Meet Ashley Shears | Barefoot Massage Therapist & Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Shears and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I knew I wanted to help people, but wanted to do it in a way that felt aligned with my heart and soul. After years of working for others, gaining experience, and learning as much as I could from those who came before me, I decided to take the leap of faith and start working for myself. It helped that I had, and still have, a good support system who consistently listen, give feedback, and encourage me to follow my dream.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Did you know that the average career length for a massage therapist is 5-7 years? Some may even say it’s closer to 3-5 years. I’m proud to say that I’ve been a massage therapist coming up on 14 years now and I can 100% thank barefoot massage for that!

After the first 6 years of practicing massage, I acquired receptive-use injuries in both of my shoulders from delivering traditional deep tissue techniques. My stellar body mechanics weren’t enough for my small frame so I had to think outside the box in order to save my career. Enter Myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage!

What is that, you ask? Well, “ashi” means foot and “atsu” means pressure. This modality allows me to use my feet as a tool, instead of my hands, and use a combination of gravity, body weight, and myofascial techniques to deliver comfortable and effective deep tissue massage. For balance, I use a combination of two wooden bars secured into the wall or ceiling in addition to a heavy-duty strap that hangs between the bars and allows me to treat clients from many angles to target their muscles more effectively.

My business, SoleCal Barefoot Massage & Wellness, specializes in Myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage. This style differs from traditional, westernized Ashiatsu because of its myofascial component. “Myo” refers to the muscle and “fascial” refers to fascia, otherwise known as connective tissue. Traditional Ashiatsu uses long, flowing strokes and tends to use more lotion or oil. From a client perspective, it can be perceived as a more spa-like experience. Myofascial Ashiatsu flows, but very slowly and has a much more specific and clinical style compared to the traditional style.

This modality truly sets my practice apart from other therapists and I’m very excited about that! There aren’t many Myofascial Ashiatsu therapists in California and that’s why I’m here. I’m proud to say that I’m the SoCal instructor with The Center for Barefoot Massage and my goal is to help elevate and transform the industry throughout the state while simultaneously helping massage therapists save their bodies from burnout and extend their careers just as I did.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh wow, there’s so much to choose from! I’d definitely take my friends on a whale watching cruise as it’s one of my favorite things to do. Depending on their interests, I may take them to Griffith Observatory for a hike to see the Hollywood sign or to Disneyland. No matter what we do, we would definitely enjoy all the local, fantastic food that Southern California has to offer and enjoy the many beautiful landscapes and activities.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
In addition to my family & friends, I’d love to dedicate this shoutout to The Center for Barefoot Massage! This company and their work has truly changed my life and my career. They’re working to raise the standard on the quality and perception of massage therapy, specifically with Myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage. Their goal is to grow the awareness and understanding of barefoot massage within the massage industry and in the public eye. Without their courses and support, I truly don’t know where I’d be within this industry or my life.

Website: http://socalbarefootmassagetraining.com

Instagram: @socalbarefootmassagetraining

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-shears-cmt-lmt-bctmb-a479b4141/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socalbarefootmassagetraining

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/solecal-barefoot-massage-and-wellness-tustin

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CenterforBarefootMassage

Other: My business website: https://solecalbarefootmassage.com IG: @solecalbarefootmassage FB: https://www.facebook.com/solecalbarefootmassage