Friday, July 30, 2010

Sex Scandal and the Profession/Business of Spa, Massage Therapy and Wellness

Sex Scandal and the Profession/Business of Spa, Massage Therapy and Wellness

Recently I read an article regarding Al Gore who happens to be implicated in an in-room Portland hotel massage scandal where the former Vice-President of the United States and apparently assaulted the massage therapist. This is not a new story in the business of spas, massage clinics and wellness centers- there are still people who are asking for extras-other than a hot cup of herbal tea. Sadly, it comes with the territory. The challenge here is raising awareness for the public and raising standards for the professionals in the industry.

But then again, raising the standards is not the complete solution but just a part of how we emphaisize on protocol. The real solution is in the hearts of every client/patron and the professional (even business owners). Whatever law or regulation is passed by governing bodies but if both parties will not conduct themselves properly in private and will go beyond what is professional then, the law is not effective. Self-regulation and conscience call is still the best regulation of all. It goes beyond regulation and strict implementation. We should all be part of the solution.

Just click on the link and you will be directed to a blog I have written on 50++ ways of Preventing/Avoiding Sexual Advances

Email me

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Are You In-Love with the Right Business, Profession, Field or Industry?

Ways to Know If Your Are In Love with the Right Business, Profession, Field or Industry



Can you easily spot if your friend is in love with someone? It won't come as a surprise but I will be using the Spa, Massage Therapy, Beauty and Wellness industry as examples to know if you are in the right business, profession, field or industry. It takes more than capital, numbers and financials. To give soul to your profession or business, it has to have other elements in place.

I once heard from our Pastor, Ed Lapiz, that it's so important to be able to know your right place and grow where you are planted. A water lily won't grow in the desert. A fish won't live on land. An orchid won't grow on rivers. Every planet, creature, every plant, every human has a right place on Earth. We all have our place on Earth. To some, finding their place is as easy as counting 1, 2 and 3 while for others, it's a bit of a challenge. Maybe because they have a lot of excellent talents or skills which clouds their thinking or it might be the other way around, they don't have enough interests, talents and skills, or they earn so much from their talents and skills that they wouldn't care if it robs them of their happiness. They can't leave their work even if they don't like what they do because of financial needs. It's not uncommon to hear our fellow Filipinos to complain that they really would want to become a doctor instead of a nurse. Only if doctors in our country are paid more than the salaries of nurses abroad. It's not uncommon for teachers to be working as domestic helpers even if they love teaching, they are forced to abandon their passion for teaching because working abroad as a domestic helper earns more. Not that something is wrong with these noble occupations because these are commendable traits of self-sacrifice and care- but the long range effect of this creates division in our lives and our emotions.

Here are some ways to know if your heart is "really" into the Spa, Massage Therapy, Beauty and Wellness industry, whether this be in a profession or business in this field or industry.

1. Your body tells you so.

Aha, one of the ways to read a person is through his/her actions. Siyempre, you have to look at how your body responds to your environment, to your colleagues, to your work and how you perform your responsibilities.
You know that you are "in-love" with your career or your profession if: you are excited to work every single day, you check up on your clients regularly with enthusiasm, your body clock does not miss any spa appointment with a client, you are excited to smell the peppermint from the spa reception, you volunteer for an overtime instead of making excuses why you are always late, you love reading and learning about spas, massage therapies, beauty and wellness, etc. When you lighten up, get excited, beam ear to ear when doing these things then they are tell-tale signs that you found your right path.

You know that you are "in-love" with your spa, massage or wellness business if: you are eagerly anticipating opening doors for business, you spoke with a reliable spa consultant and finished your business plan before you started the business, you love the staff as much as you love your business, you get excited to meet clients and ask their opinions, you don't only love to get a massage, a pedicure or a body scrub but you love to intricately know what's behind the products that were used, you share what you envision about this place to your staff, etc.

