Barefoot Massage

7 Things You Should Tell Your Massage Therapist

Massage /
Tell your massage therapist about these 7 things that relate to your health and well-being. A woman and man shake hands in a casual business setting.

I don’t know if it’s the change in the weather recently, but I’ve noticed with my clients and even with myself there seems to be a lot of evolving medical stuff going on. This summer my table was filled with people recovering from dermatological surgeries. More recently, new and different prescription medications seem to be making the rounds as well as a spate of heart catheterizations. Go figure…

In talking with colleagues about this recent trend, my friend Hillary Arrieta from The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage made a relevant suggestion, “…I’ve decided to have client’s fill out new paperwork every two years so I can keep up with changes that slip through the cracks. It’s my hope that we will uncover some new adds (additions) to their medical and prescription history.”

It’s been a while since I’ve gone through the exercise of having everyone fill out new health history and intake forms. In lieu of adding that undertaking to my plate throughout this holiday season, I thought instead I would just set out to remind everyone about some health-related things that you should be prepared to discuss with your massage therapist during or before your next appointment.

Medication Changes

If you’ve had changes to your medication since the last time you had a massage, it’s important to let your massage therapist know. New medicines, stopping medications, and dosage changes are of interest to your massage therapist because some medications affect your tissues directly, some can reduce sensation making deep pressure massage dangerous, and others can affect your mindset and attitude which might translate into tissue issues. Always let your MT know if your medical team has made any changes to your prescriptions. If you’re using herbs as medicine, you will also want to let your MT know about starting or stopping any herbal helpers as well.

Medical Issues

Medical issues you’ve had since the last time you came in are going to be a hot topic with your massage therapist. Anything from a mole removal to a stroke, surgery, or blood clot, we want to know. More than that, we NEED to know. If it’s a medical issue that sent you to the doctor, emergency room, or a hospital stay, it’s important enough to tell your MT. And it’s not always to keep you from getting a massage, it’s so that we can design a treatment for you that is safe and won’t exacerbate any existing or developing problems.

This also applies to previous medical issues that may be changing. For example, you were previously diagnosed with osteopenia, the precursor to osteoporosis, but your last scans show that it’s no longer in the beginning stages. We also need to know if a diagnosis has been reversed. There’s a whole host of medication changes and lifestyle changes, that may be happening when a disease or condition advances or retreats and we need to know about it to keep you safe on our table.

Colds, Flus, & Stomach Bugs

If you’ve recently had a cold or other respiratory virus like flu, RSV, or Covid we like to know. It’s important for us to factor into your treatment the effects of coughing, extended time spent in bed, or unexpected sedentarism. Viruses or food poisoning that cause vomiting and other gastric distress pose different issues and should be discussed after symptoms have subsided.

Injuries

Injuries of all types should be reported to your MT. Remember when you were a kid and you got sunburned and your brother would run by and slap you real hard on the shoulder that was extra crispy and it hurt like H-E-double hockeysticks? We don’t want to be like your brother. Tell us when something is injured or just hurting. I promise, a good massage therapist is going to be rubbing their hands (and feet) together, maybe drooling a little, and will probably be thinking, “I got you, Boo!” Be prepared for us to ask a lot of questions about activities leading up to, during, and since the injury so we can figure out what structures need attention and which ones to avoid. Also, please be honest about how you hurt yourself. It helps us help you!

Your Last Massage

Tell us how you felt after your last massage. Did you get results? How long did they last? Did you notice anything in particular that flared the issues back up? If you’re seeing the same massage therapist, they will be able to adjust the treatment to make this massage even better than the last when you let us know the results of your previous massage.

Emotional Upsets

Let us know if you had something emotionally upsetting happen within a few hours or days of your appointment. It could be anything from a disagreement with your significant other to the news of your favorite aunt passing to unfavorable current events. Long-term commitments as caretakers of children and elders can also cause chronic stress and should be shared with your MT. We don’t want to know the details, but it’s important for us to figure out why your body is holding so much stress. Yes, we can feel your stress in your tissues!

