Welcome!

Thank you for checking out my website! This is the home page for my massage and bodywork practice, The Well Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Austin. There’s also a page for my blog, where I post about well-being and health. I’m glad you stopped by.

I offer Ashiatsu and integrative massage at 827 W. 12th in downtown Austin, Texas, USA (with free parking!). Read on for more about these bodywork modalities! I am also studying craniosacral therapy and am offering practice sessions until I get certified.

I provide fresh organic cotton sheets, high quality massage oil (warmed for Ashiatsu), aromatherapy if you like it, and music or nature sounds (or quiet if you prefer). My table has a warmer for extra ease and relaxation, and I offer the use of a breast pillow for the comfort of large-breasted women.

Ashiatsu barefoot massage

Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy (AOBT) is called “the deepest, most luxurious massage on the planet.” Often called barefoot massage, Ashiatsu is performed on a standard massage table. I hold onto overhead bars firmly mounted into the ceiling while I massage your body with my feet, checking in with you and carefully controlling pressure for your comfort level.

Ashiatsu (Japanese for “foot pressure”) consists of long, slow, flowing, deep strokes with the whole foot as well as more targeted work using the heel or balls of the feet. I use both static pressure and moving strokes. The slow pace is very relaxing.

If you like slow, deep pressure, feeling your muscles pressed into the bones, you will love Ashiatsu. In fact, many people love it so much, they never go back to traditional massage. Others like to alternate Ashiatsu sessions with integrative or another type of massage.

Ashiatsu presses the stress out of your body, induces deep relaxation, and deeply refreshes the circulatory and lymphatic systems, activating the body’s detoxing and healing functions. Spinal adjustments may occur. Release of adhesions and trigger points often occur. Knots in muscles become smaller or go away entirely, without the “pokiness” or pain of a deep tissue massage. Clients leave feeling a deep sense of relaxation, renewal, and well-being.

If you’re wondering about the pressure, I test carefully and check in with you to avoid delivering more pressure than is comfortable. If you like medium to firm pressure when receiving Swedish massage, Ashiatsu should work really well for you. I can deliver up to my full body weight. If you like more pressure than that, I’m not the right Ashiatsu therapist for you, and I can refer you to another Ashi practitioner.

I offer Ashiatsu sessions that last either 60 or 90 minutes. Both include footwork on the back of the body. The 90-minute sessions may include footwork on the fronts of the legs, the arms and hands, and the side of the body, as well as using my hands to work on your feet, abdomen, chest (upper chest only on women), hands, neck, face, and/or scalp, time allowing. Many recipients prefer manual work on the shoulders and neck as a finishing touch — and you may prefer feet and hands.

I can also include some Ashiatsu in a 90-minute integrative massage session, so if you’re wanting really deep pressure just on the back, glutes, hamstrings, calves, or forearms while receiving an integrative massage on the rest of your body, I can work with you to design a session that leaves you feeling great.

Who just loves Ashiatsu?

What Ashiatsu clients say about it

If you’ve never had an Ashiatsu massage, here’s a video that can help you know what to expect. I don’t work exactly like this practitioner, but this will give you a general idea.

Integrative massage

I also offer integrative massage, which combines Swedish and deep massage (the targeted, elegant Lauterstein method of structural and energetic alignment) with foot reflexology, acupressure, stretching, body mobilization techniques, trigger point therapy, Reiki, and energy work.

In other words, receiving an integrative massage means you get “the works,” according to your body’s needs, your desires for your session, and the full extent of my skills and intuition.

What clients say about integrative massage

Craniosacral therapy

I’ve taken several 4-day trainings in craniosacral work and offer free practice sessions while I pursue basic certification (expecting to complete the requirements in the fall of 2013) and advanced certification (I hope to complete in 2014). I’ve done trainings in both.

The basic certification is in the classical (i.e., Upledger style) of craniosacral therapy. The advanced certification is in biodynamic craniosacral therapy. If that doesn’t mean anything to you, just know that both styles use stillness and light touch to allow your body’s fluids, tissues, bones, and energies to seek optimal health and relationship. Clients often experience a deeper sense of being calm and centered, and unwindings from tension patterns often occur.

Practice sessions are free, although I do accept donations to help with my rent and future trainings.

I’m very excited to be adding this subtle, elegant, effective modality to my bodywork practice!

Details

• Time, money, and massage packages
• Pay-what-you-wish days and massage email list
• Gift certificates and referrals
• Massage outcalls

Finding my studio

My downtown studio at 827 W. 12th St. is easily accessible from I-35 and Mopac, with 15th/Enfield being a good cross street to access 12th St. The studio is located two blocks east of Lamar, across 12th from the ACC bookstore/car park, behind the rare bookstore. The studio shares a parking lot with Dynamic Reprographics. You may park anywhere in the lot for free.

The Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail is a block away, and bike racks are available.

Call me at 512-507-4184 or click the green button to read more about my services or to schedule an appointment

Schedule Appointment

Thank you so much for reading about my practice! I’d love to see you on my massage table!

MaryAnn Reynolds, MS, LMT, NCTMB

“Tension is who you think you are. Relaxation is who you really are.” ~ Chinese Proverb

P.S. I invite you to “like” my Facebook business page, https://www.facebook.com/WellBodyMindHeartSpirit.