Decatur Alabama

Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center is Now Open!

Massage /

I am so excited to announce that after 10 years of dreaming, planning, spending a lot of time, money, and energy traveling and training that Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center is now a reality!

Since my very first Ashiatsu barefoot massage class way back in 2009, I have dreamed about being able to bring this wonderful modality to Alabama on a larger scale. Not only is this work one of the most profound and effective types of massage I have ever received, it has allowed me to save my body giving massage so that I can be of even greater service to my clients.

By finally accomplishing this goal of opening Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center, I will be able to help other massage therapists learn to use their feet, save their hands, arms, necks, and backs. This will allow more massage therapists to bring this myofascially-based ashiatsu to many more people multiplying the potential of the number of people who can benefit from this work.

As a client, I know you’re probably wondering what this means for you. Well, you may be glad to know that each time I teach we will need guest clients for our student clinic. This will give you the opportunity to come in to a student clinic to receive barefoot massage from students for a discounted rate!

If you’re a massage therapist wanting to learn barefoot massage, head on over to the Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center page for more information on class schedules, locations, dates, times, etc. Our first class will be taking place March 2019 and we’d love to see you there!

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

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Alabama Ashiatsu Travel FAQ!

Massage /
FasciAshi barefoot therapists learning

Welcome to Decatur, Alabama!

Welcome to Decatur, Alabama (aka the River City), host to Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center the Alabama Campus for Center for Barefoot Massage! Sharon and her support team at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology are excited to welcome you to your next barefoot massage class.

This is your “insider’s guide” to all you need to know before you arrive. Decatur is a beautiful place, if you’re traveling consider extending your stay an extra day to take in some of what our lovely area has to offer!

Training Location:

The Alabama Campus of the Center for Barefoot Massage is located at:
1900 Flint Road, Decatur, AL. Click here to see a map!

We are located inside the brick house next door to Webb-Awtrey Insurance Agency. The training location is a shared space inside Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology. Please park in the back of the building as the limited parking spaces in front are reserved for clients.

Travel Suggestions:

Huntsville International Airport is located approximately 30 minutes from the training location. It’s closer, but usually a little more expensive. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport is approximately 1.5 hours from the training location. Usually the cheaper option, you can catch a Southwest flight here, but you’ll have to rent transportation.

Lodging Suggestions:

The Loft in Hartselle – 15 minutes from training center
AirBnb has many availabilities in the Hartselle, Madison, and Athens areas. Be aware that Decatur has made AirBnBs and other short-term private rentals illegal.
There are several large chain hotels located on Beltline Road 5-10 minutes from the training center.

Coffee & Eats:

Java Jaay’s is a couple of blocks down 6th Avenue from the training center and they have a drive through! Please consider supporting our local businesses first, but if you must have Starbucks the closest is going to be inside Target on the corner of Hwy 31 and Hwy 67.

The Brick Deli & Tavern is uptown and is exactly what it sounds like. Let’s Do Lunch is an adorable little lunch counter with interesting and delicious options. Current: Coffee and Collectibles, West Side Coffee Place & Cafe, and Whitt’s BBQ are more local options that serve lunch. And don’t forget Mad Hatter’s Tea Shop & Apothecary inside Urban Atlas for an interesting local beverage experience. The Rail Yard and Bank Street Grill are other local favorites that are a little more upscale. There is a grocery store and a few chain restaurants that are walkable from the training center. Transportation will open access to many more that we can talk about during our time together.

See the Sights:

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is right down the street. Take a hike out to the observation building and see what kinds of waterfowl are in season. Check out the interpretive center and five different walking trails. It’s also all FREE!

Other nearby outdoor activities include Delano Park & Rose Gardens, Point Mallard, Hurricane Park, Bankhead National Forest, and Alabama Scenic River Trail.

Into history? Go see the Old State Bank Building on historic Bank Street and the Confederate Museum.

We are also directly across the street from Upsurge, Decatur’s indoor trampoline facility. And a short drive across the river will bring you to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

There is so much to do and see in our area you may want to extend your training into a mini-vacation that you can write off!

Directions:

From Huntsville International Airport travel west on I-565 to Hwy 31 south/6th Avenue. Turn left onto Corsbie Street. Corsbie Street turns into Flint Road in front of Upsurge. We are directly across from the Upsurge loading dock next door to Webb-Awtrey Insurance Agency.

From Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport travel north on I-65 to the Priceville exit (#334, AL-67). Take AL-67 north (turn left) to Hwy 31/6th Avenue. Turn right onto Hwy 31/6th Avenue. Turn right onto Corsbie Street. Corsbie Street turns into Flint Road in front of Upsurge. We are directly across from the Upsurge loading dock next door to Webb-Awtrey Insurance Agency.

Happy travels, we can’t wait to see you here!

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

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Have a Grateful Thanksgiving!

Community /

This year has been so filled with blessings, personal and professional. For me to list them all would take days. One of the things that I am most grateful for is also something that has been the greatest challenge this year. If you guessed that it’s the travel, you would be right. I am so thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to travel to all the different places I’ve been this year. I’m grateful for all the education I’ve received. I’m thankful for all the instructors who have so graciously shared their lives and expertise with me this year. And I can’t even begin to express how full my heart is at the reality of this new venture of becoming an instructor for the Center for Barefoot Massage.

I’m also extremely grateful that my clients have stuck with me throughout this year that has been so full of leaving the office to travel all over on these educational forays. I would promise it’s not going to happen again, but until I actually have Alabama Barefoot Massage Training Center up and running I will be traveling to finish that training.

I hope each and every one of you are having a beautiful Thanksgiving!

I hope this holiday is everything you need whether that be time with your loved one’s or time alone. And that you get to enjoy your favorite Thanksgiving dish regardless.

The office will be closed today and tomorrow so I can celebrate with my family. If you’re interested in doing a little Black Friday or Small Business Saturday shopping, gift certificates can be purchased over here.

The office will be back open next week before (you guessed it) I leave once again for Cincinnati and another CBM training. It’s almost over, it’s almost over, it’s almost over…if I keep saying it, it has to be true!

♥

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

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2018 AMTA-AL Chapter Fall Conference with Pete Whitridge

AMTA /

I’ll be out of the office for a few days for the 2018 AMTA-AL Chapter Fall Conference.

I’m really excited to meet and learn from Pete Whitridge. Hopefully I’ll bring home some new myofascial techniques for neck and shoulder as well as some techniques for scar work.

I’ll be back in the office Monday, November 5th.

The schedule is filling up quickly for next week so hit my online scheduler to see what’s available and grab something quick.

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

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Top Secret Ashiatsu Training

Ashiatsu /

ashiatsu top secretSo I’ll be going out of town (again) for a few days.

I’ll be taking a class, but I can’t tell you exactly what it is because it’s a top secret project that some of my ashiatsu barefoot massage cohorts have been working on. They’ll be teaching this new and hush, hush ashiatsu method to a few of us so we can test it all out before it rolls out to the general public. Never fear though, unless they swear me to further secrecy I will be bringing it home and trying it out on whoever wants to lay on my table!

I’m excited about this trip not only because of the new skills, but also because I’m returning to my ashiatsu roots. This training is in Cincinnati at Affinity Massage Studios with my original instructor, Mary-Claire Fredette, from all those many years ago.

I’ll be back in the office Monday, September 24th!

Check out my online schedule to see what’s open next week if you want to get on my table!

♥

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

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2018 AMTA National Convention Wrap-Up

AMTA /

So many folks have been asking about my trip to Washington D.C. I know it’s taken a while for me to get myself organized, but here it finally is, my wrap up from the 2018 AMTA National Convention in Washington, D.C.!

There were lots of meetings, lots of food (including dessert), lots of sightseeing, lots of classes, and a lot of time spent with dear friends I only get to see at convention. I hope each and every one of you get the opportunity to experience the kind of crazed joy that is a massage convention. Perhaps your life’s focus is not massage therapy, but surely we aren’t the only ones who connect like this each year!

And with that, enjoy the photo show!

♥

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

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I’m A Yankee Doodle Dandy!

AMTA /

Here I go again! It’s that time of year when AMTA hosts its National Convention. This year it’s in Washington D.C. and I’m headed out to see friends, represent AMTA-Alabama Chapter, and see as much of our capitol as possible. There will be classes, of course, but because it’s been a while since I signed up for them it’s going to be a surprise for us all.

