The Healing Power of Serving Others with Massage Therapist and Great Graduate Robert Pruett

“Everyone has a story to tell, a lesson to teach, and wisdom to share… Life is a beautiful masterpiece bound together by your experiences. Open up and share your story; become an inspiration to others. You can make a difference because you matter. You were created with purpose. Live your life with intention, go out there and make a difference by being the difference.” - Melanie Koulouris

Robert-Pruett-SWIHA-blog

Great Graduate, Robert Pruett shares his story of high highs and low lows that ultimately led him to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. Robert asserts, “Mine is a story of extremes - I came from a place of trauma, abuse, and resulting depression - to being very successful and actualized.” After some very turbulent times, Robert encountered some very unlikely teachers that ultimately changed the course of his life. Robert apprenticed under a yoga master and learned musical theory, as well as guitar from two notable musicians. Robert explains, “I was a software developer, and unfulfilled. I felt like I had missed my calling. I kept encountering the word ‘Reiki’ and I didn't know what it meant. One day at a party some of my friends were talking about a Reiki program at SWIHA and I perked up. The next day I saw an admissions counselor. I quit my job and enrolled that very day.”

Robert Pruett enrolled as a student in the 750-hour Massage Therapy Program with a focus on Reiki and Myotherapy. When reflecting back on a “defining moment” Robert had during his time here at SWIHA, Robert picked the moment when Reiki Master, Ann Cabano, facilitated his Reiki group. Robert expresses, “When she rang a gong and walked around our circle, I could hear the tone change in front of each person. I realized the sound was interacting with our energy fields and changing wavelengths in response. It was the first real evidence of ‘energy’ I had seen.” Robert continues, “She went on to ask for a volunteer with whom she demonstrated the effects of intention - folks thinking good and bad thoughts about the person caused their energy field to expand and contract respectively. Incredible - this was a life-changing realization. It resonated at the core of my being.”

Robert thoroughly enjoyed his time here at SWIHA and learned many wonderful things that broadened his senses and awareness/appreciation for energy and healing. So much so, that Robert has developed his own healing practice, as well, Robert helped open a full-service behavioral health center, New Freedom. Robert explains, “We are only a little over a year old and have 230 employees, and 370 members in residence. Our non-profit side reaches into prisons and builds mentorship relationships with folks who are incarcerated, giving them a positive focus and teaching the value of service work. These are the folks who, if eligible, are placed at our resort facility for an intensive 90-day program that addresses the mind, body, and spirit.” What amazing work this is! Robert still operates his private practice with various modalities such as Lomi Lomi, Myotherapy, and Deep Tissue work with Reiki, Sound Healing, and Ayurveda-inspired life coaching.

Robert’s biggest lesson he took away from his time at SWIHA was the practice of surrender, trust, and learning to serve on a new level. Robert also expresses the lesson that it is good to charge for healing services. Robert proclaims, “In our society we value money, and if we do not exchange energy for a service, we do not benefit from it the same way.” It is such a powerful lesson to learn how to value your services and put a price on what you are offering to the community and that your services and time are valuable!

Robert would like to highlight his most impactful teacher, Pam, who taught Anatomy and Myofascial Energetic, as well as, Ann Cabano from the Reiki portion of the program. Lastly, Robert’s words of advice for any potential/future SWIHA student is, “Stop getting in your own way and embrace your path. You are here for a reason. As we waste time with poor decisions, we miss opportunities to enrich the community and support our brothers and sisters. True fulfillment does not come from attaining wealth, it comes from being of service.”