THE NEW REALITY OF WELLNESS
We all know the world has changed in the past year, we don’t need to revise the reasons why every single one of us has moments, days, weeks of contemplation, existential crisis and fear about what the future may hold.
What the spa industry can do get real about wellness in the new normal.
We all know that the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have brought into sharp focus the chronic impact on low income black, white, and ethnic minorities and we cannot ignore it.
Wellness menus and signature tinctures seem outdated when faced with very real concerns about our family’s health and our community’s health. Our global situation has instantly shattered the presentation that wellness is available if you have the money for a 2-week detox in Austria or the time for hourly meditation. Which most do not. The knowledge and understanding of wellness should be accessible to everyone, the benefits of commercial wellness should be paid forward to where wellness initiatives are most needed. Giving back is inherent to most spa professionals, its time for our leadership to make the idealism a reality and focus on the holistic approach to our wellness future.
How, as an industry, can we start making drives to encourage societal and community wellness alongside and as a complement to our services?
As industry professionals we talk about reflecting our location. Indigenous treatments and locally inspired rituals are regulars on most spa’s menus, encouraging our guests to immerse themselves in our locale and really experience our local offering. The next step is to encourage each spa delivering these treatments to use these as a catalyst for developing people and business in the local community. Ensuring that the local culture is respected and protected in every step of our treatment development is essential, putting community benefit at the top of the list in designing each service reminds us that we belong to it, it does not belong to us.
Time is a valuable commodity in spas. Each minute calculated and utilised to allow maximum capacity and each guest yearning for just a little longer on the massage table. Donating time might seem unthinkable at this point however the benefits are extensive in terms of making wellness not just a spa concept. Arranging for your team to spend a day within the community where its most needed, offering free treatments to senior citizens, opening a free yoga class in some outdoor space for absolutely everyone to enjoy and benefit from. Once a month, even once a quarter, giving time to people that could immediately experience the true benefits of what we offer. Your team see an integrity in the business which elevates them, your community embrace your philosophy and reap benefits of your wellness knowledge and your guests can see you commit to your values
Ultimately having a shared vision as an industry will begin to allow us to fully embrace wellness in its entirety. If we are not doing it then how can we expect others to embrace it. We have the voice, we have the tools, we have the knowledge and most importantly, we have a global community of therapists, practitioners, receptionists, attendants, managers who can help us lead the way.
We know a blog is not going to start a revolution, however maybe it will allow us to stop for a moment and look deeper into what we can do as an industry and make wellness exactly what it is, the opposite of illness, not just for the 1%.
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