Susan Barg, USA

Latest Massage Therapist participating at the 9th World Championship in Massage is Susan Barg who is the International Flight Attendant who became an International Massage Competitor.

Read the The Inspiring Journey of Susan Barg here:

After spending 18 years traveling the world as an International Flight Attendant for American Airlines, Susan Barg made a bold decision that would completely change the trajectory of her life. At age 50, while many people are thinking about slowing down, Susan chose to begin an entirely new career path by enrolling at Cortiva Institute Chicago School of Massage Therapy.

Starting over in a physically demanding profession later in life came with challenges, and Susan quickly realized she needed to find a sustainable way to protect her body and extend her longevity as a massage therapist. That search led her to a life-changing experience: receiving a Barefoot Massage. Fascinated by the power and effectiveness of barefoot bodywork, she began researching different styles and techniques from around the world.

Her journey first introduced her to Fijian Massage then Sarga Bodywork and eventually to Ashiatsu, which translates to “foot pressure.” Unlike other barefoot bodywork, Ashiatsu uses bars suspended above the massage table, allowing therapists to deliver deep, effective pressure using their feet while utilizing gravity and bodyweight instead of relying solely on their hands.

Determined to learn more, Susan enrolled in a DeepFeet Bar Therapy Ashiatsu Basics course with Al Poliarco from Barefoot Hands in Madison, Wisconsin. A Master Barefoot Instructor, International Competitor/Gold Medalist, and creator of the portable Travel Bars, Al became a mentor and inspiration in Susan’s barefoot massage journey. The experience proved to be a turning point in her career. Susan immediately knew she had found the modality that would not only extend her career, but also ignite a new passion.

Having practiced barefoot bodywork over the past 10 years, Susan has decided to take her journey to the next level. In May of 2026 she will become        a certified DeepFeet Ashiatsu Instructor with plans to help educate and inspire future barefoot therapists.

In 2024, Susan discovered the International Massage Association World Championships and stepped into the competitive massage arena for the first time. She entered the Siouxland Tri-State Massage Championships and earned both the Gold Medal in Freestyle Eastern Massage and the Overall Iowa State Gold Medalist title.

That success launched Susan onto the national and international competition stage. She went on to compete in the AMC National Championships, the South Carolina Massage Championships where she won Gold in Barefoot Bodywork, the IMA World Championships Online Competition, and the EU Massage Championships where she earned second place in the Asian Inspired category. Most recently, Susan competed at the Canadian Massage Championship Summit in Laval Canada, taking third place in the Wellness category for Tandem Ashiatsu (which she created in 2024). Alongside therapist Morgan Petersen, the “Barefoot Duo” practiced for over six months to synchronize their tandem moves! Different from “Four (or more) Hands Massage, Tandem Ashi is two therapists using two, sometimes four feet on the client at any given time. This unique offering provides a balanced, synchronized full body flow, resulting in double the benefits in half the time for the client. 

What began as a necessity to preserve her body and extend her career has evolved into something far greater. By transitioning from using her hands to using her feet, Susan found not only a sustainable approach to bodywork, but also a platform for growth, education, and connection. Through competition, she has gained valuable feedback on her techniques and skills while networking with world-renowned massage therapists she may never otherwise have had the opportunity to meet.

Now, after introducing Tandem Ashiatsu to the Canadian Massage Championship Summit and bringing home a Bronze Medal, Susan is looking toward an even bigger goal: showcasing Tandem Ashiatsu at the 2026 IMA World Championships in the newly created “Multi Hands” category.

Susan Barg’s story is proof that reinvention has no age limit. From international skies to international stages, her journey continues to inspire therapists everywhere to pursue passion, innovation, and lifelong learning.

Find Susan Barg on Instagram

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