Question 1

Do I need a massage license to practice ashiatsu?

Accepted Answer

Yes, to train with us you do. Our curriculum is designed to build upon the principles of professional touch that are taught in massage school and we ONLY train licensed massage therapists. Having this prerequisite allows us to place a strong focus on technique application during our classes. You will be asked to provide your license number and state when you register for any class.
*Students who are currently enrolled in massage school and have completed at least 50% of their program are allowed to attend our intro courses by contacting us and receiving permission prior to signing up.

Question 2

Can I offer what I learn in your CE classes on my menu of services?

Accepted Answer

Yes. As an LMT practicing legally within the scope of practice in your state you may use anything you learn in our classes with your clients as indicated at any time. Our CE weekend immersions, ashiatsu bar courses, bars-free courses and floor elective courses are designed to provide you with usable techniques that can be added to your menu of services once you have practiced enough for feedback and feel confident that you will be helping and not hurting any of your clients or yourself! We make time to discuss marketing and how to approach your practice sessions at the end of each class. 
We do want you to recognize, however, that there is a difference between LMTs who practice ashiatsu and an actual Ashiatsu Massage Therapist. Serious students are encouraged to enroll in our 200hr certification track for a deeper learning experience that will guide  you toward becoming a professional Ashiatsu Massage Therapist.

Question 3

Will I be certified to practice ashiatsu after taking one or more of your CE courses?

Accepted Answer

No. After fully participating in a CE course you will receive a CE Completion Certificate as documentation of the number of CE credits awarded to you. Providing that you have a massage therapy license in the area where you practice you may legally integrate anything you learn in our classes into your current treatments at any time after class. Ethically, you will want to schedule some practice first to make sure you are as confident with your new ashiatsu techniques as you are with your current skillset. 
Serious students are encouraged to enroll in our 200hr certification track for a deeper learning experience that will guide  you toward receiving our endorsement as a professional Ashiatsu Massage Therapist.

Question 4

I already have some ashiatsu training. Do I need to start with a Level 1 CE course with you before I'm allowed into Level 2?

Accepted Answer

Most likely, yes. Our Level 2 ashiatsu CE courses have the following prerequisites :

Intermediate Barefoot Sidelying + Props (14CE) Prerequisite : Barefoot Bar Basics This course offers a full body sequence of lubricant-based techniques for side lying position AND is jam-packed full of tips, tricks and tools for enhancing the effectiveness of your barefoot massage sessions with straps, silks and heated pillows.

Advanced Ashiatsu : Two Feet (21CE) Prerequisite : Barefoot Bar Basics Warm up the body with a series of ashiatsu techniques that flow from head to toe. You'll learn creative transitions for smoothing out your sequence and preparing for the deeper work that you will learn how to apply with both feet on the client at the same time. You must have the ability to pull yourself up into the bars to remove some of your weight from your client's body while standing on them with both feet. Can you do at at least one chin up on your bars from a bent-elbow position? Do you have clients that want and are able to receive your entire body weight?

Barefoot Fusion (14CE) Prerequisites : Barefoot Bar Basics and Barefoot Press & Stretch Ashiatsu meets Thai-style stretching. Learn a new sequence that combines gliding techniques and range of motion exercises to elongate the tissues and create a new sense of openness. Receiver is undressed and draped with a sheet. Oil/cream is used.

If you are enrolling in the 200hr Ashiatsu Certification Track then you are required to start from the beginning and work your way through the five week program in consecutive order.

Question 5

I am new to ashiatsu, is there a class you recommend starting with first?

Accepted Answer

We have FIVE ashiatsu "level one" courses that are suitable for beginners (and beyond) and can be taken in any order at any time ...

