DeepFeet Portland

Join us June 26-28. Work smarter not harder! I have one spot remaining for my June DeepFeet Basics course. Learn how to use gravity and overhead bars to deliver the best deep tissue of your career. DM me for $50 off and Register at DeepFeet.com to snag the last spot!

Why do we practice Ashiatsu with overhead bars?

The bars aren’t a crutch.
They’re a tool for precision, safety, and longevity — for both the client and the therapist.

We're not defying gravity. We're collaborating with it.
The bars let us stack joints, stay upright, and use our whole body efficiently.
Less strain on wrists, shoulders, and backs. More power, less wear and tear.

The bars allow us to distribute weight intentionally instead of dumping it.
That means steady pressure, smoother transitions, and zero chaos.

This is how therapists last decades — not just years.
Better body mechanics = fewer injuries = longer careers doing the work we love.

One question I often get is why we don't teach with the strap or silks for more support. Here's my take on that:

We focus on using overhead bars to promote proper body mechanics, balance, and control without relying on a strap. This allows for versatile techniques, smooth transitions, and reduces strain on the therapist's body. While straps work for some, we emphasize building core strength and natural balance for a consistent client experience. That being said, many therapists love their straps and have figured out many ways to use them after taking our classes.

Scroll through to see some different bar setups I have around our studios.

Send me a DM for any questions you have regarding bars or upcoming classes!

Take a look at all the classes offered at DeepFeet Portland.
Checkout DeepFeet.com to see the full descriptions, cost, and CEU hours for each class.

We love hearing how DeepFeet has impacted our graduates' lives, practices, and careers.
Swipe through a few recent reflections from the DeepFeet community.
Have you taken a DeepFeet class? DM me to share your experience!

When I first learned Ashi, it was about saving my career. My body. My longevity. Then I started teaching and everything cracked open.
Teaching forced me to slow down and actually understand the work not just do it. I had to name things I've been doing on instinct.
Now when I'm with a client I'm not just thinking about the stroke. I'm thinking about WHY it works, what makes it effective and how I would explain it to someone from scratch.
Teaching has made me a better practitioner, and more thoughtful therapist, and a fierce protective of this work (because bad education can burn someone out before they even get started).
This isn't just a technique. It's a way for therapists to stay in their bodies, protect their careers, and keep doing what they love without burning out.
That's why I teach

Happy New Year! 🥂

I'm going to start 2026 off by sharing my DeepFeet Origin Story:

I first learned about Ashiatsu while I was still in massage school. I even received it a few times for “homework.” I liked it—but life had other plans, and I was busy exploring different paths and continuing my education in other fields.

After becoming an LMT in 2013, I worked in clinics, chiropractic offices, and spas, always circling back to massage while quietly questioning if it could truly be a long-term career. When I finally realized that massage was the career I wanted to build, everything shifted.
That’s when Ashiatsu came back into the picture.

The cost had kept me on the sidelines for years—until I reframed it as an investment, not just in a technique, but in my future as a business owner. The timing was right. I was ready to commit to massage and to myself.

Taking my first DeepFeet course changed everything. My work became more sustainable, my body felt supported, and I could finally see a clear path forward—one that allowed me to work smarter, not harder.

Today, I own a successful, growing massage business in the Portland area, and I teach DeepFeet Bar Therapy because I want other therapists to see what’s possible when you invest intentionally—in your skills, your body, and your longevity.

Ashiatsu wasn’t just a technique for me.
It was a turning point. 🦶✨

November 8-9, 2025
2 Days, 16 Credits Tuition: 550 Deposit: 200 Pre-Req: Deepfeet 1 Certified

The DeepFeet 3 Sports™ curriculum uses barefoot techniques to enhance clients' posture, range of motion, and muscle responsiveness. This practice comprises a set of unique and proprietary foundational and structural methods, which we refer to as the "3 Connects. Involving compression, muscle stripping, and activation.

These three techniques work together to create an effective muscle release method, benefiting clients who experience pain and limited range of motion due to repetitive stress injuries, workout-related soreness, and past traumas or sports injuries resulting in scar tissue formation.

During the application, clients are assisted through multi-positioning to locate the anterior, lateral, medial, and sagittal muscles concerning surrounding structures and landmarks. Upon completing the training, students will gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to perform a 90-120 minute Ashiatsu session that includes posterior, anterior, and side-lying barefoot sports massage techniques.

The Art of Draping with Amanda Drakulich

Date:  September 25, 2025
Time: 11 am PST
Cost: Free for Members- $10 non non-members

Join us for a special session with Amanda Drakulich as she makes her Sole-ful Connection Hour debut!

This hour is all about one of the most essential yet nuanced parts of our practice: draping. From DF1 to DF3, and even how to incorporate Ashi Thai into a Swedish-style DeepFeet session, Amanda will guide you through techniques, adjustments, and tips to help elevate your confidence and professionalism.

Bring your questions—and your client!
If you have specific draping concerns, Amanda will walk you through real-time solutions

Al Polcario will be in Portland hosted by DeepFeet Portland for ASHI SUTRA- reserve your spot now!
Dates: August 9 & 10
2 Days, 16 Credits Tuition: 575 Deposit: 175 Pre-Req: Licensed Massage Therapist

Discover and experience ASHI SUTRA, the art of therapeutic ASHI-compression combined with a flowing series of THREAD-stretching bodywork. The term "Ashi" means "foot" in Japanese, while "Sutra" or "thread" comes from Sanskrit, collectively signifying "foot and thread." This practice utilizes therapeutic Ashi-Compression to create an opportunity for the body to repair and reconnect, effectively "suturing" what has become fragmented. Combining these elements in Ashi Sutra creates a synergistic experience that enhances their benefits. It helps unwind muscles and joints, providing immediate relief, improved stability, and enhanced invigoration, and contributes to a lifetime of healthy movement.

ASHI SUTRA can be performed on or off a raised or lowered massage table or Thai yoga mat. It allows clients to be fully dressed or properly draped and does not require massage oil. The technique does not need to be attached to a table, making it flexible for various settings. It can be utilized as a standalone session or with any Deepfeet basics, advanced sequences, or traditional massage techniques. THREADS and ashiatsu-overhead bars work beautifully together. Ashi Sutra is excellent for demonstrating skills at community festival events, wellness expos, and massage competitions.