Offering presence based on guests’ needs
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4 Create rituals of care: Simple rituals deepen presence: offering a warm cloth, a few words of intention before a treatment or a grounding tea after. These gestures turn ordinary service into a sacred moment.
5 Debrief as a team: Encourage daily reflection: Who did you meet today? What did they need most? This builds awareness and helps the team connect their actions to the deeper purpose of their work.
6 Do your inner work: Normalize self-care and therapeutic support like coaching and counseling. Unresolved stress and pain affect health and judgment, and even the energy we bring to work.
Transformation begins with how we show up. It’ s about the energy of each practitioner, the way team members connect with each other and with guests. l Do we meet each guest with genuine attention, not just polite customer service? l Do we create an atmosphere where silence, stillness and care are as valued as efficiency? l Do we help our teams understand every interaction sets the tone for healing and renewal? l Do we allow enough time for smooth transitions, rather than forcing a smile or readiness?
Practical ways to foster presence
Here are some simple, powerful steps to make your spa not just a service provider but a sanctuary of presence: 1 Begin with centering: Encourage your team to take two to three minutes before each shift to pause, breathe and align their energy. A grounded staff member sets the stage for a grounded guest experience.
2 Train in emotional awareness: A basic introduction to mindfulness or emotional intelligence helps staff read subtle guest cues. For example, short, clipped sentences may signal a need for extra patience and care.
3 Normalize silence and stillness: Many spa teams feel pressure to“ fill the space” with chatter. Instead, empower them to trust silence, which can be the most healing element.
Choosing to be the change
We cannot control the chaos or imbalance of the world outside. But within your spa walls, you can create the energy people need: compassion, calm and care.
By training teams to meet guests with true presence, we provide more than treatments— we participate in transformation. We remind people of what is possible in themselves and in the world.
To choose presence is to choose to be the change. And that choice is not only a gift to your guests, it is a gift to humanity— and to yourself. n
Offering presence based on guests’ needs
Imagine three guests on the same day: l The first has finished a stressful week and wants an escape: a simple massage and quiet space. Presence here means avoiding overwhelm by avoiding too many choices or unnecessary conversation. l The second is adventurous and eager to try something new. Presence here means guiding them with enthusiasm and celebrating their openness by encouraging unfamiliar treatments or creative combinations. l The third is quietly grieving. Presence here means slowing down, being attentive and creating a safe, nurturing environment without judgment.
DR. JONATHAN ELLERBY provides custom support and leadership programs to facilitate balancing accountability with the powerful tools of emotional intelligence, psychological safety, mindfulness and well-being. | jonathanellerby. com
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