Often our clients ask us how to talk about barefoot massage because they have such a positive, life changing experience, they want to shout it from the roof tops. First of all, the intense gratitude I have for that act of sharing, is out of this world. Not only do we appreciate the referral, but we truly look forward to taking care of your people. I never knew how much I could be fulfilled by being a massage therapist. Not to mention, a small business like ours survives on referrals generated by you.
One of the most common replies you may experience when you talk about receiving a barefoot massage is something along the lines of, “ewww, feet?” I’m not sure if I’ve just grown accustomed to my response or if people are now less forthcoming with that emotion because they are talking to the person that spends hours per day practicing this craft of barefoot massage but this reply is no biggie for me. Often, I reply with something simple like, “ooo you don’t even know what you’re missing!” If someone really persists, I’ll go into further detail about how having an open mind is a benefit for a lot of aspects of your life. I tend to be a bit more “in your face” about these sorts of things so I wouldn’t recommend that reply if you don’t want to have a conversation about how they are actually open minded. The easiest way to explain WHY you should receive a barefoot massage is like this:
“I get to use my feet. That is two more tools in my toolbox than a traditional hands on therapist has available.”
“Most people can’t distinguish between my feet and my hands especially after the first 15 mins when they slip into a deeply relaxed state.”
“My feet are probably more clean than hands. Think about it, my feet are nicely wrapped up in socks and shoes whereas your hands are out touching everything like door knobs, hand rails, and shaking other hands subsequently coming in contact with more germs. ”
“Barefoot massage is deep pressure without pain. Massage should NEVER hurt. We say you can knock on the door of pain but going all the way in is not advised. Because we are using the broad surface of our feet; the shock, if you will, is absorbed across a wider surface than say the point of your elbow or your thumb. This broadness promotes a deeper relaxation while receiving the deep therapeutic properties of massage therapy. ”
I also make a distinction about what it feels like. I joke that we are professional back walkers (because inevitably, I hear the story about how their sister/brother used to walk on their back when they were younger) but ultimately we are back gliders. The experience of Ashiatsu is so smooth to imagine walking on someone paints an unfair picture. However, when I say I glide down someone’s back, that paints a more clear picture to what the experience FEELS like.
These are just a few of the responses I’ve used when meeting people who aren’t abundantly excited about this type of massage therapy.
Another experience you may have when you talk to your friends about barefoot massage therapy is your experience and their experience could be very different. Let me share an example.
If Client A had an injury or an accident and was dealing with chronic pain, there’s a good chance we have helped them feel better. But when Client A goes out and unequivocally shares his/her message to Client B and insists that we can help he/she feel better, that just may not be true. Each person is dealing with a different set of considerations. It’s so important to share your experience but it’s also a good idea to simply share what you got out of a session with us, then direct them to schedule a phone consultation here to see if they are a good candidate for barefoot massage. I talk to all new clients before scheduling to ensure their session with us will benefit their life. It’s pretty likely they can receive a massage and will have a fabulous experience, but there are special circumstances that the nature of this deep pressure may not the best option.
We pride ourselves on being straight shooters and going above and beyond to provide a solution to what troubles you. We are professionals in relaxation, it’s important to remember that. The opposite of relaxation is stress. Stress can play itself out in many ways. Stress can be physical or emotional and sometimes it can be reversed but often it’s merely managed. How stress presents itself is always an interesting puzzle and in conjunction with you and your lifestyle, we work to help you put the pieces together. That’s why we ask a bunch of questions. Sole Shine is not the kind of studio to just come in and never come back. We want to know what you’re dealing with so we can best support you in your living your best life.
We encourage your sharing of your experiences and our mission. We would love to see a world where everyone was able to experience regular massage therapy. We are constantly considering our passions and reflecting our passions in our practice. We welcome your feedback and ideas. If you think of something we could provide for you, it’s likely someone else could benefit from the same thing.
As always, thank you for your continued loyalty. We look forward to proving a space for you to relax!
Sara