Emotional releases during massage are also more likely to happen when you’ve had an upsetting experience or suffering from ongoing, chronic stress. Giving us a head’s up will help us help you. Some people cry, others get angry and talk (or shout) about it. While most of us are not trained to handle psychological issues, we’re not robots either and can empathize. We are trained to help put your body in a state where it can downregulate so knowing where you are before we begin can be helpful.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

If you’ve been traveling since your last massage, you might want to tell your massage therapist. Especially if you spent time on a strange bed and with an odd pillow. Traveling can be hard physically as well as emotionally. Between hours and hours of sitting, sleeping in places that wouldn’t be your first choice, manhandling heavy bags, herding uncooperative family members, and dealing with hordes of people stress levels definitely go up during travel, even when you’re relaxed and traveling for pleasure. Add to this that as we age it becomes more difficult to physically recover from bad chairs and beds and your MT can help make a big difference in how you feel after arriving back home from a trip.

In Closing

Hopefully this gives you a short list of the things your massage therapist really needs to know during your ongoing relationship. The initial health intake is great, but people change, accidents happen, and stress can sometimes be unrelenting. We need to keep open lines of communication during our time together.

As always, if you need medical care, please consult a doctor first. Then let your massage therapist know at your next appointment or give a heads up with a call or text if you think it might be something that prevents us from working safely together. It’s never about denial of service. We always want to work with you, we just need to be sure everyone is safe.

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♥

Sharon Bryant at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist!

7 Things You Should Tell Your Massage Therapist Read More »

It’s Never Too Late!

Massage /

I suppose it’s never too late to incarnate and transform. Just look at the lowly cicada bug. They spend 13 or 17 years (depending on their genes) lying about underground nibbling at roots before they emerge from their subterranean den, immediately molt their exoskeleton, and head off in search of a partner with which to reproduce. They’re not particularly attractive unless you’re a bug expert and they don’t seem to have any type of baggage keeping them from their mission.

It’s cicada season in Alabama. We have the 13-year variety and this year is one of the big waves. We get a few every year because some get confused, but this year there’s more than I’ve ever seen. They’re currently crawling out of the ground across the yard, porch, my laundry room. I can’t step outside without stepping onto their molted exoskeletons. They leave their creepy husks on the porches, hanging from the plants in my garden and the exterior walls of the house and shed. Some are even molting in the grass and clover. My dogs have taken to snacking on the larvae as they crawl through the yard, but they just keep coming. I am beginning to wonder if the whole swarm of locusts thing wasn’t cicadas.

My mom’s favorite weatherman, James Spann, has become the clearing house for people showing their favorite cicada-based dishes. I think that’s a little too close to crickets. No thanks. Yuck!

Fun Fact!

Cicadas are arthropods and in the same phylum as shellfish. So, if you have a shellfish allergy, best to avoid them. How do I know this? Facebook. Specifically, two really smart guys I went to high school with. One learned the shellfish fact from one of the science teachers he works with. The other one confirms that they taste like a cross between shrimp and crawfish. Being deathly allergic to shellfish, I will take their words for it.

What do cicadas have to do with massage? Well, hopefully not a lot inside the treatment room, but they do seem to be causing quite a bit of stress in my area so that could be a tie in. I find them somewhat inspirational. Stick with me. I think we could all be a bit more like the cicadas, sitting in the top of a tree screaming about what we want and ignoring all the haters.

Do something new, it’s good for your mental health! Just do it inside if you don’t like big, red-eyed flying bugs. Eek! And if the screaming is wearing on you as much as it is on me, why not try some binaural beats music to drown out the noise.

♥

Sharon Bryant at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist!

It’s Never Too Late! Read More »

2022 Barefoot Massage Training Schedule!

Massage /

I really don’t know how I’ve neglected to drop the 2022 Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center schedule here. It’s been busy is all I can say. And seems like every time I thought I had everything straightened out, something else would change.

Regardless of future changes, right now this is where we stand.

In addition to the entry-level myofascial Ashiatsu Fundamentals and Fijian Barefoot Massage classes, I’ll be teaching a couple of Intermediate Ashiatsu classes this year. Did I neglect to tell you I finally finished my Intermediate Instructor Certification? Yes? No? Refer to above where I said it had been sorta busy. That instructor certification was not the easiest thing I’ve ever done.

I’m Taking Fijian on the Road!

I’ll be traveling to Kentucky and Georgia to teach Fijian in March and September respectively. Palpation Prep School of Massage in Benton, KY, tried to host Fijian in 2020, but COVID-19 messed that up so we’re trying again. If you’re in western KY or anywhere surrounding that area, come join us!

