Barefoot Hands - Gravity Bodywork +

Easy to do? No.

Can you do it? Yes.

Just like everything else—practice, practice, practice.

The first time might feel awkward. The second time too. By the hundredth time, you’ll wonder why you ever thought it was impossible.

Should you learn it? Absolutely.

Not because it’s easy, but because it can help you work smarter, last longer, and continue doing what you love for years to come.

For sustainability.
For career longevity.
For the clients who deserve your best work.

Keep practicing. Keep learning. Keep showing up.

Love what you do. Do barefoot. Be You!www.deepfeet.com | www.barefoothands.com | www.thetravelbars.com

just be you 🙏🏼

Love What You Do. Do Barefoot.

Barefoot bodywork is more than a technique. It is a journey of learning how to use gravity, movement, balance, rhythm, and touch in a different way.

Along that journey, we may encounter skepticism, misunderstanding, or resistance. Change often takes time, and new ideas are not always immediately accepted. That is true not only in the treatment room, but also in competitions and professional settings around the world.

Yet growth has always been part of our profession. Every generation builds upon the knowledge, traditions, and sacrifices of those who came before. Innovation is not about replacing tradition. It is about honoring our roots while continuing to evolve.

That is why I value massage competitions. Beyond medals and rankings, they provide a platform to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and plant seeds that may one day grow into something meaningful for our profession. Some seeds take years to grow, but every conversation matters.

I am grateful to the organizers, judges, volunteers, fellow competitors, teachers, mentors, students, clients, and barefoot practitioners around the world who continue to keep an open mind and an open heart. Your willingness to learn from one another helps move our profession forward.

Whether your path is Ashiatsu, Chavuttidhara, Chavutti Thirumal, Ashi Thai, Sarga, or another form of barefoot bodywork, remember that we are all part of a larger story—one that honors tradition, embraces growth, and seeks to serve others through meaningful touch. Let's continue what we love to do.

Love What You Do. Do Barefoot.

Tokyo, you were unforgettable. 🇯🇵👣

I came to Japan hoping to share barefoot bodywork with a new audience and left with a Gold Medal in Freestyle Eastern and a Silver Medal in Freestyle Western.

The medals are meaningful, but what I’ll remember most are the people, conversations, friendships, and the opportunity to stand alongside talented therapists from around the world.

A special thank you to Takuto Kawakami Sensei, the AMC team, judges, volunteers, and fellow competitors for creating such a welcoming and inspiring event.

To Ana Kawamura and Wayne, thank you for your incredible hospitality and generosity. To my cousin Joel, thank you for your support, encouragement, and for sharing this adventure with me. You helped make this experience possible in so many ways.

Thank you to ThermaBliss Wellness for sponsoring the self-heating shells I incorporated into my Western category presentation, and to Ana Malachowski, World Massage Festival, American Massage Championship, and Team America Massage for your continued support and belief in our profession.

www.thermablisswellness.com

Most of all, thank you to my teachers, mentors, students, colleagues, clients, and the global barefoot bodywork community. We all share in this journey.

👣 Love what you do.
🌏 Let’s go places.

rain or shine WE shine and arrive on time (or early)😝🥰🎉🇯🇵🤩🙏🏼

I compete to learn, grow, and humbly represent barefoot bodywork I do, my teachers and mentors, my amazing students, and most of all, my clients who continue to trust and shape my journey.

www.barefoothands.com
www.thetravelbars.com

Love what you do.
Let’s go places.

Do barefoot bodywork.
Do Chavuttidhara.
Do Ashiatsu Deepfeet Bar Therapy.

Work smarter.
Move with flow.
Create career longevity.

“Your ikigai is not only what you are good at, but what allows your spirit to feel useful, connected, and fully alive.”

In Japanese culture, ikigai is the idea of finding purpose and fulfillment in life. It lives somewhere between what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what can sustainably support your life.

For many of us in massage practice, ikigai is not simply about making a living. It is the quiet privilege of helping others heal, reconnect, breathe easier, and feel cared for through touch. It is continuing to learn, refine our craft, and show up with intention each day. Sometimes the work is exhausting, but somehow it still fills the spirit. That may be part of what ikigai feels like.