With me gone, the office will be closed, but no worries, I’ll be back in the office on the 13th!

BACK ON THE 13TH!

Until then, check my online schedule to see what’s available next week. If you can’t schedule it yourself, shoot me a text message and I’ll do it for you!

Have a great week everyone!

♥

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

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How Not to Break the Bank This Summer!

Ashiatsu /

5 Tips for Saving Money While Traveling

It’s that time of year again when everyone, it seems, is traveling. I’ve already had two trips this spring, I’m leaving this week for a leadership training, and it now looks like I’ll be traveling a few days each month through the end of the year. Thus I started thinking about how I can save some money (since I’m also losing income while traveling) and decided to put together my list of how to save a few dollars on the essentials.

So here are my tips for cheap(er) vacationing!

  • Sign up for (or update) AirBnB*! Then spend some time finding the perfect place to stay. AirBnB offers all different price points, amenities, and locations that can save you a lot in accommodations.
  • Pack a cooler! A cooler works really well on road trips. Packing your own sandwiches, snacks, and cold drinks can save quite a bit and keep your tummy happier. Even if you only eat out of the cooler once a day, it adds up. If you’re not road tripping (or even if you are), consider hitting the prepared foods section of the local grocery for a salad or hot meal.
  • Fly on Tuesday or Wednesday. The experts that study the airline industry say these two days are best for cost savings!
  • Visit our state and national parks. There are usually low-cost entrance fees and many times have lots of activities available for no-cost beyond the entrance fee. These areas are also usually less crowded than other public use areas.
  • Seek out free walking tours, free days at museums and parks, or discounted matinee shows. Also, check out the local theater and orchestra schedule for free and discounted dress rehearsals.

So that’s my short list of how I save a few dollars when I have to be away from home whether it be a fun, summer vacation or a business trip.

Happy Traveling!

***

*I’m an AirBnB host as well as an avid user of AirBnB.

♥

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

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What’s the Best Gift You Ever Received?

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With graduations pressing in on us from every direction, I’ve been thinking a lot about gifts and proper etiquette and things of that nature. Things have changed a lot since I graduated from high school and college and not wanting to just throw money and gift cards I got to thinking about the best gifts I’ve ever received. I find I don’t remember many gifts I’ve received…

Best Gift Ever!

Thirty years ago (gulp!) I received a toiletry kit from a family friend. It was a gift for my high school graduation. At the time I was less than thrilled with it. I wondered what possessed someone to give a young person a gift like that and admittedly I didn’t use it for a long time. In fact, I was probably in my last year of college before I pressed it into use.

Since then I’ve practically worn it out between all the personal travel and professional trips I’ve taken between two careers. In fact, I’ll be replacing the soap box before my next trip as it finally gave up the ghost. I suppose thirty years will do that to plastic.

When it broke, it made me a bit sad and I started to wonder if I could count up how many places it’s been with me. Alas, my memory is not that good, but it did make me remember how I felt all those years ago receiving it as a gift. And I began to examine why I now treasure it as one of the very best gifts I’ve ever received. My short-sighted, young mind never expected to live the life I’ve lived. Way back then I never thought I’d get to go to all the beautiful places I’ve visited. Thank goodness that family friend saw some sort of potential in me and had the foresight to play a small part in getting me ready to fulfill it.

She planted a seed of sorts. Made it a possibility that travel was in my future. She gave me something to work towards when I was a poor college graduate who could barely cover the bills. And now after all these years and all the traveling we’ve done together I don’t quite know how I would have gotten by without it.

I have a couple of nieces graduating this year. I hope the gifts they receive will inspire them as much as my little travel toiletry kit has for me.

So what do you count as the best gift ever received?

♥

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

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It’s That Time of Year Again!

AMTA /

 

I’m headed off to Orange Beach, AL, this week for the 2018 AMTA-AL Chapter Spring Convention. The office will be closed for a few days while I take a class and spend some much needed time relaxing on the beach! No worries though, I’ll be back in the office on the 23rd.

BACK ON THE 23RD!

Until then, check my online schedule to see what’s available next week. If you can’t schedule it yourself, shoot me a text message and I’ll do it for you!

Have a great week everyone!

♥

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

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