FEATURE PROJECT - DESIGN AWARDS

It isn’t easy planning and opening a new day spa in the middle of a pandemic and a city that is in constant lockdowns. This was the situation we were faced with while working on Relinque Urban Retreat and Spa throughout 2020 and 2021.

However, we did get there, and Relinque finally opened it’s doors in the Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe in December 2021. Featuring treatments by La Gaia Unedited and a beautiful retail selection carefully selected by our retail expert Holli, the experience at Relinque is one we are very proud to have shaped.

Working closely with Studio Tate to craft a functional floor plan was an absolute joy. They noted every detail on the design brief, which I so appreciated and after massaging the plan several times we arrived at the final result. The procurement was a big job as beautiful design deserves the very best in styling, so a lot of online research and then a lot of in store shopping was done the minute retail stores reopened. I had to make sure the organisational and styling elements did the Interior Design justice. This included the uniform selection for the team, as our staff are all part of the aesthetic.

Anyhow, just 4 months later, Relinque has been shortlisted for the Australian Interior Design Awards & the Dulux Colour Awards. Wow! We are all thrilled that the very thoughtfully curated materials and colour palette has been so well received by the Interior Design industry.

Here are a few paragraphs from the Studio Tate team themselves.

AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

Celebrating the natural verdant landscape of its locale, Studio Tate created a collection of immersive spaces with circular architectural form at Relinque, to support an intuitive client journey, offering an ‘all gender’ day spa experience, with an inherently natural feeling palette.

A functional floor plan underpins a day spa on one side ice and steam contrast therapy, hydrotherapy, body and face treatment spaces and yoga studio-offering holistic wellness. On the other side, a spinal clinic pilates and osteopathy complete the circular client journey with a natural flow as they move through the space. The functionality component was also key to enabling staff to work efficiently and support the client experience.

A palette of greens, greys, burgundy and earth tones feature through
the collective space, reflecting a sense of textural ‘earthiness’ whilst also being contemporary and sophisticated. A concrete floor in reception with coloured aggregate is offset by a forest green marble desk, forest green joinery and leather banquette seating, set against a backdrop of textured paint with timber battens. Within the spa, the five individually contained treatment rooms feature a colour datum in a deep rust tone and steam showers tiled in a soft, sage green, with a granite shower bench.

By Studio Tate

If you are from Melbourne, or if you are ever visiting, please do go and visit Relinque Urban Retreat and Spa. I promise you won’t regret it!

Dulux Colour Awards

Australian Interior Design Awards

Posted on April 14, 2022 .

FEATURE PROJECT - A WEBSITE MAKEOVER

Every so often (approximately 5 to 7 years) it’s important to take a step back and review the look and feel of our brand. Is it outdated? Have we evolved? Does our brand adequately represent who we are today?

Depending on our honest appraisal, or the honesty of others, it might be time for a brand makeover, which can unfold in a number of ways. It could be that we change logo, identity, colour palette, imagery and the overall look and feel of our brand. This then ripples out across our digital mediums such as website and social media and also across all printed collaterals, such as brochures and business cards.

Another way we may need to level up our business and the guest experience is through the aesthetics of our interior design and styling. This might be a light upgrade through new equipment, furniture, soft furnishings and artwork, or a more major renovation that involves freshly painted walls, new floor coverings, window furnishings, joinery and alot of new materials in general.

A rejuvenated guest journey might also be order and this can include upgrading our booking process and software, or the guest journey sequence and service deliverables from start to finish, extra touch points that surprise and delight, new towels, slippers and bathrobes. Perhaps a new retail offering.

Whatever the case, a thoughtfully considered makeover is well worth it. A tired business and team can quickly turn a corner with a bit of love and TLC.

Here below is one of our recent website and branding makeover projects, showing the before and after, and why we made the changes we did. I hope you love the final result as much as we do!

Posted on April 1, 2022 .

