Posts Tagged ‘therapists’

Top 5 ways for therapists to make the most of Wahanda

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

At Wahanda, we’re incredibly proud of our community of therapists – and we want everyone to know it. In order to help spread the word about the great work you do, we’ve compiled a handy guide, explaining how to make the most of your therapist profile and maximise your presence on the site.

Ready to face the spotlight? Follow these simple steps and all eyes will be on you. We hope you’re not feeling shy…

Complete your profile

If you want to make the most of your profile on Wahanda, it’s important to fill out as much information as possible. Adding an image of yourself will immediately set your profile apart from others, while including full details of the services you provide and your qualifications will make it easier for clients to find out what you have to offer – always a bonus.

Attach yourself to the venue you work for

It’s a simple step, but one which is often overlooked. If you work at a venue which is listed on the Wahanda website, remember to include it under ‘Where I practise’ – this will help potential customers to find out more about the business.

Start blogging

At Wahanda, we love sharing – and we know that lots of you do too. If you want to spread the word about the latest news and innovations in beauty and wellbeing, or fancy letting our community in on some of your top tips, then why not start a Wahanda blog? Visit our therapist hub to see some examples of previous blogs, or email angharad@wahanda.com to get started.

Get involved with Q&A

Our Q&A section is the perfect place for you to share your expertise and interact with other Wahanda users (they won’t bite, promise!). Head to the community page to see the latest questions, or sign up within your profile settings to receive notifications when a relevant question is asked. Then all you have to do is get answering…

Stay active on the site

The more active you are on Wahanda, the more places on the site you’ll appear in – giving you the perfect excuse to get reviewing, scrapbooking, answering questions and blogging. Interact as much as therapists Paola Bassanese and Claire Benson and you could even end up with a place on our ‘most active practitioners’ leader board – a sure sign of a therapist who knows their stuff.

Not yet got a profile? Creating one is simple (and free!) – just click on the ‘Sign in/join’ link at the top of the Wahanda homepage and follow the instructions to become a part of the fun.

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Government launches free mentoring scheme for spa professionals

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

At Wahanda, we’ve always maintained that spas are important – and it looks as though the government agrees. A recently launched government initiative, called Get Mentoring, will allow spa and beauty professionals to access free business mentoring training – putting them in a good position to share their valuable knowledge and skills. That’s exactly the sort of thing we like to hear…

Led by the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI), the scheme is set to receive £1.2m of grant funding to help it achieve its objectives. Once they’ve undergone the seven hours of training required, mentors will then be deployed across a variety of different mentoring organisations, providing services both in person and via distance learning. Looks like future generations of spa professionals are going to get the best start possible…

Alan Goldsbro, CEO of Habia, the government-approved standard setting body for the hair, beauty and spa industries, says: ‘Mentoring can be an extremely powerful and instructive tool for anyone running a business or thinking of running one. A good mentor can pass onto you their own knowledge and experience, giving you a vital head start.’

Want to become a mentor yourself? Mentors will receive a SFEDI Certificate of Recognition for completing the Introduction to Enterprise Mentoring Course, in addition to free membership of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (IoEE) and a listing on www.mentorsme.co.uk. Not bad, if you ask us…

If you enjoy passing on your experience to others, why not visit our community page to answer the great questions our users are asking. Alternatively, email angharad@wahanda.com if you’re interested in sharing your professional advice through blogging – we’d love to hear from you!

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Habia appointed as services provider for the beauty sector

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

Congratulations to Habia, which has successfully bid to become the UK Commission for Employment and Skills’ (UKCES) preferred provider of services to the UK hair and beauty sector. The deal will cover a minimum three-year period, and is set to begin on 1st April. It certainly looks as though exciting times are ahead…

Amongst the services that Habia will be providing are apprenticeship frameworks, qualification-related activities and National Occupational Standards – all key to ensuring that new therapists are as well trained as possible.

Alan Goldsbro, chief executive officer of Habia, says: ‘This is great news for the hair and beauty sector as it shows that the development of qualifications and standards for our industries is of national importance.

‘It is particularly good news for hair and beauty employers, who need staff and new recruits with constantly updated skills to make an impact on the bottom line in these difficult times.’

We don’t know about you, but we think it seems as though the UK’s hair and beauty industry is set to become better than ever…

In need of a helping hand when it comes to your own hair and beauty? Check out our fantastic facial deals and offers, or browse hair treatments.

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Wellbeing practitioners: offer something different with warm bamboo massage

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Calling all therapists : you may have mastered massage and be at home with hot stone therapy, but are you familiar with warm bamboo techniques? This relaxing treatment uses natural products to release tension, stimulate circulation and relieve stress. We’re desperate to give it a go…

If bamboo instantly makes you picture a panda, you may be surprised to discover that Stonehenge Australia, suppliers of a variety of massage kits, grow their bamboo organically in Australia’s beautiful Byron Bay. With a sub-tropical climate and a long history of farming, Byron Bay is the perfect place to grow this calming crop – and there are no peckish pandas to get in the way, either. Phew!

