Do I have to be a small / petite person to learn Ashiatsu?

Do I have to be a small / petite person to learn FasciAshi Barefoot Massage?
Not at all!  There are no height or weight requirements for our Fundamentals class.  Some of our graduates are 150-220 pounds and are as smooth and gentle as can be.  It's really more about fluidity and flow.

We developed this work a long time ago to accomodate all therapists by creating different program levels.  The skills taught in Fundamentals and the Intermediate workshops can be done by anyone.  You only have one foot on the body when you're standing so you are in complete control of your pressure at all times.
We do recommend a certain level of coordination so your delivery will be  "sensational" and not received as "mediocre".
Here's some feedback from a male therapist who recently took the beginner level training:

"Until you actually try doing ashiatsu, it's a complete mystery what role therapist weight plays. I know some male therapists that are on the heavier side and would probably have a hard time doing more than one or two pull-ups, but I don't think they'd have any problem here.  So if I were asked, after my training, what's the real scoop regarding weight/strength and one-foot ashiatsu, I'd make the following points:

1) unless the therapist is really clumsy or heavy enough to damage the massage table while the client is on it, weight simply isn't an issue.  

2) the strength needed to moderate foot pressure doesn't come solely from the arms/upper body - much of

it comes from the core.  In my case, I found that my core got twice the workout of the upper body. I found that most of the time I could freely shift work between the arms and the core if one or the other got fatigued.  

3) the larger male foot distributes pressure over a larger area which also seems to make weight less of a concern."

So, if you've been hesitant to sign up for a class, we encourage you to contact one of our instructors to discuss your concerns. There are some simple outlines that we can go over to show what kind of balance and skill will be required in class to see if it will be a good fit for you. (For example: you should have enough balance to stand on a stool and stand on a massage table.)

Check our National schedule for an upcoming class near you: http://barefootmassagecenter.com/classes.

Cindy Iwlew has been an instructor in Michigan for

Ashiatsu since 2007.

She continues to operate her own private massage practice of 13 years and also co-owns Bodywork Buddy Massage Software.

For more information on Ashiatsu classes in Michigan and ChicagoLand, visit www.bodyworkbydesign.net.