Ashiatsu Barefoot Floor Fundamentals Course (14CE) START HERE IF ... bars just aren't an option in your space right now OR you just want to start with your feet on the ground, first. You'll learn to use your feet to apply a full body sequence that starts with Thai-style, clothes-on acupressure and stretching for the neck, back, shoulders and extremities and finishes with a deep, gliding ashiatsu-style massage with lubricant for the back and shoulders. All the equipment you'll need to practice and start sharing this sequence with your clients is a floor mat, a bolster, a king sized pillow, the face cradle and face pillow from your massage table and a short stool at the head of the mat with a wall behind you for support.

Seated Ashiatsu START HERE IF ... you want to use your feet to massage on the table but aren't ready for the bars just yet. This course will teach you how to sit on a stool at the head of the massage table and use cream or oil to perform an upper body barefoot massage sequence for prone and supine positions. To offer this service you'll need to be able to sit on a tall stool at the head of your massage table with a wall behind you for leverage and support.

Barefoot Bar Basics (21CE) START HERE IF ... you are ready to stand on the table and use one foot at a time plus the overhead bar support system to deliver a lubricant-based, full body barefoot massage sequence for prone and supine positions. The bar support system and a sturdy, well crafted massage table are the most important pieces of equipment that you'll need to properly practice what we teach you after class. We will help you with your unique bar construction project once you sign up for the class.

Barefoot Press & Stretch (21CE) START HERE IF ... you don't want to mess around with draping and lubrication like we do in the Barefoot Bar Basics course. Instead, clients keep their clothes on while you use your feet to deliver deep muscle compressions and Thai-style stretches to their entire body. You're going to need bars for this one, too, but we will help you with your unique project once you sign up for the class.

***We also have an optional, 1/2 day Intro to Ashiatsu (5CE) course for beginners who have a general curiosity about ashiatsu but aren't quite ready to make the full leap onto the table and bars by signing up for a multi-day immersion training. The 1/2 Intro to Ashiatsu course helps answer common questions like :
 • Is ashiatsu something I’m physically able to do?  
 • Is it something I’ll enjoy doing?
 • Is bar construction/setup possible in my current workspace?  If not, what other options are there?
The Intro to Ashiatsu course is an optional/elective course that is not required as a prerequisite to any "Level 1" or "Level 2" course or the 200hr Ashiatsu Certification Track.

The 200hr Ashiatsu Certification Track is a great place to start as a beginner as well. If you are an LMT interested in making a commitment to a deeper learning experience consisting of five, one week intensive trainings spread out over the course of approximately one year then consider starting with the certification track to set yourself apart and receive our endorsement as an Ashiatsu Therapist.

Question 6

How much practice time do you recommend after each CE course?

Accepted Answer

The general rule we follow is that students will need to practice the same amount of hours AFTER class as the amount of time spent IN class. So if the CE Weekend Immersion course you take is 21CE then you'll need at least 21 hours of practice after class to really polish up your new skills.

Question 7

What is the 200hr Ashiatsu Certification Track?

Accepted Answer

The 200hr Ashiatsu Certification Track is a learning pathway for serious LMTs who want to move beyond the weekend CE immersion courses into a deeper learning experience. When you sign up for the certification track you are committing to five intensive weeks of training spread out over the course of approximately one year. The techniques and course material are essentially the same as what you would learn in all of our weekend immersion courses combined PLUS supervised clinic work, one-on-one time with the instructor and a stronger emphasis on theory and case studies. After completing all requirements for the 200hr Ashiatsu Certification Track LMTs receive our endorsement as an Ashiatsu Therapist.

Question 8

Am I required to complete the 200hr Ashiatsu Certification Track before I can practice what I learn in the CE Weekend Immersion courses?

Accepted Answer

No. As an LMT practicing legally within the scope of practice in your state you may use anything you learn in our classes with your clients as indicated at any time. Our CE weekend immersions, power CE weekends, one day CE courses and table CE courses are designed to provide you with usable techniques that can be added to your menu of services once you have practiced and feel confident with the material you've learned. 
The 200hr Certification Track is an optional learning pathway for LMTs who want to make a deeper, more formal commitment to learning and receive Elevate Ashiatsu Endorsement. The techniques and course material in the certification track are essentially the same as what you would learn in all of our weekend immersion courses combined PLUS supervised clinic work, one-on-one time with the instructor and a stronger emphasis on theory and case studies.