The Georgia Fijian class will be hosted at Terramar Wellness Center in Carrollton, GA, and I am so excited to visit this location. I’ve been following TerraMar Wellness since I first taught one of the owners when I was still in my Fundamentals Instructor Training. Also, they have a float tank and I absolutely cannot wait to make a reservation for that. I might float every single day I’m over there!

And Dawn’s Coming to Teach ROM!

I’m also really excited about hosting a ROM class here at the Decatur campus. That one is happening in May and Dawn Dotson from our Center for Barefoot Massage New York campus will be here to teach it. You may remember her from when I took ROM last September.

So, as you can see, there’s going to be a lot going on as far as barefoot massage training classes this year. And I’m really pumped about being able to road trip and take Fijian out into different communities as well as hosting other instructors locally.

Students, if you’re here for the barefoot massage training, register over here. Registration is open for everything you see here.
Alumni, if you have your eye on a particular class I don’t teach, let me know and I’ll see about getting one of our other instructors to come teach it here.
Clients, if you want to get scheduled in for a clinic appointment, text me and let me know!

Sharon Bryant teaches for Center for Barefoot Massage at Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center!

2022 Barefoot Massage Training Schedule! Read More »

FasciAshi ROM: Stretch Therapy

Massage /
A photo of Sharon performing a ROM stretch to the client's arm

What is ROM?

FasciAshi ROM is Range of Motion: Stretch Therapy and I’ve been waiting to take this class for over a year. Covid-19 really kicked the can down the road as far as marking goals off the list, but it finally happened.

Years ago, I’d taken a Thai-inspired barefoot massage class and I’ve used it for years, but this was totally different. Perhaps I’ve thrown a stretch or two into a session in the past, but I always found it difficult to integrate those moves because they were designed for the client to stay clothed. With these new ROM skills you’ll find more stretches during your current barefoot massages because they’re easier, not only on my body, but to just throw a stretch in here and there without having to worry about exposure.

One of the other things I found with this class is attention to the ‘Why’. Why would I use this particular stretch or compression? The attention to ‘Why’ makes it much easier to know when it’s appropriate to use these techniques. Got a Charley Horse? There’s a stretch that addresses gastrocs and soleus (the muscles that are typically involved in that kind of cramp). Hip flexors tight and sore after training and running that 5K? There’s a stretch for that, a few, actually. And then there’s those stretches that feel great but are sneaky effective in areas you wouldn’t expect. Fascia is amazing that way and ROM most certainly addresses the fascial system.

How Do I Get My ROM?

All that to say, ROM is definitely on the menu. You’ll find it under Stretch Therapy if you’re trying to book it yourself. Otherwise, just ask me next time we book your appointment if you’d like to try it. I can integrate it into your regular barefoot massage appointment, or we can go straight up Stretch Therapy with a blend of ROM, facilitated stretching, and some of that Thai-inspired barefoot massage.

Can I Learn FasciAshi ROM?

For those of you wanting to learn FasciAshi ROM, Dawn Dotson from our New York Campus will be here at Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center in May! Register here. Class will be small, and yes, we will need clients for clinic. If you want to come experience the classroom version of ROM, let me know!

Sharon Bryant at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist!

FasciAshi ROM: Stretch Therapy Read More »

Fennel & Lemon Tea: A Digestive Soother

Wellness /
dehydrated lemon slices and fennel seeds

All the Thanksgiving foods have my tummy feeling off…

If you, like me, ate too many things you’re not accustomed to while celebrating Thanksgiving this year, never fear. I have a tummy soother that is tasty and easy to make with basic kitchen ingredients.

This Fennel and Lemon Tea has only a few simple ingredients:

  • Fennel Seeds
  • Lemon
  • Hot Water
  • Your Sweetener of Choice (optional)

So you’ll need a cup and a tea ball or infuser. In the tea ball, you’ll want to put about a teaspoon of fennel seed. Crushing the fennel seed will give you a stronger, more potent experience, but it’s not necessary. Drop that in your cup and throw in a lemon wedge or round and top with hot water. Let steep for 5-10 minutes. Remove the tea ball (unless you really love fennel, it gets strong and bitter after a while) and add your sweetener of choice. Honey is always good if you can tolerate it. I usually opt for stevia for a no sugar experience. Be sure to take a moment to savor the warmth in your hands and the aroma of the steam. This is a really nice cup of health, enjoy!

