We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nadia Triñanes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nadia below.

Nadia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

After graduating from a Denver, Colorado massage school in April 2023, I had no intent to start my own massage business. I wanted to work at a spa for at least a few years to gain experience in the field before I decided to open my own spot. Something that felt, at the time, so daunting and unattainable. Unexpected life changes came, and I had to move from the scenic mountains of Colorado back down to my (second) hometown in southern Mississippi. I found a small spa in the downtown area to work at. It seemed like the perfect place for me, but little did I know it would be the catalyst for my journey moving forward.

My business is called Tadhana Massage and Bodywork. “Tadhana” is a Filipino word meaning “Destiny.” I believe we have the power to shape our own destinies with every small step and decision we make. My decision to fully be self-employed in January 2025 has changed my perspective on life forever. What role did the spa play in helping me with this leap? After discovering how that place operated behind the scenes, it was evident our goals were not aligned. My hard work was benefiting the owner more than their fair share. Like many therapists straight out of massage school, I was being underpaid all while my cash tips were mysteriously disappearing. Coming to work every day began to stress me because I knew some form of drama would be awaiting me. How can I fulfill my job as a licensed massage therapist if I was constantly in body and mind dis-regulation due to the unharmonious environment?

I trudged through the months silently building up my business on the side. I dreamed of a cute little studio that would be an oasis of comfort for not only myself but also my clients. I found that very place in April of 2024, after seven months of beginning my employment at the spa. I couldn’t believe how everything was coming together so beautifully all because I decided to trust the path I was being guided to. Every week, I have to trust that I will have enough clients booking to sustain my business and myself. It gets easier and easier as the months go by – listening to my intuition and gained knowledge/experience.

I could have accepted my fate in being taken advantage of and working in an environment that was depleting my happiness, but I knew there had to be something else better for me. There will always be something unjust that happens to us, but we have the power to let it show us where we would rather be. Today, I have genuine gratitude for what that place showed me: that I can be a successful business owner!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an island girl, born in the Philippines and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi – a small town an hour from the gulf coast. My Asian heritage has heavily influenced me and has shaped me into the person I am today. In the West, the viewpoint is very physical and scientific while the East can show you more of the “invisible” and “magic” of how the world operates. My mother’s side of the family is Filipino, while my father’s is of Persian/Indian descent. This is what influenced me to be curious in the things not seen ie ghosts, faeries, and energy work. While growing up in southern America taught me of things more “solid” like physical sciences.

I originally went to university to study Wildlife Biology but quickly fell in love with the Theatre Department. I ended up changing my major to Theatre with an emphasis in scenic design and painting. I have always been a creative and free spirit, so it seemed like the right decision for me. I graduated from William Carey University in 2018 and moved to Colorado in 2019 hoping to land a job in the field. By the time 2020 came, we are all familiar with how our initial plans in life did not go accordingly. There was a big shift for me during that time that included at least 1,000 hours in meditation, and learning more about the subtle energetic body – after previously taking ample anatomy and physiology classes. I learned to be more in harmony with my own body and started rehabilitating myself by practicing yoga, going to the chiropractor, and also receiving regular massages. I’ve had massages before, but it was different because of how much more mindful and aware I was of my body.

I guess I should mention that I had a life changing car accident early in 2019 before my move to Colorado that summer. I flipped my car over at least twice and hit a tree but somehow managed to walk away with a few fractured ribs and a case of whiplash. I was very blessed; little did I know that this event would influence much of my stay in Colorado. I had to heal my body but also my mind. I had PTSD from the wreck and sought therapy in the form of EMDR to remedy the anxiety that driving would give me.

There’s a saying that healers also need to be healed. We know how to heal because we’ve also gone through pain. As dark as it may sound, the car accident was a key factor in my journey of finding the healer inside myself. That’s when I realized that massage therapy may be compatible with my new outlook on life. My first experience with massage was when I was a toddler, walking on my mother’s back. When I got too big to do that, I learned how to use my hands to massage my mom’s back and shoulders. I credit this to why massage school felt like second nature to me. Even with the science half of it because of my previous background in biology.

The school I attended focused on Thai Yoga Massage. Essentially, the therapist will put you in assisted yoga poses and stretch your muscles while also focusing on the energy body. This style of massage is my favorite and is incorporated in all of my sessions. My clients love the stretching aspect of the session and adds a dynamic approach to healing the body.

I have many clients that have chronic pain. I like to be creative in my approach to alleviating pain and this includes using tools like Cupping, Gua Sha stones, hot stones, hot towels, aromatherapy, and much, much more. Essentially, every body is different and requires a custom approach. What works for one person may not work for another. The key is to have proper communication with clients ensuring that what I’m offering is helping or hindering.

I’m proud of myself for always striving to see the bright side of things. So many obstacles could have stopped me, but I decided to see it as a test to see how much I really wanted to succeed. Every massage session comes from my heart. It’s never “just a massage”. For many people, massage therapy is the main way they find comfort from aches and pains. It is becoming more evident that massage is not a luxury. It is a part of healthcare and a wonderful tool to help with living a pain-free life.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I could go back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I think I had to experience the way things happened to be the person I am today. At the start of college, I wanted to specialize in Wildlife Biology mainly because I love animals but also because, at the time, I hated interacting with people and wanted a career where I could spend most of my time around animals and less with people in general. As I grew older, I realized I didn’t really hate people, I just had a hateful outlook on life. My journey led me to much introspection, and I was able to heal many of my past wounds. Of course, healing is a constant effort so I’m always seeking new ways to approach problems I face in life and seeing the beauty in it all.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

As a massage therapist, I think it’s important to connect with the local community. I see many of my clients outside of the studio whether it’s at the local coffee shop or the gym. I think it’s important to maintain a balance of connection since the ways of each town and city affects its’ citizens. I like to know of events happening so I can recommend other tools to help my clients like yoga classes, live music, and sound bath healing to name a few.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tadhanamassagebodywork.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tadhana.mas.sage/

Image Credits

Tayler Blackhart owner of Black Heart Media