SpaTrade expert blogger Anne Bramham posed the following question in her last post— “Are we disowning our own tool box of healing therapies?” This is a serious question for our industry—most especially due to the current state of the economy. If we as an industry don’t believe in the healing power of “spa,” what message are we conveying to the consumer?
I believe the disconnect stems from a lack of knowledge of spa’s true benefits. Contributing factors include:
- Shortage of qualified therapists due to inadequate training in cosmetology and massage schools
- Poor training at the spa level (training budgets often minimal and majority is vendor-driven)
- Lack of understanding of the human body (anatomy, physiology) and the effect of natural elements and physical environments on the mind, body and soul.
- The quest for wellness outside of the spa experience. (ie “we’re adding wellness programs”)
At their core, spa treatments help bring us back into balance, defined as a “state of equilibrium.” The technical term is “homeostatis”- defined as “the ability of the body or a cell to seek and maintain a condition of equilibrium or stability within its internal environment when dealing with external changes.” The essence of spa is prevention of illness by using the elements of nature. It is true that spas deliver a relaxing experience, but at its best the spa experience can deliver so much more…
How do we solve the problem of “disowning our own toolbox of healing therapies?” How do we raise standards in the industry so we feel proud of the product we deliver and consumers feel good about spending their money on spa treatments? Your comments are most appreciated.