Why receiving bodywork with feet instead of hands can make for a better experience
So it usually goes something like this:
“I really need to relax but I also want to work on some of my problem areas”.
Code for “I would like deep tissue work to resolve some of the current or chronic issues in my body but I DO NOT feel like having elbows and thumbs poking and prodding me as I will in no way be able to relax.”
Maybe this sounds familiar to you?
Fortunately there is something that can simultaneously address both of your needs-ASHIATSU. Yes-it can be a challenging word to say, but it’s beyond enjoyable to receive! It’s the best form of bodywork to combine deep tissue and relaxation into one phenomenal experience!
So you might be wondering exactly what Ashiatsu is and how it’s able to achieve such a significant feat. It’s all in the feet-literally. With Ashiatsu, I use my feet to perform bodywork techniques that target superficial and underlying muscle groups, as well as the surrounding myofascia. And it doesn’t stop there–because Ashiatsu has the ability to penetrate much deeper into the tissues than other forms of bodywork, your tendons, ligaments and adjacent connective tissue will also get to join in the fun. Your body can benefit in remarkable ways because of this-relief fromchronic pain and discomfort, greater range of motion, improved posture and an increase in flexibility.
If this sounds too good to be true, well luckily, it’s not! Utilizing my feet to provide compressive and elongating bodywork strokes allows you to experience more consistent, even pressure. Bodies love this and respond by letting the parasympathetic nervous system take over (hello blissed out state)! And while you slip deeper into euphoria, my feet sink deeper into your tissues alleviating muscular and connective tissue imbalances. And the secret science sauce behind the muscle magic is…gravity. Using my bodyweight and overhead bars for balance and weight distribution, I am able to deliver up to 3x the amount of pressure you would receive with hands-on bodywork techniques. But the truly astounding thing is that you are 10x more comfortable than you would be with “traditional” deep tissue bodywork. How is this actually possible?
Imagine this scenario: you drop a hardcover book on your foot. If the book hits flat on the broadest part of your foot you may have a “whoops that happened–but my foot is fine” moment. Now imagine if the corner of the book lands with all of its pressure on your big toe. Completely different reaction, “Holy crap that hurts!”
In the later scenario it’s also very likely that your toe is bruised and swollen.
See where I’m headed with this? By using my foot as a slow-moving bodywork tool I’m able to cover a broader base which alleviates abrupt pressure that might normally cause you to tense up when we come upon tight areas in your tissues. So it’s a complete win-win: you get the relaxation you need and your tissues get the relief from restriction they need!
Still apprehensive about bearing the full weight of this style of bodywork? Don’t be! There are adaptations in the application of Ashaitsu that involve no direct pressure with weight-just the soothing comprehensive strokes that feet provide. So you can reap many of the benefits of Ashiatsu with medium pressure as well. The goal is to experience a release in your tissues WITHOUT abrupt pain–plain and simple.
If you're interested in reading up more on all of the amazing benefits Ashiatsu therapy offers, click here.
