Sarga Bodywork

⚠️ New Clients: Please Read

To keep my practice running smoothly and give you my full attention in the treatment room, I’ve put a few boundaries in place:

– New client appointments must be booked online. No bookings via phone or text.
– Prepayment is required when booking—no exceptions.
– Only book for yourself. Want to gift a session? Contact me first.
– Same-day appointments are online-only. If you don’t see availability, there isn’t any.
– You may be asked to show a photo ID and the credit card used for booking.

I run a solo practice. These policies keep the chaos out of my inbox and the focus on you.

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Functional Relaxation Massage

A session designed to calm your nervous system and improve how your body moves.

This isn’t just about zoning out—though you’ll definitely leave more relaxed. Functional Relaxation is a focused, barefoot massage that helps downshift your stress response so your body can fully receive the work. Then we layer in gentle, intentional movements to reduce pain, release tension, and improve mobility.

You’ll experience:
• Nervous system downregulation (think: your body unclenching)
• Passive and active movement strategies to restore function
• A calm but grounded approach—no fluff, no beatdown
• Real-time feedback from your body so we can adapt as needed

This work is gentle but intentional. Great for clients dealing with chronic stress, burnout, mobility issues, or anyone who struggles to relax during traditional massage. You’ll stay clothed and comfortably bolstered throughout the session.

What is Barefoot Massage?

If you’ve ever wanted to be steamrolled—in the best way possible—this is it.

Myofascial barefoot massage is slow, specific, deep tissue work done with my feet instead of my hands.
The broad surface of the foot, combined with gravity and bodyweight, allows for deep, even pressure without the strain or sharpness of elbows or knuckles. It's ideal for larger-bodied clients, chronic tension, or anyone who feels like hands-on massage just doesn’t go deep enough (or goes deep in the wrong way).Integrated barefoot work.
If you’re feeling tight, stuck, or overloaded, this is where to start.

I use overhead bars for balance and control, allowing me to deliver grounded, consistent pressure with my feet. I’ve trained in Ashiatsu, Sarga, and Fijian massage, and blend those approaches to create sessions customized to your needs.

Meet Rachel

Owner & Barefoot Massage Therapist | Howell, MI

I’ve been a licensed massage therapist for over 10 years and specialize in barefoot massage that actually helps you move and feel better. I don’t do fluff. I don’t do presets. I do real work, customized to the body in front of me.

How it started:

In 2013, I enrolled in massage school to help one person—my husband. Years of military life had wrecked his body, and he needed someone who could help. So I decided to learn how.

Turns out, I was good at it. But after four years of hands-on work, my body started breaking down too. That’s when I found barefoot massage.

In 2017, I took my first barefoot massage class. Within a year, I had removed hands-on massage from my offerings entirely. I became the first massage therapist in Livingston County to offer Myofascial Barefoot Massage and have since completed over 100 hours of barefoot CE—including Ashiatsu, Sarga, and Fijian techniques.

Each session I offer is built from that experience.

When I’m not working...

I’m a wife, mom, and popcorn-and-Mac-and-Cheese enthusiast. I love kayaking in the summer, antiquing in the winter, and trying to garden (badly).

Massage doesn’t have to be soft to be relaxing, and it doesn’t have to hurt to work. It just has to be smart.

Recognition

First barefoot practitioner in Livingston County
Voted 2nd in the 2023 LivCo People’s Choice Awards for Best Massage
The only solo therapist in the top five

Research shows that the central nervous system and the mechanoreceptors located inside our fascia respond better to greater pressure, delivered slowly, over a large surface area

- Sarga Bodywork