Today we’d like to introduce you to Hillary Arrieta.
Hi Hillary, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Absolutely, it’s been quite a journey!
I started my massage career almost two decades ago under the name Gaia Bodywork in Dallas. Back then, I was simply fascinated by how touch could transform how someone felt in their body and mind. Over the years, my curiosity deepened into studying Ashiatsu or barefoot massage, and eventually that curiosity turned into three thriving businesses.
Today, I’m the owner of The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage, where I specialize in a unique, gravity-assisted style of bodywork that’s therapeutic and pain science informed. I also teach with The Center for Barefoot Massage as an approved Instructor, where I train licensed massage therapists from all over the country to use their feet as powerful tools for precision and ease. And most recently, I launched Steady Yeti Barefoot Massage Wax, a product developed specifically for the needs of barefoot massage therapists, born out of teaching, problem-solving, and a desire to make our work more sustainable on every level.
My journey has been shaped by curiosity and creativity. What began as a one-room practice focused on helping people feel better in their bodies has evolved into a mission to help therapists feel better in theirs too by teaching techniques and tools that support longevity and joy in this work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been a meaningful one.
Transitioning from Gaia Bodywork to The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage was more than a rebrand, it was a full professional transformation. I went from being a solo practitioner to leading multiple brands: a thriving barefoot massage practice, a continuing education program for licensed massage therapists, and now a product line designed specifically for our niche. In the midst of my evolution, my office space in Garland was destroyed by a fire. That kind of struggle and growth comes with plenty of lessons in time management, leadership, and patience.
There were seasons of uncertainty balancing the creative side of teaching and product development with the realities of running a business, adapting after the pandemic, and staying true to my values through all of it. But each challenge clarified my purpose: helping therapists work sustainably and stay connected to the joy that brought them into this profession in the first place.
The road hasn’t been easy, but it’s led me exactly where I’m meant to be which is creating, teaching, and supporting a community I love.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage?
At The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage in Plano, I specialize in a slow, deep, and intentional barefoot massage that’s grounded in pain science theory and Myofascial release. Instead of “fixing tight muscles,” my work focuses on helping the nervous system feel safe, so the body can naturally release tension and move with more ease.
Training LMTs with the Center for Barefoot Massage, I teach licensed massage therapists evidence-informed barefoot techniques that protect their bodies while delivering transformative results for clients. My goal is to help therapists build sustainable, science-based practices that blend anatomy, neuroscience, and embodied awareness.
I also created Steady Yeti Barefoot Massage Wax, a product designed specifically for barefoot work, offering the ideal balance of grip, glide, and connection.
What sets my brands apart is how they combine pain science, fascia research, and nervous system regulation with grounded, real-world bodywork experience. Whether it’s through a session, a class, or a product, my work helps people reconnect with their bodies safely, intelligently, and sustainably.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is helping people, clients and therapists alike, feel safe and connected in their bodies.
In a profession that often focuses on “fixing,” I care about shifting the conversation toward nervous system regulation and pain science education.
I believe that sustainable, science-informed massage changes lives, not just for clients, but for the therapists who give it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theheelinghut.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/theheelinghutbarefootmassage
