Deanna M. Brendle, LMT

02/20/2026

Top tips for after-barefoot massage care:

Your body just did some work, now it’s time to support the reset.

• Hydrate gently.
Water helps your tissues rehydrate and supports recovery. No need to chug - just sip.

• Move slowly.
Your nervous system may still be downshifting. Give yourself a little grace instead of rushing right back into chaos.

• Notice how you feel.
Soreness, deep relaxation, emotional shifts, or better sleep can all be normal responses.

• Rest if you can.
Massage is work for your body, even when it feels amazing.

• Don’t overthink it.
You don’t need a complicated routine - just support, not pressure.

The more consistently you support your body after sessions, the more benefits you’ll notice over time.

02/18/2026

Myth: You shouldn’t interrupt your massage therapist.

Truth:
You’re allowed to speak up. Always.

Whether it’s:
• pressure that’s too much (or not enough)
• feeling chilly
• needing a bolster adjustment
• wanting focus somewhere else
• or just asking a question

That’s not “interrupting.”
That’s communicating.

Massage works best when it’s a collaboration, not something you have to silently endure.

Your comfort matters just as much as the technique. 💜

02/16/2026

Massage can help reduce cortisol. 😌

Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone.

It’s what keeps you alert when life is chaotic…
but when it stays elevated too long?

That’s when you start feeling:
• wired but tired
• tense all the time
• foggy
• irritable
• like you can’t fully relax even when you try

Barefoot massage helps signal safety to your nervous system - which can support lower cortisol levels and help your body shift out of survival mode and into rest mode.

02/13/2026

Honestly? That’s the goal. 😌

When your nervous system finally unclenches,
your muscles let go,
and your brain powers down from “do everything” mode…

Temporary post-barefoot massage confusion is a feature, not a bug.

Your body deserves that kind of reset. 💜

02/11/2026

Happiness is a warm massage table. 😌

Soft sheets.
A heated blanket.
Hot towels.
A quiet room.
And finally letting your shoulders drop for the first time all week.

That moment when your body realizes it doesn’t have to brace anymore?

That’s not just comfort.
That’s your nervous system exhaling.

02/09/2026

02/06/2026

This is your sign to stop powering through.

If your shoulders feel heavy, your jaw feels tight, and your sleep feels… meh…

Your body might be asking for support, not willpower.

Barefoot massage helps calm your nervous system, release built‑up tension, and remind your body how to feel safe again.

Spots are open this month - you can book through the link in bio. ✨

02/04/2026

Me: "I’ll just stretch it out."

Also me, 3 days later: "Why does my neck still hate me?"

Stretching is great. Hydration is great. Foam rolling is great.

But sometimes your body is like:
‘Respectfully… I would like professional help.’

If your muscles are over the DIY phase, you know where to find me. 😅

02/02/2026

Happy Groundhog Day to the same tight neck, the same sore shoulders, and the same ‘I should probably book a massage’ thought on repeat. 😅

If your body feels like it’s living the same tension day over and over again…

It might be time to break the cycle.

Barefoot massage isn’t just about fixing what hurts, it’s about helping your nervous system reset so the same patterns don’t keep looping.

Your body doesn’t have to relive the same stress every week. 🤍

01/23/2026

Let’s clear something up: massage therapists don’t always need to use as much pressure as possible.

There’s a common belief that if a massage isn’t deep or intense, it’s not effective. But pressure is just one tool - and more pressure doesn’t automatically mean better results.

Here’s what actually matters during a massage:

• Your nervous system - muscles release best when your body feels safe, not braced
• The tissue response - sometimes gentle work allows deeper change than forcing pressure
• Your goals that day - recovery, relaxation, pain relief, or mobility all call for different approaches

Massage isn’t about “going hard.” It’s about giving your body the right kind of support at the right time. Effective work meets your body where it is - not where you think it should be.

01/21/2026

Ever feel like your massage therapist is working right on your kidney when they’re in your low back?

Good news - they’re not touching your kidney at all.

That deep, achy spot near your lower ribs is often a muscle called the quadratus lumborum (QL). It sits deep in the low back and helps stabilize your spine, support posture, and assist with bending and side-to-side movement.

Because of where it lives, QL work can feel:
• very deep
• a little “inside”
• intense but relieving
• like pressure near the flank or rib area

That sensation surprises a lot of people, but it’s completely normal.

This muscle often gets cranky from:
• long hours of sitting or standing
• favoring one side of the body
• stress and guarding
• low back or hip tension

When your therapist works there, the goal isn’t to poke anything important - it’s to help that deep stabilizing muscle soften so your low back can finally relax.

If something ever feels too intense, always speak up. Massage should feel productive, not alarming.
Sometimes the weirdest sensations come from muscles you didn’t even know you had.

01/19/2026

Ever wondered why your massage therapist gently shakes or rocks your arm or leg? 👀

It can feel a little unexpected if you’ve never had it done before, but this technique is intentional… and it serves a few important purposes during your session.

Here’s what’s actually happening when you feel that gentle movement:

• It helps your nervous system relax -
rhythmic movement can signal safety to your body, helping muscles let go without forcing them

• It releases tension without pressure -
rocking can reduce guarding and resistance, especially in areas that are holding stress

• It improves body awareness -
small movements help your body sense where it’s holding tension and adjust more naturally

Shaking or rocking isn’t random - it’s a subtle way to encourage relaxation, improve mobility, and help your body respond more easily to hands-on work.