercises and food for thought content for everyone that will help your body be ready and pain free to give a long career full of barefoot massage sessions! Make sure to subscribe to our new SubStack , which works like a blog and newsletter in one! As we post new content, it’ll show up in your inbox, too! That’s where the challenge will be posted. We haven’t been able to consistently post an actual ANNUAL challenge, because, well, life. It all started in 2018 and coincided with the CrossFit Open – just something for Barefoot Massage Therapists to push themselves through. We’ve had 3 so far, and this will be our 4th! The goal all along with these challenges has been for you to get out of your box and try something NEW. Our main focus when teaching FasciAshi is for you to make the techniques effective because you are educated on the theory and feel the ease of its application flow through your body. Your inner wisdom shines through when you are able to contemplate WHY or HOW your massage strokes work. When that is put into action in the most physically efficient and effective way possible for your body, you can see progress in yourself, your clients, and you’ll have a seriously better chance of staying in this profession longer. We’ve got fresh content coming weekly starting March 8th, 2024 – but in the meantime, did you know that we’ve also got an archive of challenges from previous years?! You can dive into them for the 1st time, or the 10th! Here’s a list of past years’ Barefoot Massage Open Challenges: (Or just go watch the YouTube Playlist if reading is TMI RN!) 2021 reSOLEutions” This was a 3-month long, content creating challenge that pushed you to create NEW content on specific topics that educated YOUR community: Jump in on that challenge here – it was only 1 blog post to pull you through the entire projectMonth 1-3: Community Education 2019 Mobility & Massage” This was an ambitious 2x/week 5-week challenge that had you moving and massaging in ways to create more physical endurance and mindfulness in your sessions. Jump in on any of the weeks here Week 1 Mobility Footwork” Week 1 Massage Music” Week 2 Mobility Knees” Week 2 Massage X-ray Vision” Week 3 Mobility Hips” Week 3 Massage Mindfulness” Week 4 Mobility Spine” Week 4 Massage 20 Minutes” Week 5 Mobility Shoulders” 2018 Ashi-Challenge” This was our first challenge that pushed you out of the routine and encouraged you to work more creatively than robotically. Try these challenges out and see how it changes your approach. Week 1 Feet First” Week 2 Non-Dominant foot for 20 minutes” Week 3 Face Up” Week 4 Not Yo’ Momma’s Ashi” Week 5 Weight then Wait” Stay tuned to our new SubStack for what we are preparing for you in March! Comments (0) | | Categories: Ashiatsu barefoot massage , Pro tips , The Barefoot Massage Open Ashi-Challenges , Tuesday Toesday , Why FasciAshi? Posted on Saturday, February 3, 2024 Unlocking the Potential & Break the cycle of repetitive injury One step at a time with Barefoot Massage A s massage therapists, we are intimately acquainted with the physical toll our profession can take on our bodies. Repetitive strain injuries, particularly in the upper extremities, are a pervasive challenge, affecting nearly 65% of therapists, with over 80% feeling vulnerability in their hands. Regardless of the injuries we treat, it’s inevitable that massage therapists will encounter their own at some point in their careers, often stemming from repetitive motion, poor body mechanics, or unknowingly acquired habits. Barefoot and Ashiatsu practitioners are not exempt from these challenges. During a recent instructor meeting at the Center for Barefoot Massage, my colleagues and I engaged in a candid discussion about the injuries we’ve experienced and observed in our practices, staff, and classrooms. While most of our instructor team had encountered massage-related injuries in the past, the adoption of CBM’s techniques, approach to body mechanics, thinking processes during work, and the use of the strap proved transformative. Notably, not a single instructor has suffered a Barefoot Massage-related injury since making these changes – and all of our instructors maintain a full schedule of clients in addition to teaching. However, all of our instructors observe movement restrictions or imbalances in students, particularly those previously trained in Ashiatsu before ever attending a Center for Barefoot Massage class. There are some common overcompensating movements, and translation of gravity habits that typically need tweaking. The potential for injuries if the issues were not addressed became evident. The solution? Adopting CBM’s approach to how we use our feet and body during barefoot massage sessions: utilizing tools such as straps, stacking, not pushing, pulling or lifting, and alignment ergonomics for the myofascial techniques in ways that prevent overexertion. This approach allows therapists to work smarter, enhancing service quality and contributing to better health outcomes. In the quest for injury prevention, small adjustments to technique can make a monumental impact. Learning and practicing good body mechanics are paramount, especially when dealing with chronic repetitive motion injuries. The improved body mechanics taught in our classes were developed as a direct result of our instructors watching their staff work with their feet daily and see where the restrictions and common issues arise. By embracing newer techniques, the risk of injury can be significantly reduced. It is crucial to prioritize body care and use proper techniques to ensure a successful and enduring massage therapy career. Many of our instructors have been massage therapists for over 20 years: we attribute that to not only Barefoot Massage, but also constantly evaluating the approach to Barefoot Massage. The Center for Barefoot Massage specializes in a unique approach to Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage through our live Continuing Education classes. We emphasize anatomy and technique, teaching professionals how to provide therapeutic relief and prevent injuries both in themselves as well as their clients. Our philosophy centers around the Give it weight, then wait” theory, a pivotal aspect of our barefoot massage approach, targeting the Neuromyofascial web. Our FasciAshi” technique involves working with fascial integration, navigating muscle and bone contours, and applying broad, consistent pressure at varying angles to address the body as a functional whole. Progressing through our courses, you’ll grasp the significance of sustained pressure and anatomical specificity to impact clients’ interoception. Our Myofascial Barefoot Massage technique transcends the ordinary – it’s a dance of pressure, broad strokes, and efficient deep tissue work that sets your practice apart. Under the guidance of our expert instructors, you will learn how to use your feet to deliver controlled deep-tissue work with minimal strain, reducing the risk of overuse injuries on your joints, and tissues. Our classes focus...