Question 9

I already have some experience with ashiatsu and want to enroll in the 200hr Ashiatsu Certification Track. Will I need to start from the beginning?

Accepted Answer

Most likely, yes. While some of the basic techniques may be similar to the ones you already know, the certification track is structured for a deeper learning experience with more detailed sequencing, clinical practice requirements and skills check-offs. You will have an opportunity to tell us about your ashiatsu experience on the certification track application. If necessary, we will schedule a time to meet with you to determine skill level and appropriate placement.

Question 10

Do you have to be a certain weight or body type to practice ashiatsu?

Accepted Answer

Weight becomes an issue when you as a therapist either don't have control of your body weight and pressure and/or you don't have enough clients that are able to receive from you because of a drastic different in body weight/size. A moderate amount of upper body strength, flexibility and stamina are also required to learn and practice ashiatsu on the table with the bars. Also consider that you will need a table that can hold the weight you and your client. Remember that in the seated class you'll need to be able to swing your leg over and sit comfortably on a stool at the head of the table (like you are doing a cannonball jump into a swimming pool) and enough core strength to glide your feet down and back, both at the same time and one at a time.

Question 11

I have big feet. Can I still practice ashiatsu?

Accepted Answer

Yes! It's mostly about how you control your foot and the frame of the client you are working on. You'll need to really practice connecting with the various parts of your own foot so that, when you are gliding around bones you do not accidentally apply too much pressure. As with any massage techniques there will just be some things you will have to modify and we will gladly work with you on this in class.

Question 12

How do I install bars in the ceiling?

Accepted Answer

1. Decide WHO is going to help you with this project
2. You and that person visit the space where you plan to practice and collect as much information as you can about the ceiling and the room itself. Take pictures and video to bring to class. We will send you a Bar Installation Questionnaire that you can use as a guide once you've signed up for your first class.
3. Set up an installation date for the week after you take your first class.
4. Purchase equipment and get feedback on your installation project from your instructor during class.
5. Take the equipment and the information from class to the person who is helping you and install your bars.

Question 13

Do I need a different table to practice ashiatsu?

Accepted Answer

Probably. The easiest way to get started is with the table you have however, keep in mind that the table you use can limit your ability to perform certain techniques. 
Our absolute favorite table is the ELLORA VISTA LIFT from Earthlite (approx.. $1,999).The round corners, 3” thick cushioning, front wheels, heavy duty frame and optionfor 32” width make this table easy to love. And, there are many different color optionsto choose from for the vinyl cover which, we have found to hold up quite wellthrough many workshops and practice sessions over the years. No cracking orpeeling to speak of. There is an option to purchase the salon style Vista table that comes with a vertical tilt, but we haven’t tried that one out yet. Since we are sitting, standing and lunging on the table we prefer the working surface to be flat. There is such a wider range ofbodywork techniques that become available for you to use when you are able toraise and lower the table during the session. We highly recommend getting anelectric table at some point in your ashiatsu career. It truly changes how you work.
If you aren’t ready for an electric, stationary table then consider the portable EarthliteSPIRIT (approx. $499) which has a working weight of 800lbs, an option for a custom35’ width, rounded corners that don’t poke into the clients arms when they hang offthe sides of the table so you have room to step, 3” thick cushioning and the optionto customize the height range of the legs! This is probably one of the heavier
portable tables on the market, but you need for it to be heavy to support the work you will be doing.

Question 14

What are the specifications for the stool I'm going to be using at the head of the table?