POSTPARTUM HEALTH

In traditional Chinese medicine, the belief is that after a woman has a baby, there is an empty space in her body where the baby once was. Her body is open, her ligaments loose, and it’s believed that if "yin" or wind/cold comes into this open space, it will cause future ailments and prevent the body from properly recovering.

To improve a woman's wellbeing post childbirth, the Chinese practice zuò yuè zi, also called "sitting the month" or "confinement month”, which has been around for over 2,000 years. Confinement represents a key feature of Asian populations, most notably in countries dominated by Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures but it is also practiced in many non-Asian cultures as well, including South African, Mexican and Amish women.

The confinement month is an extended period of rest for mothers postpartum lasting anywhere from 26 to 45 days in which mothers and their babies are confined to their homes and cared for by other women; traditionally mothers or mothers-in-law step into this caretaking role, but hiring a confinement nurse or checking into a confinement hotel have become new norms in our modern society.

During this postpartum period, mothers often undergo a set of practices to assist them in recovery from pregnancy and childbirth. Some of these practices may include prolonged rest, a special diet and actions to heighten personal hygiene.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concept of the recovery month is divided into stages: The first week is to restore uterine function and help with the discharge of lochia [blood, mucus, and uterine tissue]. The second week is about promoting metabolism and restoring physical strength. The third and fourth weeks are to regulate blood energy and improve physical conditioning.

Confinement practices have been linked to reducing later maternal health conditions such as postpartum depression. With the best results seen in trials that combined TCM herbal formulas and practices with conventional treatments such as psychotherapy.

There is no doubt that this time in a woman’s life requires special attention to her wellbeing and that drawing on the wellness practices of ancient models has an application in our modern world.

SpaWellness59.jpg
Posted on May 1, 2020 .

DEFINING SPAS AND RETREATS

I had a client recently ask me what was the difference and distinctions were between the various terms applied to spa’s and retreats, so I decided to get clear on this for myself and my client. Here are the definitions and differences as I see them. I hope this helps you if you have ever wondered.

MEDICAL SPA 

The Best Medical Spas, also called Medi Spas or Med Spas, operate under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment that integrates spa services, as well as traditional, complementary, alternative therapies and treatments.

HOLISTIC SPA 

A holistic spa is a type of spa where you get special treatments to relax you mind, soul and body. Holistic treatments have been present for centuries and they are associated with a belief that spirit, mind and body must be active and healthy in order to achieve wellness. 

DESTINATION SPA

A destination spa is a resort centred on a spa, such as a mineral spa. ... Typically over a seven-day stay, such facilities provide a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthy cuisine, and special interest programming.

HEALTH RETREAT 

A health retreat offers a purposefully designed programme of therapies and activities, guided by leading health and fitness experts.

WELLNESS RESORT 

A wellness hotel is typically a luxury hotel that offers wellness facilities, such as a spa or fitness centre.

HEALING RETREAT

Emotional Healing Retreats put the calm back into your life with various healing methods including yoga, acupuncture and Ayurvedic spa therapies; emotional healing is a very personal process often aided by a combination of therapies from natural and holistic to active and energetic.

SpaWellness1.jpg
Posted on March 1, 2020 .

DESIGNING MY WEBSITE

Designing my own website was truly a labor of love. I poured over stocksy images for hours so that I could capture the essential essence of my brand. It reflects who I am and what I believe in... spa and wellness in its most natural, beautiful and raw form. This website is also a living resume of the attention to detail and care I put into anything I do, as well as my style of copy writing. I hope it inspires and relaxes you in the same way it does me. 

In my case I had to keep costs down so I managed a lot of the design and had Marc Gimbrere, my web designer, handle the technical details and coding. He also guided me through the process of meta tags, organic SEO, site silos, keywords and other web language. I love learning and this was my way of understanding the world of web design so that I can support my clients when developing theirs. 

Its so important to offer navigational ease, charisma and great copy through this online forum. After all, it speaks volumes about what you can offer as a business.

