Many spas are now developing interactive guest experiences that focus on wellness. This is a great way to expand the spa experience beyond the treatment room and create wellness programming that is both educational and inspiring. Workshops provide the perfect opportunity to inspire guests with the wellness benefits of essential oils. Essential oils are found in many spa products, via education we can help guests discern quality and encourage the use of natural and pure essential oils for healing and wellness benefits. By teaching the therapeutic benefits and how to use essential oils, their excitement will fuel their interest in purchasing oils to incorporate into their personal care and home spa rituals. This presents an opportunity for spas to offer retail and generate additional revenue.
During the workshops, guests will learn easy ways to incorporate essential oils into their daily self-care practice, such as what to use in a diffuser to energize and refresh, or calm and relax, and what base carrier oils are most beneficial for the skin, for example using rosemary massaged into their scalp to nourish hair roots and on their hairbrush for lustrous hair. A fun way to engage participants is by teaching bathing rituals with different remedies for sleep, muscle aches, immune system support and tips to create a romantic ambience. They can also address some common health concerns, for example: to aid digestion, relieve stress, improve sleep, anxiety, mood and mental clarity, to ease headaches, boost mood and even incorporate essential oils into their skincare routine.
Classes can be formatted for one or two sessions, incorporating a blending experience to create an interactive workshop. Approximately 30 minutes of theory – the fundamentals of aromatherapy, where essential oils come from, and their therapeutic properties. Attendees should smell the single-note oils to learn as they smell; writing notes to take home. The remaining time can be dedicated to blending.
Using pure, unadulterated essential oils is critical to providing true therapeutic benefits. No synthetic oils can be substituted. Guests will complete the workshop having learned practical ways to incorporate essential oils into their self-care practices for beauty, balance and well-being.
By Tara Grodjesk
President, Tara Spa Therapy; VP Earthlite Wellness Products
www.taraspatherapy.com