If you want the good news first, go read the Benefits of Barefoot Massage page, so that you can learn about how much good this style of bodywork can do for a healthy body… otherwise, read on to see what major “tissue issues” may not be appropriate for receiving Barefoot Massage.

The pressure we apply can penetrate down to the deepest layers of your body – including your bones and joints. The passive traction and joint articulations that we can provide may help to open the inter-vertebral disc space temporarily, increasing the space between the discs and allowing more room for the flow of blood, lymph and interstitial fluids to pass through. The deeper than deep tissue compression coming from the entire broad surface of our feet can really do a number on circulation of fluids through your organs, and the intrinsic attachments of all the joints in your body.

When you first visit Heeling Sole, we’ll be scanning your paperwork and health history for possible tissue issues that we can cater your massage to.  Most new clients breeze through filling out their Health Intake forms just before an appointment, because at first glance to them, it doesn’t really seem to apply to a massage, and the form is eating up precious minutes out of their session… and also, they figure the more the write down, the less we’ll work on them. Not true! Our massage therapists at Heeling Sole are very highly trained in the technique as well as in terms of pathology as it relates specifically to barefoot massage. We aren’t looking to disqualify you from receiving any aspect of these awesome massages, we are just asking these questions to make sure the session is optimized to you.

Barefoot Massage is MUCH different than any massage provided by hands, and there are many health concerns that we need to know about prior to using our feet and body weight to massage you so that we can best address your needs.

Here is a list of things we specifically need to know, so that we can make this massage effective for you

  • If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant – let us know.  We recommend that you wait until you are past your 1st trimester – and then once you are safely within the 2nd or 3rd trimester (with no complications) that you schedule a Thai Massage or a 30 minute session. (Ashiatsu and Chavutti are not recommended for prenatal sessions.)

  • If you’ve had breast/pectoral/gluteal/calf implants or any form of augmentation/enhancement within nine months

  • If you have a history of Tuberculosis, thrombosis, aneurysm, ongoing kidney disorders, or if you had Covid-19.

  • If you are currently going through radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

  • If you’ve had any knee, hip, spine, shoulder, or major joint surgeries within 6 weeks

  • If you are experiencing any active Autoimmune Disease, Fibromyalgia, or any lymphatic swelling/puffiness flare-ups.

  • If you are currently taking any blood thinners, blood clotting agents, steroids, cortisone, anti-inflammatories, pain killers, or muscle relaxants

  • If you’ve had a rib or any bone fracture/break within 6 months

  • If you have been diagnosed with Osteoporosis

  • If you have been diagnosed with any joint or spinal conditions. (Not SELF-diagnosed! We love to see Xrays and reports on your spinal health: got proof of a bulging disc? We need to know what stage and which vertebre it is specifically so that we can customize our work exactly to what your body needs.)

  • If you have been diagnosed any active neuropathy of severe pain and numbness, or if you have any neurological disorder that causes loss of sensation or muscle weakness

  • If you have any extra hardware installed (IUD, joint replacements, fusions, rods, plates, screws, alien probes, etc)

  • If you are diabetic, hypoglycemic or a hemophiliac and on medication

  • If you’ve had any recent injuries (Dislocations, sprains, strains, bumps, bruises, whiplash, etc)

  • If you’ve had recent injections of substances at joint or muscle junctures (Botox, saline, nerve block, epidural, corticosteroid, even birth control.) We CANNOT massage the area immediately surrounding, and in some cases distal, or further out the limb, from any injection site. Doing so may reverse the effects of your shot and may cause harm to your muscle tissue.

  • If you have had any kind of surgery ever – depending on the situation and how long it’s been, I may need a doctors approval, and I usually prefer that you completely finish your Physical/Occupational Therapy series prior to your session with me.

If any of these issues are currently impacting you, we suggest that you reschedule:

  • Heavy menstrual cramping or abnormal flow cycle

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • A flare up of diverticulitis or any digestive issues

  • Low grade fever

  • Any acute intense pain that does not subside

  • Numbness or tingling in any area.

  • Any contagious rashes, warts, foot fungus, skin infection

  • If you have been on a plane flight longer than 6 hours within the last 24 hours prior to your massage appointment.

  • If you are sick. (If we get sick, then we have to reschedule everyone!) We will be taking temperatures prior to every session. If you register over 99.9, you will need to reschedule and leave. You can read our Covid-19 and cancellation policies here.

  • If you don’t even like deep pressure during your massages, then this isn’t for you- our work is intended to be deeper than deep tissue. Heeling Sole is not a frou-frou spa, and although the massages have a “relaxing” effect, barefoot massage is not performed at a light depth. Ashiatsu is equivalent to a sports massage, and you may experience the intensity felt during an AIRROSTI or Rolfing treatment. Go deep or go home!

  • If you weigh less than 130 pounds or less than the massage therapist working with you, we will substitute most of the massage techniques for stretch therapy, Range of Motion and Thai massage work. This is because if we weigh more than you, it’s not safe for any of us… no matter how deep you like your massages, this work is meant for clients who have more body mass than us. (Otherwise we are doing a pull-up for the whole hour and causing repetitive strain in our bodies.)

  • If you are under 18 years old. We do not massage minors, so we can refer you to a hands-on massage therapist instead.