Ashiatsu Anterior & Side-lying

We had a great anterior and side-lying Ashiatsu class yesterday. I’m sore from all the work and convinced that I have to find an Ashi practitioner closer to home. I feel much looser than normal.

I have pictures, but I forgot the download cable at home so I’ll post them when I get back.
Today starts the Deep Feet II class and I’m really nervous about it. I’ll be looking for guinea pigs to let me practice on again soon so if you’re willing, leave a comment.

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Miracles for Molly

It’s amazing how people you don’t really know can touch your heart. I know Molly through one of her teachers at Decatur High. From all accounts, she is a bubbly 16 year old. Unfortunately, on July 31st, Molly was involved in a horrifying boating accident.

She has been in Huntsville Hospital recovering since that time.

I think we’re all aware of the healthcare crisis that is currently gripping our country. Molly and her family are on the frontlines battling the insurance companies as well as missing time from work to be available to care for Molly. That said, an evening of entertainment and silent auction in Molly’s benefit has been arranged.

Please come out and support Miracles for Molly on Thursday, September 17th, at The Brick on Moulton Street in Decatur, AL. Bidding will start at 5pm and run through 8pm. Eight Years Later, Bishop Black, and Big Junk will be playing beginning at 6:30pm. There will also be a raffle and door prizes all evening.

Lots of items, large and small, will be available to bid on including a gift certificate for a one-hour massage from Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology.

Hope to see you there!

To read more about Molly’s amazing journey, please visit her Caring Bridge page http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mollymoses/mystory or Facebook at the Miracles for Molly group.

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Things I Hate To See

Issues in Massage Therapy

Man with his hand held up towards the camera with the word "No" written in red.

One of the things I’m really sensitive about as a massage therapist is the unfortunate and continuing association with prostitution. The Alabama Board of Massage Therapy has regulations that govern the manner in which we can advertise and how we conduct our business. These laws are in place in order to foster a sense of professionalism, legitimacy and to disassociate our profession with that of the older one. These laws also serve as a resource pointing to changes being made and asking the public to examine their preconceptions. This is an issue in massage therapy that’s been around for a long time; it’s time to change it.

So when I watched the local news this morning I was dismayed to see that two separate “spas” were raided and arrests were made for allegedly promoting prostitution. Reading the story online (link is unfortunately, broken) made me pretty sure that none of the people arrested are trained and licensed massage therapists.

Perhaps you’re one of us who don’t think of massage therapy and prostitution in the same realm. Unfortunately, we are the exception. Even my own grandmother was worried when I took up this new path into massage therapy.

So what can we do?

Well, if you get a massage, tell people. Tell people how it made you feel better and safe. Good PR never hurts.

If you experience something during a massage that makes you suspect you’re being propositioned or if someone blatantly offers you a sexual favor, report it to the local authorities and the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy.

When stories like this hit the airwaves, I cringe inside and wonder if we’ll ever win this battle. I choose to believe, though, that every day is an opportunity to educate someone to the benefits of safe, therapeutic touch making the pool of like-minded individuals larger than it was yesterday.

If you’re interested in reading more about this topic, check out the articles and resources I’ve linked below.

A Client’s Bill of Rights
How to Get a Massage Therapist License in Alabama
End Human Trafficking – Alabama
National Human Trafficking Task Force – 1-888-373-7888

Updated: 12/16/2023

Sharon Bryant at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Therapist!

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Back to School

In our area of the country elementary and secondary schools have already started back. Some colleges are starting up and by the end of the month almost all will be teeming with students. When I was a kid, school didn’t start back until after Labor Day. I find it a little sad that summer has been reduced to nine short weeks.

Nonetheless, this time of schedule transitions, increased responsibilities, and homework added to the worst time of summer heat can cause a lot of stress.

In honor of all the teachers, parents, kids, bus drivers, school custodians, crossing guards, and rush hour commuters, I’m offering $5 off any one-hour massage scheduled between now and the end of this month. Just mention you saw the Back to School Special on the website and you’re eligible.

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Happy Birthday!

While the machinations to make Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology a reality started long before August 2008, it was a year ago this month that I finally received my license from the State of Alabama and was able to officially open my practice.

It’s been a good year. If you’re one of my many clients who have helped me realize a dream, thank you. If you haven’t been to see me yet, what’s keeping you?

Happy Birthday!

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Run Across Alabama

I am not a runner. I’ve always wished I could run thinking it would do wonders for my metabolism, but I’ve never been athletic and the few times I’ve tried to run, I’ve ended up hurting myself.

