Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy is a massage modality where the therapist uses their feet, supported by ceiling-mounted bars, to apply deep, broad, gliding pressure across the body. At Jaece at Canyon Gate in Orem, Utah, Ashiatsu is delivered by Michael Jaece, a licensed massage therapist with more than 25 years of practice who teaches the technique to other practitioners.
Most people who book Ashiatsu have one of two reasons. They’ve had painful deep tissue massage in the past and want depth without the sharpness, or they’ve heard that Ashiatsu reaches places that hands and elbows can’t.
Both are accurate.
How Ashiatsu works
The therapist stands on a low platform above the massage table, holding overhead bars for support and balance. Using their feet, they glide long strokes across the back, glutes, hamstrings, and shoulders, distributing body weight through the broad surface of the foot.
The bars allow the therapist to control exactly how much weight goes into each stroke, shift weight between feet quickly, and lift fully off the body when needed. This is what makes Ashiatsu both safe and therapeutic, distinct from “walking on someone’s back” without the controls.
If you want a deeper explanation of the technique itself, the full Ashiatsu guide covers history, mechanics, and how the modality differs from related approaches.
Why Ashiatsu often goes deeper than deep tissue
Deep tissue massage uses hands, thumbs, and elbows, which concentrate pressure into small surface areas. That concentration is why deep tissue can feel sharp or painful, even when the actual depth being achieved is moderate.
Ashiatsu uses the foot, which is a much broader contact surface. When pressure is spread over a larger area, the body doesn’t perceive it as a threat the same way. Muscles don’t tighten to protect themselves. They allow the work in.
The result is paradoxical at first glance: Ashiatsu can deliver significantly more depth than deep tissue while feeling less intense.
What to expect at your first Ashiatsu session
The intake conversation is the same as any massage. We’ll talk about what you’re feeling, where you’ve held tension, and what you’re hoping the session will address.
Once on the table, you’ll feel the broad surface of the foot rather than a hand. Most clients are surprised by how much the foot feels like a hand at first, then notice the difference: longer strokes, broader pressure, slower pace.
I’ll check in early to make sure the pressure is right and that you can breathe normally. If you find yourself holding your breath, the pressure is too much. Tell me.
After the session, expect to feel:
- Loose and slightly tired rather than sore
- Looser through the long planes of the back, glutes, and hamstrings
- More aware of how you’ve been holding tension across broad muscle groups
Drink water. Move gently for the rest of the day.
Why this practice for Ashiatsu
Ashiatsu requires more setup than most modalities. The therapist needs ceiling-mounted bars, a low platform, and the specific training that comes from a certified Ashiatsu program. That’s why it’s not on every massage menu in Utah County.
Beyond having the equipment, Michael teaches Ashiatsu to other practitioners. Teaching a technique requires a different depth of understanding than performing it. It means breaking the technique down, articulating what makes it work, and observing what goes wrong when others try it. That depth shows up in the work itself.
The studio at Canyon Gate Wellness Studios in Orem is built specifically for this work, with the right ceiling height, room scale, and equipment for the modality.
Is Ashiatsu the right fit for you?
Honest read on fit.
Likely a fit if you
- Carry chronic tension across broad muscle groups, not single spots
- Have tried deep tissue and found it more painful than helpful
- Are an athlete, runner, lifter, or someone with high physical load
- Are larger or taller and feel like hands "can't reach deep enough"
- Want depth without sharpness or bracing
- Are willing to invest in multi-session work for lasting change
Probably not a fit if you
- Have a single trigger point that needs precise hands-on work
- Are pregnant (look for prenatal-specific massage instead)
- Have an acute injury or recent surgery in the area to be worked
- Have uncontrolled blood pressure, severe osteoporosis, or clotting issues
- Want primarily face, neck, or hand work where Ashiatsu doesn't apply
- Want a quick, lower-priced spa-style relaxation session
If you saw yourself on the right side and the underlying problem you’re trying to solve is real, the framework on how to evaluate any massage therapist will help you find someone who is the right fit.
If you saw yourself on the left side, this is the right modality with the right practitioner.