If you feel the other way around, you might as well start finding another job or business. Do not get entangled for so long in a golden hand cuff. Golden hand cuffs are basically occupations that keeps you just that....occupied but feeling wanting.

Your body and how it expresses itself in talents and skills you have are signs and symptoms if you are in the right track. We are given enough talents and skills that shows in our body language and in our everyday life, use that for a purpose. You are unique, do not run after someone's dreams and rainbow.

2. You know what sets you apart from others.

You are not just another person who jumps into the wellness bandwagon. You know that you are "in-love" with your career or your profession/business if: you know that you can come in with a different perspective, an out of the box idea or you have better way of doing things. You do not cut corners, you love to contribute without stepping on someone's foot, you have unique qualities and abilities that would set you apart from the others.

What is so unique about you? Perhaps, you did not just put up or start another spa, massage clinic or wellness center- for you, you started a philosophy of sharing to others the gift of health and wellness. You are not an average massage trainer, you did not just taught people techniques through massage and spa trainings but you shared yourself and your experiences, you taught your students how to be professional, how to care through their work, you taught them to open their minds and hearts to learning and to be accepting of others. You do not see yourself as an ordinary massage or spa therapist or spa manager, you are a force for good and a warrior for those who uses this industry for sexual slavery and promiscuous activities.

In essence, you have to have uniqueness in you. It might be new massage techniques that you have been wanting to share for so long, it might be the depth of your experience, it might be the insights that you bring to increase spa sales, etc. Think....what sets you apart from others in this field?

3. Time flies when you enjoy what you are doing.

As what Joseph Campbell says, "follow your bliss". Do things that most excites you and make you the happiest. Not everything in a certain job or business is bliss (even roses have thorns) but generally, if you can do things all day and all night and although you feel tired, you still look forward to doing it tomorrow...then, you have found your bliss. You are in love.

You do not care if you are past your bedtime because you are still researching for the origin of the word "spa", you did not noitice that it's already time for you to go home because there is another client waiting in line, you are not watching the clock for 5 o'clock, you are excited to do some over-time work because you feel at home inside the spa or you love learning more about the intricasies of spa, massage therapies, etc. Learning for you never ends.

If you are in the right business or profession: you just can't get enough of it.

4. You are productive.

Being productive can be seen in so many different ways. Being productive might mean: you are generating enough financial gain from what you love to do, it might mean generating a high amount of value for others and yourself, etc. But the time and energy that you put into your business or profession and the income does not always go hand in hand. I have seen a lot of my staff abroad earning more than a manager's wages in the Philippines but they seem to be discontented and therefore produce an average amount of productivity both in how they feel and what is being given to the company. Any unspoken or unacted upon our life's mission will be a poison to your productivity. See to it that at the very least, you are generating enough income for you to live, be happy and be able to give to others.
Love is blind. Yes it's true even in our business and career. Do not get blinded by love. Life is not all about career and business. Everything has to be a balance.

Love can be be cultivated. If you found these three wanting increase the depth of your love or find another love.

Last but not the least, what we have are all God's gift for us, it's important to cultivate it and return God's favor by using everything within our power to give glory to Him.


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The most comprehensive resource and information guide on the list of training centers, magazines, publications, books and literatures both local and international are all available in the book, “The Spa, Massage and Wellness Resource Guide and Career Book”. The First Book on Spa, Massage and Wellness Resource Book and Career Guide
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6425282/About-the-Book-Spa-Massage-and-Wellness-Resource-Guide-and-Career-Book


(this has the most comprehensive list of training centers in the Philippines and abroad with tips from professionals and employment opportunities, legal laws and regulations, list of employment agencies, how to choose a trainer, and information that you need in order to succeed in this industry and before you shell out money for your tuition or training, there are a lot of ways you can grab a copy of this valuable information para hindi ka mag sayang ng time and money enrolling in trainings you do not even need. This book will give you the information to start right in the industry with secrets you should know and being able to find your rainbow in the wonderful world of massage, spa and wellness.