Accepted Answer

There are a wide variety of bar stools on the market. You are looking for one without a back that can sit flush with the wall behind you. 28”-29” is the standard height for a tall bar stool though 30” + stools are certainly out there and available for purchase. Both metal and wooden stools are available. We like wood because they seem to be sturdier in the legs. And the saddle seat is our favorite because it offers a bit more room than the round seat. If you have trouble with slipping around on the top of the stool you can add some kitchen contact paper to the top.
Also, it’s not safe to get a stool that swivels.
You might see some stools on the market that come with cushioned seats but we don’t recommend those either because there will be moves in barefoot bodywork where you will stand on that stool with one leg/foot and glide on the clients back with the other foot. The extra cushioning on the seat compromises your ability to balance and stand and it is also difficult to keep clean.
The main point to consider when purchasing a stool is your table height. If you do not have an electric table then you will need to work with the same table height for the seated bodywork, the barefoot bar bodywork and any table Thai techniques or other massage applications that you wish to use. Therefore, the height of the table will need to be at a level where you can stand on the floor, half kneel on the table and also stand on the table and comfortably reach your bars during any one session. For this reason we feel like a taller, 29” stool is better, unless you are very short and have short legs. That way you can be sure that you will be sitting ABOVE your client and performing gravity assisted bodywork. You can also sit on a thick yoga bolster,block or pillow to add extra height while performing the seated barefoot bodywork techniques. Bar stools vary greatly in cost $39+ In my city I have seen these types of wooden stools at Target, the At Home Store and even at the Goodwill. An amazon search for 29” wooden bar stool proves to be especially rewarding as well.

Question 15

Is ashiatsu a form of shiatsu?

Accepted Answer

No. The term ashiatsu was derived from the word for a Japanese style of bodywork called shiatsu. “Shi” means finger and “atsu” means pressure. The roots “ashi” and “atsu” were similarly combined together to describe “foot pressure” as we’ve known it in the West since the 1990’s.

Ashiatsu is most accurately described as barefoot effleurage applied with gravity assistance. In a traditional ashiatsu session the therapist applies the effleurage with the foot/feet while standing on a table with their client and using a bar support system mounted to the ceiling for gravitational assistance and support. Effleurage is a French term that describes the soothing, stroking movement used in Swedish massage. Both ashiatsu and Swedish massage emphasize the treatment of soft tissue dysfunction based on a Western understanding of anatomy and physiology and typically exclude the energetic healing concepts found in traditional Eastern medicine practices like Shiatsu, Chavutti Thirumal and Thai Massage.

The Elevate Approach to Ashiatsu

We often refer to the Elevate Massage Training style of ashiatsu as "barefoot massage" or "barefoot bodywork" because our curriculum integrates an Eastern healing arts lineage into our program and courses.

Each of our core ashiatsu courses highlights a unique aspect of barefoot massage application on the table and all but two of them use the bar support system. Some of the courses in our program stay true to the definition of ashiatsu as “gravity assisted barefoot effleurage” while others deviate more toward “gravity assisted barefoot acupressure and stretching”.

Question 16

What is your ashiatsu lineage?

Accepted Answer

Elevate Massage Training founder, Charlene Gaffney, is a licensed massage therapist, professional massage instructor and certified yoga instructor. She holds a bachelor degree in psychology and another in Spanish language and a masters degree in English/ESL. She is a registered therapist and instructor with the Thai Healing Alliance International, a Certified Massage and Bodywork Educator with the AFMTE and the curriculum specialist for Elevate Massage Training. 
Lineage/Teachers USA : Chuck Duff, Tanya Boigenzhan, Michael Buck, Nephyr Jacobsen, Pierce Salguero, David Wells, Bob Haddad , Ruthie Hardee and Mary-Claire Fredette
Thailand : Suriyan Punyafoo, Sunshine School, Pichest Boonthumme, Loi Kroh School Chiang Mai, Therdchai Chumphoopong at The Fine Art of Thai Massage School, Ong's Thai Massage School

ASHIATSU PROGRAM

Frequently Asked Questions