Why it Works!

Fennel seed has a mild flavor that you’re probably already familiar with. For me, no mild Italian sausage is right without the distinct flavor of fennel. It’s also used in a candy everyone knows, licorice! Fennel seed also contains several vitamins and minerals that are important for more cellular functions than I care to list today. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, some studies have shown it mildly curbs the appetite (which may be helpful after eating so much for Thanksgiving), has anti-cancer properties in concentrated form, helps bring in or improve milk for new mothers, and is helpful for our colicky little ones. And this is an abbreviated list of uses without even getting into the particulars of cooking with it.

The reason I’m writing about it today is because it is well-known for improving digestion and relieving gas pain. The fennel seed has a diuretic effect which helps with bloating (hello, Thanksgiving!), it has a lot of fiber which helps the digestive tract work more efficiently, and also features chemical compounds that allow the muscles of the digestive tract to relax which allows gasses to exit as designed. The only drawbacks to fennel seed that I can find is that it can be an estrogenic. If you’re struggling with estrogen dominance you may want to try another herb.

Lemon for flavor, a little acid kick, and to stimulate digestion. Acid? Yes, acid. Now if you are already suffering from excess acid, you want to be careful with how much lemon you’re using. If you have low acid, this will be very helpful for getting the stomach contents moving out into the intestines. Lemons stimulate digestion through a fiber called pectin. Pectin is also a good pre-biotic which gives your gut microbes good food to chew on for longer term intestinal health. You’ll notice in the photo the lemons are dehydrated. These work as well though the acid profile is different than fresh lemon or lemon juice. I prefer the dehydrated lemons because the sugars have caramelized, and the flavor is amazing. Also, they don’t grow a green sheen in my crisper drawer which is very likely to happen to fresh lemons in my house.

Stevia, my typical sweetener of choice, is also an herb. And it has its own digestive benefits as it’s full of inulin fiber which is again a powerful pre-biotic. If you’ve never used it, start slow. It has a tendency to go bitter in large amounts and the fiber can cause gas if your digestive tract isn’t accustomed to handling fibers.

Bonus Belly Herb

If you’re experiencing gripping or cramping, try adding a couple of coins of ginger. Powdered ginger will also work in this Fennel & Lemon Tea.

So, there it is… a little cup of herbs and spices for a happier belly. This tea will be a lovely addition to your digestive repertoire. It’s mild, tastes good, the ingredients are easily accessible, and generally regarded as safe even for kids.

Let me know what you think in the comments if you try this Fennel & Lemon Tea!

Sharon Bryant at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist!

Fennel & Lemon Tea: A Digestive Soother Read More »

Research Says…Deep Tissue Massage is Better!

Massage /
A massage therapist performing barefoot massage with an overlay of the words, "Is your massage research based?"

Have you ever noticed that barefoot massage therapists and their clients talk about barefoot massage like it’s something even better than massage? There’s a reason for that! For all the claims we make about it being great for pain and stress, sometimes we forget to talk about why we believe our work is head and shoulders above the rest.

First, we stand on the table while we work so we are literally, physically “head and shoulders” above most other therapists. Second, barefoot massage is, by its very nature, deep tissue massage.

Because we have access to all of our body weight when applying pressure, we are uniquely positioned to offer a targeted and much deeper deep tissue experience than a hands-on massage therapist can deliver.

Good News!

Research supports what we barefoot massage therapists already know. A 2011 study by Romanowski, Romanowska, and Grzeskowiak compared the effects of Therapeutic Massage techniques to Deep Tissue Massage techniques for chronic low back pain. It found that Therapeutic Massage techniques were good, but Deep Tissue Massage techniques offered significantly greater results in pain relief.

In case you want to dig down into the numbers or the very specific techniques that comprise Therapeutic versus Deep Tissue massage, you can read A Comparison of the Effects of Deep Tissue Massage and Therapeutic Massage on Chronic Low Back pain here or the full study can be found here.

And yes, we can do all those things with our feet. Excepting the parts about fingers, we just use a different part of our foot to accomplish the techniques they’re referring to in the study. Our training also teaches us how to very carefully and specifically use our body weight and feet to safely access muscles, tendons, and ligaments to deliver a very deep pressure massage.