I was very lucky to find a great web developer who also had an eye for design and detail. He helped me to map out a strategy in the same way any good consultant helps to guide a client through their area of expertise in a way that is easy to understand. We opted for Squarespace and 5 years on I am still very happy with having gone down this path. I find the back end really intuitive and easy to use. I also find there is a lot of freedom to work with a template and then make it your own. Plus one other important factor is that the squarespace site is mobile friendly, especially now that a growing number of people are searching and shopping online.

I love branding, design and detail so working on this website, despite being a major learning curve and taking many hours was an incredibly rewarding journey for me. I often get compliments on my website too and that is a great feeling.

Please give me a call if you would like to chat about how I can assist with your web design process.

SonjaSorich7.jpg
Posted on January 1, 2020 .

WOMENS WISDOM

Once upon a time in a faraway land called Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, I facilitated and led the Women’s Discovery Retreats. At the end of the retreat I used to share a handout called Womens Wisdom, so I thought I would share it here, in case it might be just the reminder or wisdom you need.

Learn the art of rest… Breathe Deeply, Slow Down, Stretch Jaw, Cup Breasts, Massage Tummy, Soak Feet, Use Aromatherapy, Light Candles, Have a Sleep, Play Soft Music, Have a Bath, Indulge in Self Massage, Practice Yoga etc

Have more fun… Dance and rediscover all aspects of yourself… Embody all of the feminine archetypes… The playful child, the warrior woman, the temptress, the mother, the sensual goddess, the angelic goddess, the rebel and the rule breaker…be random, be wild, be big, be unapologetic, be succulent, be juicy, be childlike etc

Create a life that is whole… Fresh air, clean water, sunshine, exercise, rest, wholefoods, connected relationships, passion, hobbies, fulfilling work, constructive thoughts, laughter, fun, playfulness, self love etc

Practice self love as it is the true pillar of calm… Wrap yourself up in warm acceptance, love yourself no matter what, be with life more deeply, practice self-kindness and self-compassion, practice mindfulness, feel more, breathe deeply, release the judgement, self-criticism and shame etc

Nourish your soul… With friendships, relationships, activities and practices that light you up. Place a nourishment menu on the fridge that lists all of the things you love and make time to do one or more of these things that give you joy.

Spend time in silence… Silent and listen have the same letters… In your silence you can listen to your body’s inner voice and wisdom. 

Practice inspiring affirmations in the present tense… I love and approve of myself. I am loved. I am safe and supported. I am at peace.

Practice Ho’opono’opono… speak these comforting words towards yourself when thinking of past mistakes and where you may have let yourself down. Shower yourself with love, nurturing and compassion. 

 I’m Sorry * Forgive Me * Thank You * I Love You

Make everything in your life a love story! 

SpaWellness8.jpg
Posted on December 1, 2019 .

THE POWER OF A PRESCRIPTION

A natural part of this job is spa research and mystery audits. Call it a work perk! But what I find is often lacking when I receive a treatment, is that I almost never receive a skin prescription. Why does this make me sad? Well firstly, its because I meet so many spa directors and owners that lament the lack of retail sales. Then secondly, it’s because I’m actually yearning for a skin diagnosis and some good solid advice from a professional. After all, I have just had a therapists undivided attention on my face or body for at least an hour, maybe even more - observing my skin under a light, feeling its texture, seeing the way it responds to various products. The least I expect is a little bit of guidance. What type of skin do I have? Am I prematurely ageing? How do I best take care of my skin? Are there any particular products that are highly recommended?

Now while I may have ticked all product boxes on my consultation form, it does not mean that I am closed to considering a new brand or a particular product in that brand. I might even be ready for a complete skincare overhaul! You never will know if you don’t tell me what I need.

Guests and clients are looking for solutions and aestheticians and therapists are perfectly poised, given their expertise to give it. In fact, if they don’t, that same client may be buying their skincare from the local chemist.

