Justine Robbins, LMT, M.Ed., CLT
EDUCATION Yamanaka Shiatsu Clinic, Tokyo; Lesley University, Cambridge, MA; Academy of Lymphatic Studies, Sebastian, FL
SPECIALTIES Lymphatic therapies, including Manual Lymph Drainage; CranioSacral Therapy; Massage Cupping CONTACT Justine: (520) 908-8907 Rooted: (520) 326-8300 "I got started in the healing arts just as a personal interest studying acupuncture and shiatsu in Japan. I never thought it would change the course of my life!" A licensed, nationally certified massage therapist since 1994, Justine has explored the world of bodywork extensively for decades and brings all her knowledge to bear on her current practice. Her training began some 35 years ago with shiatsu, Japanese massage, acupuncture, and Kiryuho in Tokyo. Since then, she has immersed herself in various modes of healing work, including Craniosacral Therapy, plant medicine, positional release, massage cupping, and lymphatic therapies. Before settling in Tucson in 2001, Justine had the honor of learning from indigenous healers and herbalists while working with international health and education programs in the US, Asia, and Africa.
A Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) and compression-garment fitter since 2008, she is passionate about lymphatic therapies for immune health, pain relief, orthopedic issues, and post-surgical recovery. She specializes in breast-cancer-treatment-related lymphedema and works with patients at Banner UMC Cancer Center and the Arizona Oncology Foundation. Over the years, she has distilled her learning into an integrative practice that focuses on the fluid and meridian systems of the body. Her goal is to help her clients feel their best again, whether they need help managing lymphedema, are recovering from an injury, or are dealing with neuropathy, fibromyalgia, or arthritic pain. Sessions are always tailored to clients' specific needs, using a variety of Western and Asian approaches. |
Q&A with Justine!What is the farthest place you have traveled to?
Kenya. I worked in a village outside of Nairobi for a year. What's the last book you finished? The past few years I've read fewer books and instead spent more time listening to what Nature has to say. I still love reading the magazine "The Sun" every month, especially the "Readers Write" section. What's your favorite thing about Tucson? The land, the light, and the energy all drew me here. After wintering here one year, I kept seeing saguaros out of the corners of my eyes long after I'd returned to New York! What would you choose as your last meal? Pastel de elote from Suzanna Davila's Cafe Poca Cosa, eaten outside with a view of the mountains. What's your favorite movie? Old as it is, My Cousin Vinny still makes me laugh! He embodies the archetype of The Fool, and I love that justice triumphs against all odds. The Dark Crystal is a classic Jim Henson/Frank Oz film. The crystal that keeps balance in the universe has been broken, and the forces of light and darkness are moving toward each other for the epic battle over the fate of the world. The final transformation changes the "us vs. them" mentality completely. It reminds me of the Rumi poem... "Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing there's a field. I'll meet you there..." What's your massage superpower? I feel we all can tune in to the power of healing moving through us. What do your clients say about you? "Therapeutic and intuitive bodywork - deeply healing to the whole person." "Lymphatic healing has rebooted my system to the level of thriving." If you weren't a massage therapist, what would you be doing instead? I can hardly imagine not being a massage therapist in some form. When I broke my wrist a few years ago and couldn't do hands-on work, I went to the Sultanate of Oman to teach for a year. Four months into that year, I had a massage table built and started treating my colleagues at the college. What’s one thing that surprised you after you became a professional massage therapist? It's not just about muscles, meridians, or membranes. At the core, it's about how life force expresses itself in a one-of-a-kind way in every body. I'm amazed each day at the beauty of life force expressing itself through every body. To quote Jungian Marion Woodman, "Bodywork is soul work." |