Why on Earth would someone want to use their feet to do massage?
The foremost reason is, you guessed it, for PRESSURE.
Firstly, the foot is built with much larger and denser bone, muscle, and tendons than hands. There is a vast difference in the pressure of a foot on the body even when it is at rest and non-weight bearing.
The broader working surface area of the foot diffuses the load for a more comfortable experience than the sharp, poking quality of fingers and thumbs on tender trigger points. This allows me to work more deeply.
Because I can stand above the client, I have a better angle to apply pressure deep into your bones. A lot of power is lost when a massage therapist is bound to leaning over a massage table that is waist-high.
Frequently asked questions
-
My barefoot massage is slow, patient, and designed to reach the deepest myofascial layers. Depth takes time and this work follows the pace set by your nervous system. Relaxing into the massage and focusing on your breath enhances the experience, allowing your body to fully release and double the effectiveness of the bodywork.
A 60-minute session focuses on 1–2 areas of pain or dysfunction. While we can cover most of the body, some areas (like hands, feet, head, or anterior legs) may need to be skipped.
For a more thorough experience, 90 minutes allows for a basic full-body massage or in-depth work on 1–4 areas.
A 2-hour session is the ideal length, providing time to address the entire body and any areas needing extra attention.
-
It depends on your goals:
For persistent issues: A series of 3-4 weekly or biweekly sessions is ideal. We'll evaluate progress after each session to ensure we’re on track. If progress is steady but incomplete, we can continue. If not, we’ll discuss alternative options—I won’t sell you something that isn’t working.
For ongoing support: If you have a physically demanding lifestyle, persistent stress, monthly headaches, healed injuries, or surgeries, a massage every 4-8 weeks is beneficial.
For relaxation or a treat: Get a massage as often (or as infrequently) as you like!
-
I absolutely do NOT expect tips.
There are several things you can do if you want to meaningfully share your appreciation for my work.
Save the money you were going to tip me, and get massage more often.
Shout about it on social media — Leave a Google review, post an Instagram story, talk about my business on your private Facebook groups.
Share my name with the friends and family that you know would really vibe with my work. This is the most important way for me to connect with potential clients. (This will also earn you referral bonuses! $15 off your massage for each new client you send my way!)
Buy gift cards for your friends and family.
It’s understandable that there is confusion about tipping when you get a massage. As a business owner, I set my prices such that I do not rely on tips as a source of income. Massage therapists who work as employees are often making significantly less than 50% price of the service. My hardworking W2 and 1099 massage therapist peers deserve a healthy tip.
And after all that,
if you still want to give me more money on top of the price of the session,
I will accept tips.
-
-
Please aim to arrive no more than 5-10 minutes before your appointment time.
-
You can wear anything you like to the appointment.
If you have a choice, I recommend wearing comfy clothing and leaving all your jewelry at home. Especially post earrings, they are easy to forget to take off and put back on again. They poke the heck out of the back of ears while I perform neck traction — which should be some of the most relaxing parts of the massage.
For the sake of my face cradle covers, I’d love if you showed up bare-faced.
-
Barefoot massage is best performed on clients who are fully nude (including removing jewelry). Your modesty will be kept intact. You will be kept draped with a thick flannel sheet.
Especially if you are having low back and hip pain, the grip and flow of massage on bare skin makes for the most effective pain relief.
If you prefer to leave your undies on, that’s acceptable. Pressure can be applied over the top sheet (to make sure I don’t transfer massage creme onto your clothing) over any areas that remain clothed.
-
Mostly, no. I keep small talk to a minimum so I can focus on achieving the goals you have for your session. I’m quite comfortable with companionable silence.
That said, I do communicate when needed. I’ll check in about pressure, temperature, whether I’m “on the spot,” or if you’re experiencing any discomfort.
The best massage experience is a collaboration, and your feedback helps me tailor the session to be as effective as possible.
-
I am focused on getting you the best result for the goals you set for the session. I am exploring, looking for the primary source of your pain and discomfort. I am “listening” to your muscle tissue and how it is responding to the massage. I’m going through my memory banks of education and experience.
Sometimes I’m thinking about what’s for lunch.
-
Because I don’t practice ashiatsu.
Ashiatsu is a lineage of barefoot bodywork built on Traditional East Asian Medicine. I have only ever studied the body from a Western lens. I learned barefoot techniques from practitioners with the same Western medicine background.
-
Thai massage is a bodywork system that, at it’s most traditional, has a prescribed flow, built on Traditional East Asian Medicine.
I haven’t studied the meridian system that underpins Thai massage.
Thai massage has a big focus on joint mobilizations at stretches. I vary rarely incorporate stretching into my massages. I trend towards hypermobile myself, so I never felt comfortable applying it anyone else’s body.