1. You can order it online via www.Amazon.com at 34.95$



2. You can order it via a Kindle device at $7.99



3. You can order an e-book copy through my blog at www.yunesa.blogspot.com at $19.95



4. You can also get a copy from National Bookstores nationwide at P799Pesos



5. For locals only, you can order it from me at local discounted rates with free delivery at 900Pesos (via LBC or FEDEX Air 21. Anywhere in the Philippines. Please allow 1-5 working days







If you are looking for a career opportunity, not just a job in the spa, massage therapy and wellness industry, this book is a must read.







Also, CD's included in the kit for spa management, practice and operations available:







The Spa and Wellness Business- Understanding the Basics (PowerPoint format)



Seven Deadly Mistakes to Avoid as a Spa Owner and Practitioner in the Spa Wellness Business (PowerPoint format)



Spa, Massage and Facial Therapies 101 (The Basics) (PowerPoint format)



Business Worksheets for Spa and Massage Business in the Philippines (Excel and Word format/program includes all the financial worksheets you need in computing for your operational cost, etc.)







This article is written by: Eunice Estipona a spa consultant, mentor, advisor, speaker and lecturer. One of her advocacies is to make healing and information regarding the field of spa, massage and wellness accessible and affordable to everyone. If you are serious about turning your business or practice around, making the right decisions, getting an unbiased opinion and knowing where to get help, for lectures and other concerns she can be contacted at yunesa@yahoo.com or +639184745685. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.meetup.com/philippinemassagetherapy



These along with hundreds of resources found locally and abroad are contained in “The Spa, Massage and Wellness Resource and Career Book”, the first book of resource information to know more about the Spa, Massage and Wellness Industry in the Philippines and other countries including the United States, Australia and other Asian countries. You can view, read, download and print for FREE the book’s summary at this link http://www.scribd.com/doc/6425282/About-the-Book-Spa-Massage-and-Wellness-Resource-Guide-and-Career-Book







If you are a spa, massage therapy and wellness information seeker the resources contained in the book for you. This book is a collection of data and valuable information regarding the spa and massage industry in a global perspective with a focus on the Philippines. Her advocacy in writing the book is to make “unbiased” information regarding the field of spa, massage and wellness resources and career, accessible and affordable for everyone. If you are considering a career in the massage, spa and wellness industry, this book will prepare you and give you a glimpse of what it is like, the preparation you need to take: emotionally, intellectually and financially. In this book, you will learn more details in the spa and massage field and the possible paths you can take. You will also learn about local and international training programs offered and numerous employment possibilities. Giving you much needed information at your fingertips. You can order it from www.Amazon.com or for local Philippine residents, you can email and get in touch with Eunice at yunesa@yahoo.com.







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Thursday, July 8, 2010

Spa, Massage Therapy, Beauty, Health and Wellness Quotes



Begin with an inner health, then and only then can you begin with an outward physical health -yunesa

I heard myself humorously say before, "beauty and the beast...it's just that I am the beast and he is the beauty". One of the challenges facing almost any industry, not only the spa, massage therapy, beauty and wellness industry is the overemphasis of the public perception of what physical health really means. If it means just feeling good about yourself, having a sleek and sexy body- then we are missing the point. But of course, we would not discount the fact that beauty and brains are also important too. Beauty and the best can go hand in hand but any stressing one as above is a sign of imbalance.

For my wit and humor segment, I would like to share with you a story on physical health from http://www.basicjokes.com/:

Jack has died. His lawyer is standing before the family and reads out Jack's Last Will and Testament:
"To my dear wife Esther, I leave the house, 50 acres of land, and 1 million dollars. To my son Barry, I leave my Big Lexus and the Jaguar. To my daughter Suzy, I leave my yacht and $250,000. And to my brother-in-law Jeff, who always insisted that health is better than wealth, I leave my treadmill."

Peace!