Therefore, when I was offered the opportunity to support the participants in Run Across Alabama I quickly agreed.

You may be wondering what Run Across Alabama is and why would anyone run in this heat? Run Across Alabama  is a group raising money in support of the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association. Why are they running in the Alabama heat? For Elliott, a little boy who was born with Tay-Sachs.

Please go to their site and read more about Elliott, the participants, and Tay-Sachs disease.  I won’t ask you to  make a monetary donation. Their website does an excellent job of soliciting to those who feel moved to do so.  I will ask that if you are along the route to please come out and lend a bit of moral support to the runners.

I’ll be in Hartselle July 2nd, doing my part by donating a bit of restorative massage for some of the runners.

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The Butterfly Did It!

Over the last two weeks I’ve seen two artists with back pain. Both explained that they’d been working on a public art exhibit painting / decorating huge metal butterflies.

Earlier this week I started seeing beautiful butterflies at the corners of certain streets downtown. I was so excited I began taking alternate routes to my office just to see how many butterflies I could spot.

Turns out there are 63 in all. Carnegie Visual Arts Center has more information on the exhibit as well as a map of where to find all these beautiful creations.

If you’re looking for something to do on one of these beautiful spring days, come on over to Decatur and search for some butterflies.

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Congratulations Michelle!

Our May winner for the Ashiatsu massage is Michelle!

Only four people registered for this contest so the odds were really good for everyone. Thanks go out to all who participated.

Check back soon for the June special.

And as always, give me a call if you want to schedule a massage.

Congratulations Michelle! Read More »

May Special – Register to Win a Free Massage!

Before I get to the details, I just wanted to say thank you to all the clients who came in for a massage during April. You helped make this my biggest month yet. I am very encouraged and excited about the new growth at Harvest Moon and hope that May will be even bigger. As a thank you to all my clients I wanted to run a really special offer for May.

Thus, I will be giving away an Ashiatsu barefoot massage in the month of May. If you’re here, you either got an email from me or from a friend or just stumbled in. Feel free to register after you’ve read the details below.

What is Ashiatsu? Ashiatsu literally means foot pressure. This massage is performed with the therapist’s bare feet to deliver a deep and luxurious massage.

How does that work? You, the client, will be on a massage table. I will use overhead bars for support and balance. I will not walk on you, but use my feet to give you an amazing massage.

Feet? Yikes! Most clients can’t distinguish the feel of the foot from the hand during a massage, they do however notice the deeper pressure. Also, I cleanse my feet thoroughly, just as I do my hands and arms, before each massage.

You keep saying deep pressure, does it hurt? It is true the pressure from Ashiatsu is deeper than with a hands-on massage. This is because the therapist has their entire body weight to draw from for leverage. While this has great potential for deep pressure and pain, the foot allows the pressure to spread over a larger body area than a normal hands-on massage. The pain felt with hands-on massage is usually caused by targeted work or in simpler terms from the therapist using their thumb or elbow to target a very small area. So Ashiatsu shouldn’t hurt because of the wider area of pressure application.

Also as a therapist, my job is to monitor your comfort level and customize the pressure to your tolerance. So, no, it doesn’t hurt as long as the therapist and client have open lines of communication.

Where do I register? Read the rules, it gives you the details.

Can I register more than once? Ultimately, I can’t control how many comments you leave. To be fair, I will put a name in for each different piece of contact information left. I think that is the fairest route.

How will I know if I won? I will contact you using the information you leave in the comments as well as announce the winner here on the blog.

If I win, will this massage count toward my Buy Five? Unfortunately, no.

Rules:
1. You must leave a comment to this post with your first name and some type of contact information. (Example: Hi, my name is Sharon and I want a free massage! You can contact me at sharonb(at)hiwaay(dot)net)
2. You must come to my place of business to receive the massage.
3. You must schedule and receive the massage before the end of May.
4. You must be willing to fill out an evaluation to let me know how I’m doing.
6. You must be healthy enough to receive the massage.*
5. You must tell everyone you know about your experience (just kidding, but it wouldn’t hurt!)

Other Important Stuff:
Comments will be open for registration from now until May 8th. I will then put all the names in a hat or a shoe or a bowl and have someone draw a name. Good luck!

* In order to be “healthy enough” to receive Ashiatsu you must not be pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you may not have had any type of major surgery in the last 9 months, you may not have had any surgical eye procedures during the previous 72 hours, you may not be on blood thinners, you must not suffer from phlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, aneurysm, osteoporosis, or fractured ribs.

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