Greetings!
Destination spas aren’t just for the rich and famous, they can be for the tired and weary mother of 3, the yoga enthusiast, the hiking junkie or the couch potato that needs to lose a few pounds. They also make for a great place to work! This month we’ll be covering the basics of working at a destination spa, I hope you’ll be inspired.
-Many Blessings, Alexa
By Alexa Severtsen, LMP
Spa didn’t always mean a relaxing place to get pampered with foot rubs, salt scrubs and back rubs.Spa is actually a small municipality of Belguim, situated against the Ardennes Mountains. It made its mark in history when people discovered the mineral hot springs throughout the town in the early 17th century. These springs were believed to have special healing qualities and were highly sought after, making the term Spa synonymous with health and wellness.(1)
Today, destination spas promote a change in lifestyle and inspire people to embrace a new attitude towards their mind, body and spirit.
Destination spas can be a weekend detoxification vacation in the canyons of Arizona, at Mirival Resort or a week-long weight-loss retreat on the pristine beaches of Florida, at The Regency Wellness Resort & Spa. Destination spas offer outdoor group activities, yoga classes, nutrition classes, all-inclusive meals, medical doctor wellness programs, detoxification diets and of course mud baths, salt scrubs and a deep tissue massage you’ll never forget.
Working at a destination spa has advantages.
Major destination spas such as Destination Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels & Fairmont Hotels offer unique employment opportunities for massage therapists. Since massage therapists are working for a large conglomerate, they’ll benefit from perks such as health insurance, 401K plans, dental, paid vacations & discounted use of the resort’s services. Not to mention working in an ideal environment. Massage Therapists working at a destination spa typically fall into 3 categories:
- Seasonal therapists – in demand during peak seasons such as summer or winter
- Contract therapists – on call therapists with part-time hours either seasonal or year-round
- Regular therapists – full-time employees working year-round
Qualifications for therapists may include but are not limited to:
High School Diploma or G.E.D.
License – as required by state
500 hours of massage education
Some knowledge of hot stone massage, Thai massage or bodywrap treatments
Ability to work flexible hours
Ability to work under pressure
Strong customer service skills
CPR Certified
Another great perk when working at a destination spa, is the job growth potential. Positions such as Massage Director, Spa Manager & Spa Supervisor, give therapists room to grow and the opportunity to increase their income. If you’re interested in working at a small spa or a big destination resort, you’ll need to start by completing a 500-hour educational course. NW Academy for the Healing Arts’ 7-month weekday and 12-month weekend courses meet the minimum requirements for working at a destination resort. Find out more information on our website: www.nw-academy.com. See you at the spa!
1. Spa, Belgium. (n.d.) Retrieved August 19, 2011 from Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spa,_Belgium
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