One simple solution to this, is designing an easy to use prescription that therapists give to each client. They simply tick all of the products used in the spa ritual, down to the essential oil used in the space, and then asterix or underline 1 to 3 hero products they believe would work wonders for their client. It takes all of one minute or less!

It’s a good idea for your prescription form to feature each product, along with how to use it - am, pm or weekly. The other thing to note when designing your form is to add the price discreetly alongside so that it serves as a price list. Many guests are too embarrassed to ask for a price, so this helps them do the maths in case they wish to purchase.

And finally, even if your client does not purchase product today, they may return tomorrow, or at the very least they have received the full circle of professional advice and guidance that we all expect when visiting a day spa or beauty salon.

If you need a prescription designed do let us know as we would love to help, or take a cue from the example in the photo.

Screen Shot 2019-12-18 at 4.38.01 pm.png

TRAVEL TRENDS

It’s been the year of research at Spa Wellness HQ, so we thought we would share a little of the information we have garnered from extensive hours of online research on Travel Trends in 2019.

MILLENIALS

This group of young people are the trend-setting ones. They influence fashion, travel and lifestyle more than you can imagine – they’re also the fastest growing segment of consumers when it comes to travel. They probably want to make a difference in the world. They want to enrich their life through meaningful experiences, e.g. connecting with nature and other cultures. Female travellers seem to be the dominant ones in the millennial segment. According to Forbes, millennials—now the largest generation by population—are the driving force behind the rapid growth of the wellness market, with 78 percent of millennials choosing to spend money on experiences rather than “stuff.”

ACTIVE HOLIDAYS 

Adventure is a word on the rise in the travel industry. Not only do travellers wish to learn a new sport while traveling; many of us also wish to improve a certain skill, e.g. wind surfing, hiking or yoga practice. Being physically active is a big plus for modern-day travellers, who are bored with chilling on the beach and playing tourists all day.

AUTHENTICITY

We care more and more about the authentic travel experience than the facilities we have when arriving to a new destination. “What could enrich my life right now?” seem to be a question many travellers ask themselves these days. Modern technology connects us more than ever to the world around us, yet we’re more emotionally disconnected than ever. More people feel secluded and lonely, which is perhaps why they crave authentic travel experiences and want to engage with traditional cultures around the world.

LESS EXPLORED DESTINATIONS 

The less explored destinations such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Chile, Columbia and Jamaica as well as African and Eastern European countries are hotter than ever.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITY 

A rapidly growing business is currently being built around outdoor recreational activities as shown by the booming US outdoor recreation industry, which now amounts to USD 887 billion per year (in 2016: USD 184.5 billion in products and USD 702 in trip and travel spending). This contributes to GDP growth in a “clean” and non-divisive way, without inflicting damage to any human being, the environment or anything else. It is the best personal/societal investment we can make as it costs nothing, is readily available, and improves our productivity, health and cognitive functioning.

SpaWellness40.jpg

WELL TECH TRENDS

Thanks goes to the women of Well & Good and The Global Wellness Summit as they always deliver information on cutting edge trends. As part of our Trends compilation we believe these trends have some merit.

HOME TECH 

More and more early adopters are looking to technology to empower wellness in their homes and lives. People are turning to home tech to get to the bottom of all their wellness woes. In the next few years, systems within the house will respond to requests by not just providing us with information, but acting on it. For example, if your sleep monitor identifies that unrestful sleep patterns are associated with bright lights before bed, the lighting could be automatically adjusted for warmer tones and less lumens to better mimic evening light. In the kitchen, sensors would not only track your consumption of food and automatically place it on your grocery list, but also could automatically order groceries and have them delivered to your home.

MIND MANAGEMENT 

Mind management and meditation exercises are becoming sought-after therapies to help counter a constant flow of stressors and anxiety. From unstable politics to climate change, people are seeking ways to train their minds and emotions, whether with meditation apps or breath work guides.

