the story of
HOW Awareness Massage WAS NAMED

This is the story of how Awareness Massage was named.  Before graduating from massage school in 1996, I sought a name for my massage practice that felt right to me.  One day after receiving a session from me, a bird loving practice client suggested the name “Aware Nest Massage” because in receiving the work she imagined herself to be in a safe nest where she became aware of herself.

I immediately embraced the symbolism and the feel of the “aware nest” image.  I changed the spelling to Awareness Massage because "Aware Nest Massage" got stuck on my tongue while "Awareness Massage" flows.  I also like having symbolic layers of meaning for the name of my practice.

In the Hans Christian Anderson story "The Ugly Duckling", a baby swan who was raised by a duck mother feels ugly because he looks and acts different than his duck siblings. After reaching adulthood, one day he notices his reflection in the water and has an epiphany: he sees that HE IS BEAUTIFUL, JUST THE WAY HE IS!!!

The painting pictured here by Jake Arnautoff, one of my special long term clients, hung in my Seattel office for decades. 

my original logo

My artist friend Art Koyano drew my original beautiful Awareness Massage logo, pictured above.  It depicts an “aware nest” as a pair of hands in which a little swan rests.  

My hope in sharing massage with you is to create a nest-like environment where healing happens on many levels.

O wau wale no,

Barbara Helynn Robles