Today we’d like to introduce you to Miwa Robbins.
Hi Miwa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I come from a family of healers – bodyworkers, energy workers, psychotherapists. But honestly I resisted the call for a while. But when I started down the path of healing arts things fell into place. It started with a dream that I was doing Thai Massage. Then I had that dream again, and that is when I listened. I realized I knew an amazing Thai Massage teacher so I began learning from her before even going to massage school. Soon I was organically getting clients and realized I should get my massage license! So I went to massage school and never looked back. Now my practice is mostly what I call integrative bodywork. I offer a number of services, including craniosacral, deep tissue, energy work, cupping, and also still Thai massage. But other than Thai massage, because the set up is the same and my prices are all by time, I generally do a brief intake when you arrive and we decide together what makes the most sense to do that day. I work very intuitively and many of my sessions end up being a mix of therapeutic or deep tissue massage with some craniosacral and energy work mixed in.
My touch has often been described as gentle but deep and people say my energy tends to be a very grounding and safe energy. My belief is that you know your body best and you get to choose the pace and where we go. I do believe the body, mind and spirit are connected, so sometimes our sessions do take us more into the realms of spiritual or emotionally healing. But every session is unique and I see my job as holding a loving, neutral presence and listening deeply with my hands and whole being.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel blessed to say that it has been a pretty smooth road, which has felt affirming in that I feel I am doing what I am meant to do! Having to close for a few months during the COVID 19 pandemic forced me to pivot a bit, but that is when I created my in home office, reducing my overhead and allowing me to be more nimble in response to such unexpected events. I also did take a bit of maternity leave in 2024 and was nervous about that, but I have come to trust that although I may lose some clients which such extended closures, new ones who need me will find me when the time is right.
We’ve been impressed with Flow State Healing & Massage, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a sole practitioner, meaning I basically am the business! I do not have employees, but am The massage therapist and business owner. I do everything, from maintaining my website, to checking my clients in and out, doing the laundry, etc. But I love being small. I have a massage office in my home. Yes, you walk through my living room, often full of kids toys, to get to the massage office! But, for those who come to me I think the cozy and homey, unpretentious atmosphere is part of the attraction. Because I work from my home and also have a family I am by appointment only. But more than half of my clients are repeat clients who I get to build a relationship with over time, and I love that!
I work very intuitively and although you may sign up for a particular service, such as craniosacral, or integrative massage, when you walk in the door we always start with a brief conversation about what you need that day. And if we need to pivot we do. I charge by time, so all my services are the same cost, based just on whether you book 60 or 90 minutes. And I don’t charge extra for something like cupping. The only service I offer that I do need a bit of advance notice for is Thai Massage, as I do that on a mat on the floor, rather than on the massage table and it takes a minute to set that up.
People who come to me are generally looking for a therapeutic experience, not a spa experience. I do not do hot towels, or scrubs, or those more spa like treatments. But I think I am pretty good at helping people feel better in their body and spirit, whether its aches and pains after a workout, stress, an injury, chronic pain, or an emotional or spiritual heaviness.
I am also intentionally inclusive. Many of my clients are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and I also offer a sliding scale as a means of doing my best to make healthcare and self care financially accessible to people. I eliminated tips a while ago, figuring that because I work for myself this was a simple way to make the cost as transparent and straightforward as possible. So instead I have what I call my community supported rate, standard rate, and a pay it forward rate. And you choose based on what feels right for you.
My basic philosophy around healing is to always defer to the client, as you know yourself best. Although I do a good bit of emotional and spiritual work with my clients while they are on the table, most of what I say are in the form of questions that invite you to go deeper and connect to your own wisdom. Any insights of my own that I share I always say use your own discernment and only take what resonates with you. We live in a culture where people are often looking for answers, or want to be “healed,” but in my view my job is to simply hold the space of love and neutrality and deep listening with my hands and my presence.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
It brings me great happiness and satisfaction to see people at the end of their sessions noticeably lighter and more expanded in their being. Whether that means moving with more ease or emotionally and spiritually lighter. Beyond my work, my daughter brings me immense happiness, and I absolutely love a day outside in nature. One of my favorite things to do on a day off is to go explore a new quiet nature spot – perhaps a hidden waterfall, or a remote hike – and just soak up the quiet beauty of nature. This is my reset. And you will notice that I draw from an Earth based, embodied spirituality in my bodywork practice.
Pricing:
- community rate 60 minutes: $80
- standard 60 minutes: $100
- Pay it forward 60 minutes: $110
- Community rate 90 minutes: $110
- Standard 90 minutes $145, Pay it forward 90 minutes: $160
Contact Info:
- Website: https://miwarobbins.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowstatehealing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlowStateHealing
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/miwarobbins
