Heather Lentz: Modalities That Helped Me To Heal And Be Healthy

I have learned so much in my search to heal from my injuries and in my mission to create a healthy lifestyle. When you are in pain you are willing to try just about anything to make it stop.

So, I researched and tried many things, one of which is Ashiatsu.

Ashiatsu is one of many tools I have discovered on my Healing Journey. Click HERE to subscribe to my blog to receive more articles in this series and others about how to heal and Be Healthy.

Ashiatsu massage is a modality that is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. In its early forms it was not considered a massage, but a healing art. Even now practitioners in China and Japan address their client’s health problems with dietary changes, herbs and other treatments along with Ashiatsu massage. In Japanese “ash” means foot and “atsu” means pressure. Ashiatsu may include the therapist’s use of their knees, elbows and hands as needed as well as their feet.

Ruthie Hardee is a massage therapist in the West that was born with scoliosis is credited with the development of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy. Constant bending over, client’s demands for more pressure and repetitive deep tissue massage techniques began to bother her hands and lower back. She had seen Ashiatsu massages being performed as a child in Manila and Kathmandu, one day it clicked for her and she decided to develop what is now known as Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy. Her version uses Asian techniques combined with Swedish massage, but uses the massage for relaxation, not as a medical treatment.

In Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy the therapist balances on the client’s back using bars above them as support and to adjust weight and pressure. The therapist uses their feet to administer the massage with long smooth strokes and deep pressure that causes deep relaxation. The intensity of the massage can easily be varied by the therapist by varying the pressure. Because they work with gravity and use their entire body as a tool, the possibility for injury for the therapist is reduced.

This type of massage is very effective in the treatment of lower back and hip pain and for full deep body massage because of the leverage the therapist is able to achieve. Treatments usually feature stretching, massaging, acupressure and adjustments to alignment. Ashiatsu is very deep and therapeutic and is a favorite of many clients who prefer a deeper massage.

Ashiatsu is a healing modality that provided me with a considerable amount of relief from my injuries. I am forever grateful to Shelby Reynolds at Grand Traverse Natural Health Care for her amazingly restorative Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Massages and for helping me heal and Be Healthy.

What are some of the benefits of Ashiatsu?

Assist Recovery from InjuryRelieve Pain & TensionReduced StressGreater Sense of Well BeingImprove PostureRelaxed MusclesIncrease CirculationRelieve HeadachesIncrease FlexibilityImproved Immune SystemEmotional BalanceReduce AnxietyLower Blood PressureIncrease Body AwarenessImprove Sleep

Ashiatsu is extremely safe and drug-free. The only side effects are feeling calm and relaxed. I highly recommend it if you are having trouble controlling pain with “traditional” medical treatments.
I am dedicated to supporting you in your journey towards a healthy lifestyle, please Contact Me for more information about Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy or other ways I can help you in your journey.