And this isn’t the only study that shows massage therapy is good for low back pain. Another study comparing massage therapy versus relaxation techniques concluded that massage therapy is effective in reducing pain, stress hormones and symptoms associated with chronic low back pain. It also found that massage therapy improves range of motion in the same study.

It’s great to see more research being conducted on massage therapy and its benefits. It’s even better that we finally have scientific proof that massage therapy works!

#barefootmassagechallenge #barefootmassage Center for Barefoot Massage

Sharon Bryant at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist!

Research Says…Deep Tissue Massage is Better! Read More »

Too Legit to Quit

Business & Marketing for Massage /

Gosh there is a lot to keep up with as a professionally licensed massage therapist when it comes to keeping yourself current and legitimate.

State massage therapy licensing, insurance, business licensing, taxes (ugh!), professional memberships and organizations, Board Certifications, modality endorsements and certifications all combined keep us accountable to our clients, our community, and our profession.

I spend hours every year making sure that everything is in order.

How about you?

Massage therapy, as a profession, is largely misunderstood. You’ve heard the comments and questions from clients and your salty uncle. And if that’s not bad enough, large swaths of the medical and related professional communities try to dismiss and ignore us. Which is why it’s really, really important that we are diligent in keeping our licenses, insurances, professional memberships, and certifications in order.

Doing the right thing in your business not only applies to how you treat your clientele, it also applies to your professionalism in being a good steward of your local community as well as your professional community. It is our responsibility, each one of us, to hold our profession in the highest regard.

How do we do that?

We do it by being impeccable in our professionalism. We do it by maintaining all of these licenses, memberships, and credentials properly, by supporting our cohorts in their professional journey, and by holding them accountable when necessary. We do it by serving as credible experts in our field.

Need to up your game?

Here’s a few references in case something here has inspired you to up your game!

Alabama Board of Massage Therapy
American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
Alabama AMTA
National Certification Board and Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
Alliance for Massage Therapy Education (AFMTE)
Center for Barefoot Massage

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a professional, licensed massage therapist in the state of Alabama, click here.

#BarefootMassageChallenge #BarefootMassage

Sharon Bryant at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist!

Too Legit to Quit Read More »

What is Barefoot Massage?

1 Comment / Massage /

Barefoot massage is a collection of styles of massage performed with the therapist’s feet. In addition to using their hands, barefoot massage therapists use their feet to deliver a deeper massage than what can safely and comfortably (for both) be achieved with the hands. That might look like a therapist on the table using overhead support during the massage or it may be you on a mat on the floor as the therapist is standing and/or seated to deliver the massage. You may be clothed or unclothed depending on the style of barefoot massage you’re about to experience.

A photo of the sole of a foot as it engages the muscles of the back with a description overlaid that says, "What is Barefoot Massage"

I am trained in several different styles of barefoot massage and regularly offer three unique barefoot services. Why only three if I’m trained in more than that? Because learning many different methods and skills tend to inform all of my work and I chose to simplify the offerings into three distinct categories.

Photo of a barefoot massage therapist performing neck massage with an overlaid description of "Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage is Deep Tissue"

What is Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage?

I offer what I call Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage. This method has the client lying unclothed and draped on the table while I use my feet to compress, glide, and distract the client’s tissues to achieve a therapeutic, myofascial, deep tissue massage. I will also use an overhead support structure for balance and support as well as a suspended strap to lean into for lateral body work. This style of massage offers a comfortably deep experience that addresses muscle, fascia, and joint function. Other barefoot massage practitioners may define ashiatsu as something different depending on when and where they were trained.

A photo of a barefoot massage therapist performing the Happy Baby stretch on a client with an overlay description of "Ashiatsu + Thai Barefoot Massage is Stretch Therapy"

What is Barefoot Stretch Therapy?

I also offer Barefoot Stretch Therapy which involves the client on the table, typically clothed unless it’s integrated with other massage sessions. During Barefoot Stretch Therapy I will again use my feet to guide the client’s body through a series of Thai Yoga stretches, range of motion movements, and muscle compressions. Barefoot Stretch Therapy is a very effective method for keeping joints moving throughout their healthy range of motion, encouraging synovial fluid to flood and nourish the joints, and easing pain associated with arthritis.

A photo of the lower leg receiving Fijian Barefoot Massage with an overlaid description of "Fijian Barefoot Massage is Sports Massage"

What is Fijian Barefoot Massage?