SLEEP SCIENCE 

2018 will be the year technology is welcomed into the bedroom to improve sleep quality. “The appetite for products designed to improve sleep is very high,” confirms tech news site UKTN, which is why both funding and sleep-tech innovation in this category are taking off.

MICROBIOME PAIRING 

What’s the best match for my microbiome? That’s the question we will be increasingly asking, as the microbiome and its bacterial makeup is an indicator of our health and future wellness. Companies like U-Biome will help us track our microbiome history and forecast its future based on foods, environments and activities that are good for our microbial profile.

HUMAN PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY

Technologies used to enhance human performance, such as brainwave-altering headsets, are gaining a foothold among athletes and the sports industry. 

WEARABLE THERAPY

The growth of biometrics — the tracking of steps, heart rates and other bio-data — will be used to diagnose mental and emotional issues. We will use wearables to treat our relationships issues and other emotional concerns in place of traditional therapies. 

muse-features-a1-1 2.jpeg
Posted on September 1, 2019 .

INNER HEALTH TRENDS

We have seen a real surge of products launching into the wellness industry that treat from the inside out. Here are some of the trends we have collated from our online research.

BRAIN SUPPLEMENTS

Nootropics may be a funny-sounding name (it’s Greek for mind change), but these Silicon Valley-born supplements popularised by biohackers are getting serious attention for helping reduce brain fog and stress levels. And they’re about to reach a wider audience hoping to fine-tune their minds and do more than keep up with their inboxes and to-do lists.

MCT OIL

A report released by Grand View Research says that the MCT market is expected to reach $2.46 billion by 2025. MCT oil is also the number-one-selling SKU in the sports nutrition category, for the last two years.

MUSHROOMS / PLANT MEDICINE

Mushrooms and plant medicines are emerging for their powerful and positive effects on depression, addiction, creativity and neural rewiring. Medical evidence is also showing that mushrooms are beneficial for health, ageing, personality improvement and deepening spiritual life. Finally, mushrooms will be in beauty products, supplements and food. 

PERSONALISED NUTRITION

Personalization is a trend that is here to stay, with a 2018 study of US consumers showed that 90 percent find personalization appealing. Preliminary studies have shown that individuals are more likely to stick with personalised nutrition advice based on DNA, blood biomarkers and genotypes. In the fight against obesity, diabetes and other preventable diseases, researchers and scientists are in agreement: there isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix. Personalized diets can end the frustration among wellness-seekers who commit to difficult lifestyle changes (such as omitting dairy, coffee or gluten) in the oft-times false hope that it will lead to weight loss or feeling better when, in fact, those drastic changes may be completely wrong for their bodies.

IV DRIPS 

Many wellness insiders now are making this quick, intravenous method of taking in nutrients a regular thing—thanks to its reputed ability to thoroughly hydrate you and add a vitamin, mineral and amino acid boost to your bloodstream in levels that would be impossible to absorb orally. The IV infusions have been credited with doing everything from enhancing your skin’s glow, to combatting jet lag, aiding muscle recovery, and improving your digestion (the most popular being the skin-enhancing and immunity boosts). The market for IV solutions is expected to reach about $13.79 billion by 2024.

CANNABIS PHARMA

The mainstreaming of cannabis and its consumption out in the open will fuel a growing use of marijuana compounds and extracts for wellness products.

KOMBUCHA 

2018 was the year that gut-health-friendly kombucha became more mass and more niche than ever. The once-obscure fermented tea drink is now thoroughly mainstream. The numbers on kombucha’s growth are stunning. According to Square, kombucha sales are up by more than 12 times from three years ago, and one research firm says the category is already worth an annual $600 million (and counting).

Image: Kailo Medi Spa - Brisbane, Australia

604b64680f574f40445d6dfb681632b6.jpeg
Posted on August 1, 2019 .