Continuing Education is Professional Development—Not Just a Box to Check
With some states reducing their licensing requirements for entry and renewals (::cough:: Idaho, Texas… hopefully not Arkansas), pushing yourself to continue learning will matter now more than ever. No one should rely on the bare minimum or old information vaguely remembered from massage school to build a career in massage—especially in a specialized modality like barefoot massage. Learning on the job is an important way to learn, but it’s not the only way.
It’s OK: We know that’s not you.
We don’t want you to go it alone, fumbling around in the dark. CE classes are your chance to nerd out on topics you love with like-minded people: and in 2024, our students did just that! The instructor team here at the Center for Barefoot Massage experienced an amazing milestone in our student statistics: 72% of the attendees in our classes were our past students returning to additional training with us from previous years! Of everyone in those classes over the course of 2024, 36% of them attended more than 1 class in a single year!!! We got to spend a lot of time teaching, coaching, mentoring and smiling with our biggest fans in 2024, you all just 👏🏼Kept👏🏼Coming👏🏼 Back! Thank you! It was amazing to see the rapid growth in y’all’s approach to the work, to your sense of confidence and friendship across the barefoot LMT community… and we can only imagine how much progress the clients of our students experienced in their appointments across the nation all year.
Shameless Plug and short commercial break: just like word of mouth is the best way to get the right clients on your appointment schedule, it’s also the best way to find other LMT’s who’d be great at Barefoot Massage. Tell your massage friends about us!
Taking a barefoot massage class is just the beginning. No matter how engaged you are in class, you’ll never retain 100% of what you learned the first time around. We’ll also never teach exactly the same thing twice. That’s the beauty of live training: we teach to the room. Whoever shows up gets the latest version of the work in that exact moment. That’s why ongoing education is essential—not just to refine your technique but to ensure you’re practicing safely and effectively in a variety of scenarios.
Learning is not linear: if can come in waves and tides. Sometimes what seems like a perceived step backwards in class level will give your entire career a boost with a single “AHA” moment. I say this because I don’t want you to be afraid to dive back into a “beginner” class instead of a more advanced one.
At the Center for Barefoot Massage, we offer multiple ways to refine and refresh your skills, read more on this page of our website.. but here is a quick overview:
💡Revitalize (Refresher Classes): Refine and review techniques in class one day at a time.
🎯Touch-Ups: Targeted trade sessions for updates & feedback on specific content you need.
🎓Retake Courses: Revisit an entire class to deepen understanding.
As Your Skills Grow, So Do Your Responsibilities
Each level of barefoot massage training builds on the last. The clients underfoot change, the contraindications shift, and the pressure deepens or changes intentions—which means your awareness and expertise must evolve, too. What’s safe for one client might not be for another, and the only way to navigate those nuances is through continued learning and practice.
I’ve been teaching this work since 2009, and it’s always a little disappointing to see LMTs who market themselves as Barefoot Massage specialists but have only taken a beginner course and stop there. Yes, FasciAshi Fundamentals is an incredible class—as is any first step into the life-changing world of your training in Barefoot Massage. But it’s just the starting line. We can only pack so much into three days, and not everything translates directly from hands-on to foot-based work. Stroke direction, pressure application, and body mechanics shift when your feet take over, and that requires deeper training to truly master. BTW “Master” is a strong word; careful how you use that.🧿
Thanks for reading aFoot: the future of massage therapy! There is more to read, keep going, but also please consider subscribing for free to receive the new posts every six weeks as they are published!
The Science of Touch is Always Advancing
New research in fascia, pain science, movement theory and therapeutic massage constantly reshapes how we understand bodywork. Staying up to date, being open to growth, change and challenge ensures you're offering the best care possible—grounded in both tradition and modern evidence-based practices.
The strokes we teach weren’t just pulled out of thin air. We do literally and figuratively stand on the shoulders of those we’ve learned from who came before us, but we are committed to seeing what makes each thing tick to elaborate its finest outcome. The result of what you learn in class comes from extensive training into different styles of barefoot massage, myofascial and myoskeletal mobilization techniques, massage myth-busting research and biomechanic movement studies refined to create the most effective, effortless approach that we can muster. And we’re still evolving. By continuing your education, you’re not just learning more—you’re adding to the collective evolution and the future of the massage industry.
How to Keep Learning with Us
“Never Stop Learning” has always been at the core of the Center for Barefoot Massage. This company was born out of the frustration of hitting a learning ceiling—where we had trained before had stalled, leaving us with nowhere else to grow. We had taken every available class, but we were still thirsty for more. Rather than accepting that plateau, we built something with legs attached to those feet: and it’s taking us further than ever before!
We are committed to keeping your education evolving. Right now, we offer seven classes, with more classes in development and testing. Whether you’re just starting your barefoot massage journey or deepening your expertise, there’s always another step to take.
Below, you’ll find our Barefoot Massage Training Pathway, mapping out the many ways you can advance your skills. No matter where you begin, your path can be shaped by your clients’ needs and your professional goals.
*Heads up: Since we launched in 2017, we’ve offered a Transfer-In option for barefoot massage therapists who started their westernized Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage training elsewhere. While we’ve had a shortlist of accepted courses, this option will be discontinued at the end of 2025.
Why? Because we’ve raised our entry standards for our students and teaching team, and other programs haven’t kept up. We’re seeing a growing gap in essential knowledge among those who haven’t trained with us from the start. When the Center for Barefoot Massage started, we were already at the next level—but we’ve evolved even further since. The difference in training lineages is clearer than ever, and we’re proud to stand apart.
If you are someone who has started your Barefoot Massage training with another CE Company and are thinking about transferring in to learn our FasciAshi approach, now’s the time—this transfer opportunity won’t be available after 2025. We still encourage you to learn all the things wherever you find interest an inspiration: we are just at the point where we need to start requiring attendance in Fundamentals before any further FasciAshi training.
Lifelong Learning is Our Mindset
The world of bodywork is always evolving, and so are we. The Center for Barefoot Massage was founded to push beyond the limits of traditional education—to create a space where learning never stops, where techniques are refined, and where therapists feel empowered to grow for the long haul.
We know that you know that continuing education isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about staying safe, informed, and confident in your craft. In barefoot massage the learning never stops, and neither should you. Keep going!
Tell us in the comments what your next CE class is going to be: even if it’s not with us. Where are you taking YOUR Barefoot Massage for your clients?
(I had so many “AHA” moments in last months CranioSacral1 class that I took, and I’m super stoked for the 8 days of training I’ll be taking with Sharon Wheeler back at the Anatomy Trains home base in Maine! -Jeni
I will probably take another SMRT class, but I will be at instructor training in Tustin, CA in May! I can't wait!!!