Fijian Barefoot Massage is the third barefoot service I regularly offer. It is what you’ll see me doing if you find me at an outdoor event or a health and wellness fair. This massage finds a fully-clothed client on a mat on the floor where I’ll use my feet to perform a compressive, neuromuscular, sports-style massage. This technique is a faster paced massage that I perform seated or standing using a chair or suspended strap for any needed support. It’s an aggressive technique that is deep, but you won’t find a therapist using their full body weight or both feet during this massage. This style of barefoot massage is a great option for massage anywhere and benefits athletic recovery as well as weekend warriors who have overdone it.

So as you can see, barefoot massage is, simply, massage. We just happen to do that massage with our feet!

I hope this article helps you understand a little more about these different styles of massage. I also hope it helps you decide what type of massage might work best for you!

#BarefootMassageChallenge | For more information on learning Barefoot Massage, visit Center for Barefoot Massage and Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center.

Sharon Bryant at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist!

What is Barefoot Massage? Read More »

Happy Anniversary!

Massage /
Happy Anniversary, Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center!

This last year has been a, “Blink and you missed it,” kind of year. I can hardly believe it’s been an entire year since Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center opened its doors to students!

Sadly, we are still closed due to COVID-19. In fact, we should be teaching Fijian Barefoot Massage this weekend, but nothing is normal right now.

Check out the schedule below for other opportunities for training this year! We are hoping it will be safe enough to run our classes as soon as July.

2020 Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center Schedule

See something you like? Go ahead and register for it!

Happy Anniversary! Read More »

Foot Cleansing FAQ

Massage /
Ashiatsu barefoot massage foot cleansing ritual

How Do You Clean Your Feet?

A common refrain from barefoot therapists and clients alike are questions about how to clean your feet before, during, and after a barefoot massage session.

Some therapists have beautiful bowls they cleanse in and ritualize the process, but it’s really not necessary. It can be as simple as cleansing with a little soap and water before and after the session in a pan or bowl or even sitting on the side of the sink.

Since most of us aren’t fortunate enough to have a foot bath available in our treatment room, table-side we always recommend a final spritz. It not only makes the client feel comfortable that our feet are as clean as possible, but it also ensures that anything you may have picked up since the last soap and water cleanse is washed away.

Where Do You Get Foot Spray?

I don’t know if you can buy a cleansing foot spray commercially. It’s so easy to make at home I’ve never really looked for it. Also, I like being able to control the ingredients that touch my skin and by doing it myself the cost is less than any commercial product is likely to be, especially with the volume a barefoot massage therapist will go through. I use A LOT of foot spray. There’s also the issue of client allergies to consider so making it takes away the guesswork on ingredients and potential reactions.

Make Your Own Foot Spray!

I know folks who use a combination of alcohol and water or those alcohol-based anti-bacterial gels. Those work, but can be very drying for some especially when used long-term.

I prefer to make my own from simple ingredients. First you’ll need a spray bottle, I prefer the trigger style as they’re easier to use even when you’ve been handling oils, creams, or lotions. I find the pump bottles almost impossible to hold onto if I’ve used any product at all. The other ingredients are distilled water, witch hazel, and essential oils.

For the oils, I prefer ones with anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. And after a recent conversation with my friend and aromatherapist, Hillary Arrieta, from The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage in Dallas, TX, I have started adding lavender essential oil to combat the drying nature of some of the other essential oils.

A Foot Spray Recipe

4 oz. spray bottle (trigger bottles tend to work better than pump bottles)
1 oz. distilled water
1 oz. witch hazel
No more than 24 drops combined of essential oils of melaleuca, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, and/or peppermint.

Combine all and shake well before each use. Spritz feet liberally table-side and dry with a towel.

This foot spray can also be used as a room spray, linen spray, to clean and refresh clients’ feet, or on those really hot days when your deodorant fails, can be pressed into use as as a body cleansing spray.

A COVID-19 Compliant Foot Spray

8 oz. 99% ethyl alcohol
1 Tbsp. household peroxide
1 tsp. vegetable glycerin
50 drops of essential oils of your choice
2 oz. distilled water

Combine all and shake well before each use. Spritz feet liberally table-side and dry with a towel.

Do not use for room or linen spray.

I hope this has answered most of your pressing questions about barefoot massage and foot cleansing. If not, drop your questions in the comments or give me a call and we can talk about it!

See you in class soon!

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