Meet Robi Hamilton

We recently connected with Robi Hamilton and have shared our conversation below.

Robi, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

This is something I have navigated since I was very young. I grew up in a predominantly white and rural area of Texas and did not have many friends or peers who looked like me.

I wasn’t the only black girl in my town, but finding another black girl who was into alternative music and culture was increasingly difficult. It was tough as a young girl, feeling the pressure to “fit in,” and try as I did, I always seemed to “stand out.” Eventually, I began to embrace what made me stand out by owning it and using it as a superpower. I nurtured my talent, empathy, compassion, and attention-to-detail to be effective in building relationships and thinking outside of the box.

I have always been an independent person– my mom was a single mother and raised me as an only child with my only (older) sibling 3,000 miles away. She was tenacious, authoritative at times, and resourceful. She was the textbook “Strong Black Woman”–rarely asked for help, kept her emotions close, and proved herself capable at achieving all that she set out to do. Never letting anyone tell her she couldn’t do something or she wasn’t capable.

Having her as a role model growing up influenced my confidence and integrity in achieving anything I set my mind to despite who is around, cheering me on or not. She told me often that I am unique and have a light inside of me that others will try to put out, so I keep the light on and share my perspective, knowledge, and skills to help illuminate another’s path.

It’s integral to stay true to oneself than it is to conform to another. Not always easy, but necessary.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a licensed massage therapist of the past 9 years, and I am the owner and sole practitioner of Hand & Sole Massage. I specialize in treating musculoskeletal conditions arising from poor posture, injury, stress, and chronic tension. I provide high-quality bodywork in a cozy and soothing setting to make you feel pampered and deeply restored in your new body.

I utilize gravity and my feet with Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage, one of the deepest, most effective modalities out there, to affect change in the myofascial tissues in a tolerable and productive way. The broad surface of the foot makes the pressure more dispersed, allowing your nervous system to relax and settle into each slow, sustained stroke. It’s as close to the “sole” as you can get!

I integrate Neuromuscular Therapy for targeted trigger point and chronic pain relief, and S.M.R.T (Spontaneous Muscle Release Technique) to easily restore balance to the muscle tissues and allow for deeper work.

My own experiences with chronic pain issues have shaped my deep passion for helping people live a better quality of life, whether it’s being able to sit at your child’s soccer game without pain, or being mentally renewed for a busy week. I understand the toll that gets taken upon the body and believe that you don’t have to live with pain. My clients who put their trust in me and my work and report that they are in a much better place than they were before is the gratifying reason I do this work!

Located at Bliss Studio in North Austin and providing Mobile (Outcall) sessions to Austin, Cedar, Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, and Round Rock and accepting new clients. Enjoy complimentary aromatherapy and hot towels at Bliss Studio and upgrade your sessions with CBD cream or cupping. New clients receive 20% off your first session, mobile or in-studio!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Introspection, determination, and the entrepreneurial spirit I think have been key traits that have shaped me into who I am today. Self-reflection is paramount to personal growth and I did a lot of that in my youth and young adulthood through journaling and therapy. When I better understood my motives and how my actions affected others was when I was able to focus on what it was I really wanted to do in life and how I could make an impact in the world. It became clear that helping people and taking care of others was what I wanted to do.

My determination kept me going. When I set my mind to something, I’m going to achieve whatever it is. I don’t give up easily. From a young age, I knew if I wanted something I had to work for it. Life doesn’t just give you things for free or make things happen for you. You have to do that for yourself. The right people along the way will provide the kindling, but you are the one to start the fire.

In elementary school, we used to have this event every week called “Friday Sales” which was when the faculty would vend candy for us and allow free time in the gym for an hour or two at the end of every Friday. The best candy was had at Friday sales. For Halloween, I would go trick-or-treating with a friend and as you do at the end of the night, you sort the candy that you don’t care about from the ones you love. I would take that candy I didn’t care for and sell it on the bus to earn money to get the good stuff at school. I even learned to speak another language to communicate with the Spanish speakers on my bus. I had that drive to earn what I wanted.

My advice to anyone beginning their entrepreneurial journey is to know what you want, write it down, build your support network, and stay the course on achieving your goal. Go for it and don’t give up.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is the one who has stopped doing the hobby they love because they have pain when they do it, someone who works with their body a lot such as a tradesworker or an athlete, performs a job that causes repetitive strain on the body, and or a high-stress job and looking for high-quality care and service in a soothing environment to truly relax and let go. Everyone with a body can benefit from massage, but clients that I am best suited for want to return to their hobbies, live life to the fullest without worry of injury, and appreciate the value of bodywork and holistic care and want to maintain a standard of wellness for themselves. I pride myself on the quality of care I provide for my clients because it is impactful to be able to help someone return to a beloved sport after years of not playing due to pain.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Kaylyn Wenger
Jewels Production

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