Ashiatsu is a barefoot massage. The therapist holds two bars mounted above the table and uses the soles and heels of their feet, not their hands, to press into your back and legs. The name comes from Japanese: ashi means foot and atsu means pressure.
If you have ever searched for "the massage where they walk on your back," this is almost certainly the one you mean. It looks dramatic the first time you see it. It feels a lot calmer than it looks.
This guide explains what Ashiatsu is, why the bars matter, how it compares with Shiatsu and Thai massage, and who should book it. It is written from our studio at 501 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, where we offer the Ashiatsu Signature Massage in 60, 90 and 120 minute sessions.
Ashiatsu is deep, broad pressure delivered with the feet while the therapist balances on overhead bars. You lie on a massage table, professionally draped, and oil is used so the feet can glide in long strokes from the shoulders down to the hips and legs.
Two things make it different from a regular massage.
The first is the contact surface. A foot is much wider than a thumb or an elbow. When the same force spreads across a wider area, it reaches deep muscle without the sharp, pinpoint feeling many people associate with deep tissue work.
The second is control. The bars let the therapist decide, moment by moment, how much of their body weight goes into your back and how much stays in their arms. You are never simply stood on. Pressure goes up slowly, and it comes down the instant you ask.
Yes. People describe it as "the massage where they walk on your back," "the one with the bars on the ceiling" or "foot massage on your back." All of those point to Ashiatsu.
In practice there is less walking than the phrase suggests. Most of a session is slow gliding strokes and steady compression, with the therapist supported by the bars the whole time. The heel comes in for more focused work around the shoulder blades, the lower back and the glutes.
The names sound almost identical, so they get mixed up all the time. They are different treatments.
If you want precise point work and prefer to stay clothed, Shiatsu-style or traditional Thai massage will feel more familiar. If you want the deepest broad pressure available, Ashiatsu is the one to book.
Traditional Thai massage also uses the feet now and then, along with palms, thumbs and forearms. But Thai massage is done fully clothed on a mat and is built around assisted stretching and Sen-line pressure. The feet are one tool among many.
In Ashiatsu, the feet are the main tool and the goal is depth across large muscle groups. Our Ashiatsu Signature Massage blends the two: the session opens with barefoot work on the back and legs, then moves into traditional Thai techniques for mobility. That is why many clients book 120 minutes, so there is real time for both.
Deep, but not sharp. Because the pressure comes through the whole foot, it lands as broad, steady weight rather than a thumb digging into one spot.
Here is how a session usually unfolds:
Breathe out as pressure builds. It sounds simple, and it makes a big difference to how deep the work can go. Our step-by-step guide to a first Ashiatsu session covers each phase in more detail.
If you are choosing between the two deepest options on our menu, read Ashiatsu vs. deep tissue massage. The short version: Ashiatsu for broad, even depth, deep tissue for precise work on one or two problem areas.
Ashiatsu is not the right choice for everyone. Tell us before you book if you have an acute injury, recent surgery, osteoporosis, a disc problem, a cardiovascular condition, are pregnant, or take blood thinners. These often call for a different modality, and we will tell you honestly if Swedish massage or a Therapist's Combo is a better fit.
Massage supports wellness. It does not diagnose or treat medical conditions, and new or worsening pain needs a doctor's opinion first.
Authentic Thai Massage NYC is at 501 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2001, at 42nd Street. Enter through the front entrance on 5th Avenue and take elevators 2, 3 or 4 up to the 20th floor. The 7, B, D, F and M trains stop at 5th Avenue and Bryant Park, about two minutes away, and Grand Central is a short walk east.
We are open every day from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and every session takes place in a private suite. Ashiatsu needs the overhead bar setup and a therapist trained in it, so book ahead when you can. We are a professional massage practice only.
Book your Ashiatsu session online, or call (212) 759-6618 if you want help choosing a length.
Ashiatsu is a barefoot massage in which the therapist holds overhead bars for balance and uses their feet to apply deep, broad pressure, mainly to the back and legs. The name means "foot pressure" in Japanese.
It should feel deep, not painful. The wide surface of the foot spreads pressure evenly, and the bars let the therapist adjust weight instantly. Tell your therapist straight away if anything feels sharp.
No. Shiatsu uses thumbs, fingers and palms, usually fully clothed on a mat. Ashiatsu uses the feet and overhead bars on a table with oil, and the pressure is broader and deeper.
Ashiatsu is a table massage with oil, so you undress to your comfort level and stay professionally draped throughout. If you prefer to stay fully clothed, traditional Thai massage is done in loose cotton clothing on a mat.
Many desk workers book it because broad pressure covers the whole back at once. If your pain is new, sharp or comes with numbness or tingling, see a doctor before booking any deep massage.
