Barefoot Massage

Alabama Ashiatsu Travel FAQ!

FasciAshi barefoot therapists learning

Welcome to Decatur, Alabama!

Welcome to Decatur, Alabama (aka the River City), host to Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center the Alabama Campus for Center for Barefoot Massage! Sharon and her support team at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology are excited to welcome you to your next barefoot massage class.

This is your “insider’s guide” to all you need to know before you arrive. Decatur is a beautiful place, if you’re traveling consider extending your stay an extra day to take in some of what our lovely area has to offer!

Training Location:

The Alabama Campus of the Center for Barefoot Massage is located at:
1900 Flint Road, Decatur, AL. Click here to see a map!

We are located inside the brick house next door to Webb-Awtrey Insurance Agency. The training location is a shared space inside Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology. Please park in the back of the building as the limited parking spaces in front are reserved for clients.

Travel Suggestions:

Huntsville International Airport is located approximately 30 minutes from the training location. It’s closer, but usually a little more expensive. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport is approximately 1.5 hours from the training location. Usually the cheaper option, you can catch a Southwest flight here, but you’ll have to rent transportation.

Lodging Suggestions:

The Loft in Hartselle – 15 minutes from training center
AirBnb has many availabilities in the Hartselle, Madison, and Athens areas. Be aware that Decatur has made AirBnBs and other short-term private rentals illegal.
There are several large chain hotels located on Beltline Road 5-10 minutes from the training center.

Coffee & Eats:

Java Jaay’s is a couple of blocks down 6th Avenue from the training center and they have a drive through! Please consider supporting our local businesses first, but if you must have Starbucks the closest is going to be inside Target on the corner of Hwy 31 and Hwy 67.

The Brick Deli & Tavern is uptown and is exactly what it sounds like. Let’s Do Lunch is an adorable little lunch counter with interesting and delicious options. Current: Coffee and Collectibles, West Side Coffee Place & Cafe, and Whitt’s BBQ are more local options that serve lunch. And don’t forget Mad Hatter’s Tea Shop & Apothecary inside Urban Atlas for an interesting local beverage experience. The Rail Yard and Bank Street Grill are other local favorites that are a little more upscale. There is a grocery store and a few chain restaurants that are walkable from the training center. Transportation will open access to many more that we can talk about during our time together.

See the Sights:

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is right down the street. Take a hike out to the observation building and see what kinds of waterfowl are in season. Check out the interpretive center and five different walking trails. It’s also all FREE!

Other nearby outdoor activities include Delano Park & Rose Gardens, Point Mallard, Hurricane Park, Bankhead National Forest, and Alabama Scenic River Trail.

Into history? Go see the Old State Bank Building on historic Bank Street and the Confederate Museum.

We are also directly across the street from Upsurge, Decatur’s indoor trampoline facility. And a short drive across the river will bring you to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

There is so much to do and see in our area you may want to extend your training into a mini-vacation that you can write off!

Directions:

From Huntsville International Airport travel west on I-565 to Hwy 31 south/6th Avenue. Turn left onto Corsbie Street. Corsbie Street turns into Flint Road in front of Upsurge. We are directly across from the Upsurge loading dock next door to Webb-Awtrey Insurance Agency.

From Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport travel north on I-65 to the Priceville exit (#334, AL-67). Take AL-67 north (turn left) to Hwy 31/6th Avenue. Turn right onto Hwy 31/6th Avenue. Turn right onto Corsbie Street. Corsbie Street turns into Flint Road in front of Upsurge. We are directly across from the Upsurge loading dock next door to Webb-Awtrey Insurance Agency.

Happy travels, we can’t wait to see you here!

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

Alabama Ashiatsu Travel FAQ! Read More »

Top Secret Ashiatsu Training

ashiatsu top secretSo I’ll be going out of town (again) for a few days.

I’ll be taking a class, but I can’t tell you exactly what it is because it’s a top secret project that some of my ashiatsu barefoot massage cohorts have been working on. They’ll be teaching this new and hush, hush ashiatsu method to a few of us so we can test it all out before it rolls out to the general public. Never fear though, unless they swear me to further secrecy I will be bringing it home and trying it out on whoever wants to lay on my table!

I’m excited about this trip not only because of the new skills, but also because I’m returning to my ashiatsu roots. This training is in Cincinnati at Affinity Massage Studios with my original instructor, Mary-Claire Fredette, from all those many years ago.

I’ll be back in the office Monday, September 24th!

Check out my online schedule to see what’s open next week if you want to get on my table!

♥

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

Top Secret Ashiatsu Training Read More »

Sights From San Antonio

Many of you already know I recently went to San Antonio, TX for a big training. I took what is formally called FasciAshi Fundamentals which is a big fancy phrase for more Ashiatsu barefoot massage training. What that means to you, I have new techniques to help you get out of pain!

It was a lot of very hard work, but I am so energized and proud to be bringing these new skills to my clients.

Enjoy the photo show!

♥

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

Sights From San Antonio Read More »

My Feet Are Going To School Again!

FasciAshi ashiatsu barefoot massage

So I’m going to be out of town for a few days this week getting my feet educated. Y’all know I’m serious about my barefoot massage education.

Even though my feet are already pretty smart, this is something new and I’m not one to shirk from a challenge. New, but similar. It’s called FasciAshi. And even though I haven’t learned it yet, I’ve been talking to my Ashi sisters, the ones who created it and the ones who are a bit more unbiased, and I have to say that I am excited. If you’ve been in to see me lately you have probably heard all about it. If not, I would love to introduce you to this new style of Ashiatsu barefoot massage.

