Pandemic Prepared

We have everyone's safety in our hearts and minds as we step up more in-person classes across Texas in 2021. During any Barefoot Massage class held in our training campuses, we will be employing The Center for Barefoot Massages "6 Feet TOEgether" policies which are adapted from FSMTB's classroom Covid19 Guidelines for massage practices and classrooms.

Our classroom workstations are spaced at least 6 feet apart, as we are only filling classes to 1/2 capacity and using every other massage table. Some portions of class (and even some entire ROM classes!) will be held outside whenever possible. Hand/Foot washing stations and antibacterial sprays/gels are easily accessible in our training rooms. We are using space-proportionate HEPA air-cleaning devices, and we are opening windows/doors whenever possible for better air exchange rates. Our classrooms are stocked with “List-N” cleaners and disinfectants approved by the EPA for killing COVID19 on contact surfaces.

We will teach you our COVID19 cleaning/disinfecting protocols, which you may then use in practice back at work. You will be responsible for following the training center’s cleaning and disinfecting protocols for your massage stations before and after each practice round during class. We’ll be there each step of the way to help. We hope this gives you the experience to work with new state and industry guidelines with confidence.

We may limit partner changes during class by keeping you with the same LMT every day so as to reduce physical contact and “bubble” invasion with as many people involved as possible. We may modify our student clinic and adapt based on local COVID exposure numbers. We will definitely be screening all participants with temperatures daily, including the clients we massage on the last day of class if they are involved.

Your instructors Hillary “Heelary” Arrieta and Jeni Spring will have been fully vaccinated by approximately March 19, 2021. We welcome you in our space whether you’ve been vaccinated or not. We all will still continue wearing masks.

Masks will be required for all participants in our classes anytime we are indoors as well as anytime we are within 6 feet of anyone outdoors. Even if you are vaccinated. Even if you are immune somehow. Even if you’ve been in total isolation since October 2019. Please choose a form of PPE that securely covers your nose and mouth. Based on the CDC's guidance, we recommend that you wear KN95's, or a surgical mask with your favorite fabric mask over it. We have spare's available (some for sale, some for free) if needed.

Failure to wear appropriate PPE will result in dismissal from class with no refunds or CE’s. We also recommend but do not require, that you bring a change of clothes for each massage performed in class, since in some circles this has been recommended as a precautionary and sanitary measure to avoid the surface of the same clothes coming in contact with each massage client throughout your day. If your place of work requires any certain PPE, (Like maybe also face shields) we encourage you to bring that so you can practice in what you’ll be working in.

All registrants in our classes will sign the Center for Barefoot Massage’s COVID19 policy, which includes your acknowledgment of making a pledged effort to use masking and physical distancing practices two weeks leading up to your class. This is to help prevent our workshops from becoming super-spreader events, especially since some of our students are traveling by way of mass-transit and traveling cross country.

If you are exposed to someone with symptoms, or if you receive a positive COVID19 test result - we need you to observe the CDCs recommended isolation/quarantine periods and protocols. We have policies in place to help you get the training you need, so please do not hesitate to contact us if one of these instances happens to you before we meet up. We may require 2 negative tests before allowing entry to class, or we may need to move you to the next class that works with your schedule.

Also - if you can help it, we do not recommend attending class within 2 days of receiving your vaccination “Jab.” Anytime you receive any vaccination, it is usually recommended to wait 2 days before receiving bodywork (and you’ll be getting A LOT of that in our classes!) Read more about the vaccines in this article from Ruth Werner and ABMP.

Please respect the professionalism and precautions we are taking to protect everyone in our circles, and thank you for your understanding and involvement. We want to continue teaching live classes in a safe environment for everyone.