Shoe Issues

I've worked with two people recently that were helped by shoe inserts. Sometimes an issue presents in groups, and I start to think maybe I need to be learning something here... in this case, maybe it was to get me moving!

I have a pair of very comfy shoes that I wear most days. This is a major improvement for me since I usually have a hard time finding shoes that support my body and don't induce pain. Well, this pair of shoes does have one issue, but it's not so bad... "I can live with it." (Have you heard or said that one before?)

This pair of shoes needs a metatarsal support. A meta-whatsit support?!? you may ask... that's just a fancy (or should I say, Latin) word for the bones that make up the ball of your foot (and the equivalent pad for the smaller toes). So, a metatarsal support is a simple insert that goes across the ball/pad area just below the toes.

Why do these shoes need such a support? Because the way the shoe is designed has the toes slightly bent upward, putting the bottom of the foot in stretch.

Now, I have embarked on the shoe modification adventure--the issue did get me moving! I've added the metatarsal support, and find that I also need a heel support, because the design of the shoe encourages me to be weighted on my heels. But now, I have shoes that are comfy AND fit my foot!

Did you know that you can have a shoe ergonomics lesson during your next session in which you, too, can learn to modify your shoes to fit your foot! (No more squishing your foot in to fit the shoe!) Find out easy solutions that can provide astonishing results in foot comfort and even performance!

New Client FAQ

What do I need to bring?

• yourself,
• medical history,
• loose shorts,
• loose tank top (for women)

Sessions are usually done clothed so that we can observe changes in your body throughout the session. You will be getting on and off the table. Bring or wear loose shorts & tank top that we can do bodywork around & under AND that you feel comfortable being observed in without a bra. Usually dark colored tops work better.

Should I come early?
No. We build in extra time to our sessions so that you'll have time to talk, transition, change clothes, etc. We endeavor to start your session at your appointment time, and your session may "run over" by as much as a half hour, depending on the needs. So, you may be in session for up to 2 hours for a 1.5 hour session and up to 1.5 hours for a 1-hour session. If you are on a tight time schedule, please let us know at the beginning of the session.

Can you accommodate mobility challenges?
Our current office set up is not wheel chair friendly. There are 2 shallow steps to the front door. We can create a temporary ramp and are more than happy to facilitate your entry into the office. This is also true if you have trouble walking distances. If you have mobility challenges, please discuss them with us by phone before you come... we'll be happy to work out a solution with you! We do have a motorized massage table that lowers to 18 inches.

What is an Aston-Patterning session like?

How does a session differ from a Swedish (relaxation) massage? Recently, a client summed it up as basically, we work on what needs to be worked on... rather than following a routine.

In a 1.5-hour session, you will

• give an in-depth structural history (ex. braces, injuries, crutches, surgeries)
• have a visual assessment looking at the alignment and relationship between your body segments,
• walk and do other relevent movement pre-tests,
• have a palpation assessment to map the areas of high tone (tension) and low tone in your body,
• develop a hypothesis about what relationships in your body need to change to alleviate the issue you are concerned about,
• have specific bodywork to make those changes,
• learn a movement lesson to incorporate those changes into your daily movements.

Can I get a relaxation massage? YES! Sometimes you just need to relax and/or integrate the changes in your life (either from sessions or from other life events). An Aston® Massage provides a specialized massage form designed to integrate the parts and layers of your body such that you finish feeling refreshed, relaxed and whole! Most often, Aston Massages are done in 1-hour session, but can also be upgraded to a 1.5 hour session.

WIFM? (What's in it for me?)
The bottom line is that for most of our clients, Aston-Patterning moves them out of discomfort and into a new way of being FASTER than anything else they've tried--and most of them have tried MANY options. That's why Peter & I started with Aston-Patterning professionally, because personally, our lives were transformed out of pain and we began to design the life we desire!