Inspiring Conversations with Simone Ruff of Soma Flow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone Ruff.

Hi Simone, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Simone, and I’m a Los Angeles–based wellness practitioner and the founder of Soma Flow.
My work primarily focuses on lymphatic drainage, body sculpting, therapeutic massage, prenatal care, and women’s wellness. I blend therapeutic bodywork, Lymphatic Drainage, Traditional Thai stretch techniques, and trauma-informed care to provide personalized sessions throughout Los Angeles in homes, offices, wellness spaces, and event settings.
My path into bodywork grew from a deep commitment to holistic wellness and community care.
Before becoming a massage therapist, I spent several years supporting homeless and at-risk youth and women on Skid Row, helping with life skills, wellness support, hygiene programs, and access to resources. During that time, I also became deeply interested in holistic health, spirituality, nutrition, and the connection between physical and emotional well-being.

I began my massage therapy career in late 2023 during a major transitional period in my life that ultimately clarified my direction. After traveling abroad and experiencing different healing modalities and wellness practices firsthand, I was inspired to pursue massage therapy professionally after seeing how restorative and impactful bodywork could be.
I trained at the Elaine Sterling Institute in Georgia, where I developed a strong foundation in therapeutic and restorative techniques grounded in anatomy and evidence-informed practice. I later completed a 100 hour Manual Lymphatic Drainage certification at CALCOPA School of Massage, expanding my knowledge in circulation, post-surgical recovery, swelling reduction, detoxification, and recovery-based care. Wanting to deepen my understanding of movement and alignment, I also traveled to Thailand to study Traditional Thai stretch massage, which continues to influence how I approach assisted movement, breathwork, and mindful touch in my sessions.

Along the way, I gained hands-on experience working alongside chiropractors in injury recovery settings, supporting rehabilitation, pain management, stretch therapy, and recovery work for athletes and individuals healing from injury. I also worked in a luxury spa environment in Los Angeles, providing personalized care for high-end clientele. Those experiences taught me how to blend clinical awareness with a calm, grounded presence.

Today, my work reflects a nervous system–aware and trauma-informed approach rooted in fascia, circulation, recovery, and women’s healing. I founded Soma Flow Studios in 2024 in response to the growing demand for wellness services that feel both results-driven and deeply supportive.

My practice specializes in lymphatic drainage and body sculpting, while also offering sports massage, prenatal massage and relaxation-focused sessions. Every session is personalized, intentional, and guided by what each client’s body needs that day. I also collaborate with other licensed massage therapists for wellness events, couples sessions, and group recovery experiences.

This summer, I’ll also be opening my first studio space in the South Bay, which feels like a really exciting next chapter for both myself and the business!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Building a business as a one-woman operation means wearing every hat at once — practitioner, marketer, scheduler, content creator, customer service, accounting, and everything in between. There have been moments where it’s felt overwhelming trying to grow while also being the person physically providing the services every day.

I’ve also dealt with imposter syndrome, especially during periods of growth or when opportunities started becoming more real. When you’re building something from the ground up, it can feel surreal watching people trust your work, refer their friends, and genuinely support your vision. There were moments where I questioned myself, compared my journey to others, or felt pressure to already have everything figured out.

What helped me overcome that was realizing I had already put in the work. I invested deeply into my education, traveled to learn different healing techniques, gained hands-on experience in clinical and luxury wellness environments, and built real relationships with clients who continued to come back because they genuinely felt the difference in my care. Over time, I stopped focusing so much on whether I looked “successful enough” and started focusing on the impact I was actually making.
I also had to reconnect with myself outside of business. Entrepreneurship can really test your confidence and identity, especially when you care deeply about what you do. But I’ve learned to trust my intuition more, celebrate the small wins, and recognize that growth doesn’t always happen in a straight line. I feel much more grounded in who I am now, both personally and professionally, and I think that confidence naturally reflects in my work.

At the same time, navigating entrepreneurship in today’s economy can still feel uncertain at times. Wellness and self-care are important to people, but there’s often a lot of education involved in helping clients understand the long-term value of therapeutic and recovery-based care.
Even with the challenges, I’m incredibly grateful I chose this path. This work feels purposeful to me, and I genuinely love helping people feel better in their bodies. I believe wellness, healing, and beauty industries will always have a place because people will always seek spaces that help them feel restored, supported, and connected to themselves.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Soma Flow Studios is a Los Angeles–based wellness practice focused on lymphatic drainage, body sculpting, therapeutic massage, and women’s wellness. I currently offer mobile and in-office services throughout Los Angeles and will be opening my first South Bay studio this summer.
What really sets my work apart is the balance between results-driven care and nervous system support. A lot of people initially come to me for lymphatic drainage and body sculpting, but stay because of how personalized, intentional, and restorative the experience feels. My approach blends therapeutic massage, Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), Traditional Thai stretch techniques, myofascial work, prenatal care, and recovery-focused bodywork in a way that’s tailored to each individual client.
I’m especially passionate about helping women feel more connected to and supported in their bodies, whether they’re navigating stress, inflammation, chronic tension, post-surgical recovery, pregnancy, burnout, or simply needing space to slow down and reconnect with themselves. I also work with athletes and active individuals looking for recovery-based treatments that improve mobility, circulation, and overall body function.
One thing I’m very intentional about is creating an experience that never feels rushed or transactional. I want clients to feel genuinely cared for from the moment they book to the moment they leave the session. My work is trauma-informed and nervous system–aware, meaning I pay close attention to how stress, emotions, and lifestyle can physically show up in the body.
Right now, Soma Flow Studios is primarily a one-woman business, and I’m proud of the fact that I’ve built it from the ground up myself. At the same time, I do collaborate with other licensed massage therapists for wellness events, couples sessions, and larger bookings when needed. As the business continues to grow and expand into a studio space, my long-term vision is to eventually build a team and create a wellness environment that feels elevated, supportive, and community-centered.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Soma Flow Studios has grown organically through trust, referrals, consistency, and genuine care. The brand has naturally evolved into something that feels feminine, healing-focused, educational, and deeply authentic to who I am and how I approach wellness.
I want readers to know that wellness is not one-size-fits-all. Whether someone is coming in for body sculpting, lymphatic drainage, therapeutic massage, prenatal support, or sports recovery, my goal is always to help people feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally — not just temporarily, but in a sustainable and supportive way.

Pricing:

• Soma Flow Studios offers personalized wellness sessions throughout Los Angeles, including mobile, in-office, and event-based services.
• Services include lymphatic drainage, body sculpting, therapeutic massage, prenatal massage, sports recovery, Thai stretch therapy, and relaxation-focused bodywork.
• Most sessions begin around $160+ for therapeutic and recovery-focused treatments.
• Specialized lymphatic drainage and body sculpting sessions are customized based on each client’s needs and treatment plan.
• Package rates are available for clients booking ongoing wellness, recovery, or post-surgical support sessions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://somaflowmassage.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/somaflowmassagestudio