Advanced Ashiatsu: A Week of Fun and Sun on the North Shore of Oahu

Aloha Friends,

I have been doing DeepFeet's version of ashiatsu since 2007. I even went one step further and got certified in Advanced Ashiatsu through Barefoot Masters as well. When I heard that Christy Bebout was traveling to the North Shore, I went all in! I had a wonderful experience, and I am glad that I made the commitment. Learn more about Ashiatsu training by reading this article.

Beware of Hidden Fees from DeepFeet Bar Therapy

I do want to point out that all of DeepFeet's instructional courses have a hidden fee of $25 each for certification. This is in addition to the tuition of the class and is required to be paid afterward in order to actually be considered certified. 



Advanced Ashiatsu Massage class on the North Shore of Oahu

DeepFeet Bar Therapy instructor, Christy Bebout, traveled to the North Shore from Colorado to teach advanced ashiatsu. Here she is pictured below in the front-center with her talented foot. You can tell how much fun we are all having from the looks on our faces. I am the goofy one on the far left.

Waialua, Hawaii

Here is our instructor, Christy Bebout (far right), posing alongside fellow North Shore DeepFeet instructor, Abby Parker, and two of our classmates, Erin and Mei. Our classes were hosted at Abby Parker's North Shore Ashiatsu and Massage, Waialua's new massage teaching facility. Abby Parker recently opened at her new location in the Scoop of Paradise building at the historic old Koga Theatre last December. She has done a phenomenal job renovating the space.





Proper Body Mechanics

One of the most important things I found out last week is how many of the advanced two-footed strokes I had learned from Barefoot Masters utilized poor body mechanics. Fortunately, I have never had any issues with my shoulders, but it is great to know there are easier ways to do certain techniques that result in less strain on my body. The information I learned on proper body mechanics is priceless and will prolong my massage therapy career.


You really CAN learn to do everything with your feet

I was amazed at how I learned to target muscle groups that I previously thought Barefoot Massage was unsuitable for. This includes problem areas, such as the neck, rotator cuff, serratus anterior, and even subscapularis. I am now a firm believer that given enough time and practice, a therapist can learn to use their feet just as effectively, perhaps even more efficiently, than their hands!


Ashi-Thai feels amazing

In the photo above, we are performing Ashi-Thai massage. This is another modality that I was skeptical of prior to taking the class. Sometimes people are hesitant to spend their money on pressure-point/ stretch techniques when they could be getting an oil-based massage, so I was uncertain I wanted to spend so much money to learn the technique. After having experienced this massage, I have completely changed my mind. Ashi-Thai massage is AMAZING. If you haven't received it yet, you should try it out! The intensity of the deep pressure, combined with the release that a good stretch provides, results in some serious altered states of reality. It is incredibly therapeutic work that needs to be experienced in order to be understood.

Sonia and Mei, goofing off and eating chocolate croissants

It has been years since I've taken a workshop that is more than a few days in length. One of the most enjoyable and unexpected benefits of my week-long immersion in Ashiatsu was the camaraderie I experienced with the other therapists. A whole week of giving and receiving such amazing and intense bodywork was a transformative experience, bringing us all very close to one another. It was almost like being back in massage school!

If I had known how close I would become with these ladies, I would have taken more time off of work to spend with them. In fact, if I had it to do all over again, I would opt to stay at Ke Iki Beach with them. It really was an amazing experience, and I feel like I missed out by not hanging out with the gang! (Yes, Erin. I WILL come to visit you someday). Is it too soon to plan an Ashi reunion???


Ashiatsu Basic training is offered in Waialua, Hawaii

Abby Parker is amazing at one-footed advanced ashiatsu strokes. She is Oahu's premier DeepFeet Ashiatsu instructor, and her teaching facility in Waialua, near Haleiwa is the perfect location to learn Ashi. After having seen (and felt) her skills, I can't recommend her enough to anyone wanting to learn Barefoot Massage. If you are traveling from the mainland, her accommodations will give you an authentic North Shore, Hawaii experience. It is well worth the money to stay on the North Shore, even if you are just coming from downtown Honolulu. I can't imagine a better place to learn Ashiatsu!

If you are a professional massage therapist who wants to have the ultimate experience learning Barefoot Massage in Hawaii, go to https://www.deepfeet.com/instructors/abby-parker-instructor-in-training/ to learn more.

If you are interested in booking an amazing Barefoot or Ashi-Thai massage, call Sonia Beauchamp, "The Haleiwa Massage Muse" in Waialua at 808-285-3009.

Ashiatsu is amazing, and I feel transformed after a week of giving and receiving Barefoot Massage. The price of the classes is worthwhile for just that alone!

I love what I do, and I look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,
Sonia Beauchamp
The Haleiwa Massage Muse
808-285-3009
at Integrated Massage and Deep Tissue Therapy in Waialua