How to Get a Barefoot Deep Tissue Massage

Athletes and those who suffer from muscular tension due to bone deformity or illness need to get special attention for deep tissue health. Barefoot deep tissue massage is a recently developed massage technique that incorporates an arsenal of modalities and uses the feet and legs, rather than the hands and arms, to perform the treatment. Get a barefoot deep tissue massage for relief from nonspecific symptoms or chronic pain.

Things You'll Need

• Barefoot deep tissue massage therapist

Instructions

1. Get a referral to a licensed massage therapist trained in barefoot deep tissue work. Ask at sports medicine centers, spas and state massage licensing departments.

2. Make an appointment and find out from your therapist what to wear and how long the session will take.

3. Dress for your treatment session as advised by your massage therapist. Some prefer loose, cotton clothing, such as T-shirts and sweat pants. Others request non-bulky clothing, such as leotards or gym shorts.

4. Drink a lot of water before and after your massage. Deep tissue work stimulates the lymphatic system, and water helps it to drain effectively, resulting in a purifying benefit.

5. Listen and ask questions as your massage therapist describes the techniques he will use. Your cooperation will be necessary.

6. Let your massage therapist know about any specific areas of pain or recent injuries that you have had so that your treatment can be customized.

7. Lie on the shiatsu-style mat face up or face down, as the massage therapist instructs.

8. Use pillows provided by the therapist to achieve certain postures that he requests. These positions will expose specific muscles or pressure points for manipulation or compression.

9. Experience direct pressure, or compression, of tissue from your therapist's foot. The practitioner's balance, weight and pressure are regulated through leaning on a walking or balancing stick.

10. Savor the immediate and long-term benefits to your body's circulatory, muscular, skeletal, digestive and immune systems.

Tips & Warnings

• If you haven't been satisfied with the pressure of regular deep tissue massages, barefoot deep tissue may be the answer. With this type of massage, the therapist can fully regulate greater pressure than the arms are capable of, while exerting less effort.

• You will not remove your clothing for this type of massage.

• The numbers of practitioners of barefoot deep tissue therapy are still limited, so you may have trouble locating one outside a large metropolitan area.

• Pressure on certain areas of the body affects other areas. Don't conclude that your therapist isn't addressing a problem in your neck, for instance, when he works extensively on your feet.