I’ll be home on the 23rd and there are still appointments available for that week. Shoot me a text if you’re interested in trying out this new style of Ashi. I’ll get you on the schedule for after I return home.

If not, just stay tuned I’m sure I’ll have pictures and lots more to say about it when I get home!

♥

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

My Feet Are Going To School Again! Read More »

Managing Pain at Home

As a massage therapist, my clients ask me regularly what they should do to help manage pain between their regular massage appointments. Check out this little Facebook Live video I did addressing that question. In it you’ll learn a couple of different techniques for managing pain at home and how to make your own hot/cold pack.

Let me know what you think. Did I cover it all? What do you do that I didn’t think of here?

Make sure to Like my Facebook page if you haven’t already. There will be more little goodies like this as well as my weekly openings, specials, and other bits of interest.

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Massage Specialist!

Managing Pain at Home Read More »

Happy Anniversary, Harvest Moon Massage Therapy!

Alabama Massage Therapy License, Harvest Moon Massage TherapyIt was just eight short years ago (technically August 22nd) when I finally became licensed in the State of Alabama!

Who knew way back then that it would take almost eight years to become a full-time massage therapist? Not me, but I don’t regret a minute of it. I love being a massage therapist and helping people get out of pain!

I am honored at how so many seek me out and trust me to help eliminate their pain and stress and then send their friends and family.

I’m sending out the biggest, “Thank You,” to my clients, family, and friends who have helped make this dream come true.

When I think about being a massage therapist two things from my past repeatedly come to mind. First, how my high school classmates decided that I, their class Valedictorian, would be most likely to become a beach comber. Some day I will do massage on a beautiful beach with the waves crashing in the background. Under my table will be the most impressive array of found objects, shells and driftwood. Imagine the photo opportunities!

And second, this quote from Louisa May Alcott that I chose to appear next to my senior yearbook photo, “Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” I’m so glad I followed and I’m so, so glad I reached this aspiration.

Thank You For Your Support!

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Barefoot Massage Specialist!

Happy Anniversary, Harvest Moon Massage Therapy! Read More »

Fall Break!

harvestmooncoverHarvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology will be closed this Friday, November 6th, while I go to the mountains to take a Reflexology refresher!

I won’t be able to answer calls promptly so if you’d like to schedule an appointment for next week, please visit my StyleSeat book.

I’ll be back in the office bright and early Monday!

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Master Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist!

Fall Break! Read More »

How To Get Your FREE Massage!

freeA while back I decided to start a referral special for clients, but I don’t think I did a good job putting it into words so I wanted to take a minute and put all the details here.

Refer three new clients to me and get a free massage!

Fine Print:
No limits. Refer three friends this month and three more next month you get two free massages!
Free massage must be received within 90 days of award.
This special cannot be combined with gift certificates.

♥

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Barefoot Massage Therapist!

How To Get Your FREE Massage! Read More »

My Fijian Experience

"Fijian Barefoot Massage"

So I’m sure if you follow along at all over on my Facebook page you already know that I’ve been in Nashville the last couple of days for a class. I had been considering and pondering and planning for quite a while about this class and then it just sort of fell into my lap.

I drove up Friday morning giving myself an extra hour of drive time which was a good thing. Have you ever driven in Nashville rush hour traffic? Yikes!

Fijian Barefoot Massage

The class was Fijian Barefoot Massage with Lolita Knight. I have been curious about this modality for a while. I wanted to try a different  kind of barefoot massage to see how it compares to Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy. And I have to say it was quite different. Similarities, of course, but interesting new ways to use the feet to get in there with the pressure.

And Fijian is similar to Ashi-Thai in that the client stays clothed, which is a plus if you’re working in public spaces. And it’s portable. Very easily portable. Essentially all you need is the floor (or ground if you’re outside). A thai-style mat would up the comfort level, but is not necessary if you’re in a real pinch.

I learned so much at this class and met so many interesting people that I’m still somewhat overwhelmed trying to process and integrate it all.

Meanwhile I have to tell you about the highlight of the entire trip because it is bizarre and surprising and made my day. We were mid-way to lunchtime and had been working for a while. I was chatting with my practice partner. Obviously I told her I was an AOBT and she was asking me some questions about it. Apparently she had been researching Ashi classes and was unsure of which organization to go with. Then she specifically asked about one of the copycat knock off providers and I was launching into my spiel about why she should choose Deepfeet.com when I heard a tiny voice from across the room say,  “I teach for them.”

It stopped me in my tracks. For a moment I wasn’t sure how to interpret that statement. You work for the knock off? You work for Ruthie at Deepfeet.com? I looked and there was this face that I recognized, but didn’t know and suddenly a name was flying out of my mouth and there was laughing and squealing and there across the room were two of my Ashi sisters. We all knew each other from our Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy Facebook Group, but didn’t know we were going to be in the same class. I spent the rest of the day hyper aware of where they were and what they were doing as we worked. Then we went to dinner together and had a fabulous time. That poor TGI Fridays in the Opry Mills Mall may never be the same.

Overall I had a great time learning Fijian and then later the luxury add-on Soft Touch Island Massage and getting to share it with my Ashi sisters made it all even better.

Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Ashi-Thai and Bamboo-Fusion Massage

My Fijian Experience Read More »