It's an honor to update the website with my NEW last name, Bello. I hadn't mentioned it before, because I'm just so under-the-radar and introverted sometimes.

What happened is ... I got married!

Actually I got married over a year ago, but it took a while for the name change to become official and then to update things here.

The husband and I had a courthouse ceremony (mask optional, 6 person guest list) and flew out the next day to celebrate. We ended up having Thanksgiving dinner at a food truck on the beach in Hawaii. ​​

Happy to *finally* let you all in on the latest. Life is good!

When you're coming in for your 1st Ashiatsu massage appointment here at Sole Symphony you might be feeling some aches and pains, but you might also be noticing some curiosity and excitement - some looking forward to the relief of how good the massage will feel.

And that's a beautiful place to start.

Ashiatsu massage is a blissfully relaxing style of deep tissue barefoot massage where I get to help relieve your aches and pains by walking all over you.

I always schedule extra time with new clients to fill out a brief intake form and discuss any questions or concerns you may have. I'm curious how your body is doing, what needs extra work, and are there any old injuries or areas to be careful of.

When you're here with me, you can rest easy and relax into our time together knowing you're in good hands and under incredibly skilled feet.

I'll show you around my space, instruct you to what's next, and step out while you get ready. Some people wonder whether if they should disrobe completely or leave their underwear on. Both options are good. In either case I use sheets for draping personal areas, so you'll feel safe and cozy throughout the entire session.

I apply massage oil over the body briefly with the hands before getting started with the foot work, and it's easy to adjust the pressure to more or less as needed once we get going.

Often I'll start the warm up with a feet and hands combo on the shoulders, neck, and upper back which is mind-blowingly delicious. Most people power down from this technique within minutes, and I love seeing the working signs as your body and nervous system begin to decompress ... every breath and every touch helping you go deeper and deeper relaxed.

Your muscles are going to love it, and I look forward to bodysurfing you into oblivion, so you can schedule online through my welcome page or click the link below to book now: 

​Sole Symphony Ashiatsu Massage (schedulicity.com)

On another note, it's been a while since I posted a blog here on my site, or a video to my YouTube channel for that matter, so I will tell you now (whether you're newly finding me or a long time fan) that I'm grateful for your support.

I love what I do still. After 18 years of doing massage therapy and 13 of those years specializing in Ashiatsu barefoot massage in Austin, Texas, it's still one of my top favorite things ever to be helping people in such a profound way. 

I'm stirring things back up with my online resources, so let me know what you think. If you have any questions, blog post ideas, or video suggestions, post in the comments below. 

Thanks. Love you guys! ~ Christina, Sole Symphony

Priority #1, as a barefoot massage therapist: Foot care

Part of what helps me provide the best possible Ashiatsu massage care for my clients is having soft, smooth, and sensitive feet. People ask me, can you really feel as much with your feet as you do with your hands? The answer is, yes, and keeping them in top notch condition makes that 100% possible.

My go-to DIY foot scrub is super easy to make, and you might have everything you need at home already.

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of salt (fine salt, not coarse)
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 5 drops of essential oil (or 1 teaspoon of aromatic ingredients like lemon zest or cinnamon)

To make the scrub:
Simply mix the ingredients together and put them in a jar with a lid.

To use the scrub:
1. Soak, shower, or bathe your feet
2. Apply scrub to wet feet and calves - scrub thoroughly
3. Rinse well, dry well, and massage any remaining oil into the feet and legs

*BE CAREFUL: too much oil remaining on the feet afterwards can be slippery.

Mother's Day is right around the corner.

Make it for yourself or gift it to someone you love. I've got a few ready-made ones at my studio, if you'd rather just buy one when you come in for a massage.

They smell like fresh mint and lemon tartlets. So good!

Here's a great link for additional scrub making ideas:
www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Salt-Scrubs

Let me know how it goes, and surprise me with what fragrance you chose in the comments below. Happy scrubbing to you my friends!

Just a quick demo, easy and relaxing. Ashiatsu barefoot massage of the feet.

If your feet and calves get sore, like mine do, deep tissue relief is just a few steps away.

*An excellent technique for helping to relieve plantar fasciitis/fasciosis

Neck and shoulder tension is no match for my side-lying barefoot ninja skillz! If you haven't felt this, you are missing out.

My last video on this topic was less than perfect in production, but this one:

MUCH BETTER!

I feel like I am finally getting the hang of this video thing, AND my YouTube channel recently topped 400 subscribers! =O Thanks for all your comments, likes, and subscribes. All you ashi, deep tissue barefoot massage loving fans out there - YOU ARE THE BEST!

Big love and foot massage bliss to you,
Christina

That's right folks, I have a swing set at work.

This special tool helps me get into challenging or sensitive areas in a way that feels safe and comfortable for the receiver. Plus it's fun to relax into my work with a little extra support.

Pretty cool stuff. Check out my short demo video below...

Having elbow pain from injury or repetitive-stress can be incredibly frustrating. Pain on the outer elbow is commonly referred to as tennis elbow, while recurring pain on the inner side of the elbow is commonly know as golfer's elbow. In the video below, I cover 2 self-care techniques. #1 is a pretty darn awesome self massage tool that I used in my own recovery from tennis elbow, and the other, #2 is an easy, do-it-yourself Ashiatsu massage tutorial that you can do on yourself for relieving forearm tension.

A little bit of deep tissue care on a regular basis can make a world of a difference in getting better AND staying better.

I advocate for the ArmAid tool, because it's been a huge help for me. I used it for about 20 minutes per day for 2 weeks (each followed by 5 minutes of a cold pack or cold water dunk) before I made a significant and lasting break through. I hope this tool will be just as helpful for you as it has been for me. Please tell them I sent you!

Once you realize that recurring pain is not just going away, you need to take action. Get some regular maintenance going ASAP, or come see me for some incredibly blissful deep tissue massage to really get in there and loosen things up.

The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is recurring pain on the bottom of the foot near the heel. It's most commonly felt in the mornings after getting out of bed or after periods of inactivity. 

In this video, I demonstrate a few easy techniques to help you prevent injury and recover quickly from plantar fasciitis/fasciosis. Deep tissue massage, stretching, strengthening, and resting... all key to your recovery. Check out the specific techniques in the video below.

Take good care of those feets!

December can be an especially stressful month when work and family demands are requiring more of your attention. Here's 5 ways to help you reduce stress and keep your sanity this month:

1. Stay Hydrated - Dry skin, chapped lips, tight muscles? Staying hydrated will help you move easier and feel better. A tall, crisp glass of water is a super-easy way to help take the edge off.

2. Take a Walk - Get some sunshine on your face and cool air in your lungs. A walk is a good way to warm up for a run, but listen to your body. Even just a simple walk around the block can be the perfect pick-me-up.

3. Prioritize Self Care - Treat yourself to a warm bath, cozy nap, or stress-relieving massage. You can’t take good care of anybody else unless you take good care of yourself first.

4. Simplify Your Schedule - Notice what you really want and need. Get enough sleep, and stand up for your rest and recovery time. You deserve it!

5. Celebrate! - I hope you’ve got a little extra time off work to spend with friends or family this year. Enjoy the bounty of the holidays with people you love, and when you can, donate food or helpful items to those in need. When you give, your heart opens.

Savor the richness of the season, and have a fun and safe holiday.