Want to add warm bamboo massage to your treatment menu? Stonehenge Australia’s kit contains 8 bamboo canes of different length and width, along with a cup and tapotement sticks. Combine these professional products with a variety of massage techniques to give your customers an exceptional experience that will leave them blissfully relaxed.

Think bamboo is best left to pandas? Stonehenge Australia (www.massagekits.com.au) also stock massage stones, seashells and crystals to help you carry out therapeutic and healing treatments. Why not browse our list of massage therapies to see what other therapists are offering?

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New training academy for spa therapists

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Looking to set yourself apart from the competition? We’ve got some good news for newly qualified spa and beauty therapists – a new ‘finishing school’ has opened in Putney. The ARK Academy, run by skincare specialists ARK Age Aware, will help to fully prepare therapists for the working environment – equipping them with a variety of professional and commercial skills. We think it’s an inspired idea…

Wondering why a finishing school is necessary? Sara Wilce, Director of the Academy, says: ‘I’ve spent the last 12 years of my career trying to recruit commercially viable therapists and it is getting increasingly difficult to do so, with lack of technique and confidence in massage in particular.

‘The idea for the ARK Academy arose from that struggle and will allow newly qualified therapists to improve their techniques, gain that all important confidence and set them on the path to a fulfilling career.’ Sounds pretty good to us…

Training packages at the Academy will include the development of skills such as management, reception training, customer service provision, team leadership and refresher courses for therapists who are re-entering the industry. Advanced courses in massage are also available, as is support for businesses retailing ARK products – so you needn’t panic if you haven’t quite mastered the finishing touches yet.

Got a new business that’s not yet listed on Wahanda ? For great new ways to promote your services and maximise your sales, visit www.wahanda.com and click on ‘Get listed’.

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Get Creative and Promote Your Services with a Fun, Fashionable, Free Wahanda Blog

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Unless you’ve been meditating on a remote desert island for the last ten years (in which case we salute your commitment to personal growth), you’ve no doubt heard of the phenomenon that is blogging. Just in case you really are a hermit, blogging is basically writing a succession of articles on whatever takes your fancy. It’s like setting up your own ‘channel’ online, where anyone can tune in and hear your news and views.

Not only is this creative and a lot of fun, but it can be great for business. Blogging opens up your company to a wider audience. It allows you to share your services and unique selling points whilst making you ‘search engine operative’. Now don’t black out, if Jennifer Aniston can deal with the ‘science part’ then so can you – SEO means people can find you via lovely sites like Google and Yahoo.

Because we value our professional members and know their expertise is second to none, Wahanda hosts free blogs for you guys to get your message out there and let our thousands of readers know all about you. And it’s really easy to do.

How to blog on Wahanda

1) First, register on the site as a professional.

Fill out a few simple profile details and tell us a little bit about you (be as funny or as serious as you like). The process is really simple for even the most phobic of technophobes. Add a photo of your gorgeous face, tell us what makes you tick and what qualifications you have, where you work and what you offer.

2) Then, email us on community@wahanda.com with your profile name, your first blog entry and what you would like your blog to be called.

3) Leave the rest to us. Just to show you how much we value your input to our community we’ll even take the boring bits out of your hands, uploading your blogs and any pictures you’d like to add and making the whole thing look fabulous.

We’ll let you know as soon as the blog is live – then all you have to do is keep submitting those works of literary genius whenever you can and leave the hassle to our team.

To get a few ideas of just how varied and effective blogging can be, check out some of the pieces already on our site for inspiration. For spa news and reviews check out Spa Secrets who try top resorts and give us the lowdown on their latest finds. The lovely (and very popular) Mary Greenwell‘s blog contains make-up tips and tricks to keep our readers looking their beautiful best, while Michelle Zelli shares her life coaching know-how in Succeed, Love, Fly. There’s everything to gain and it costs nothing to give it a go – and who knows, perhaps you’ll discover a journalistic talent you never knew you had….

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All wrapped up: Phytomer Muddy Stones Treatment at Chelsea Harbour Club

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
Chelsea Harbour Club

Chelsea Harbour Club

Wahanda loves all things spa, especially when there’s something new in town. So when spa experts Chelsea Harbour Club told us about their launch of a brand new, exclusive treatment using Phytomer products, we couldn’t wait to don our spa slippers and try it out.

If your skin needs a polish with a difference, put Chelsea Harbour Club at the top of your Wahanda wishlist. The Phytomer Muddy Stones treatment will not only leave you silky smooth, but will also soothe away tension making you feel utterly relaxed and left in pamper heaven. The perfect antidote for winter skin in preparation for the summer months, Wahanda sped down to the luxury spa hotspot to let the Phytomer minerals work their magical wonders.

The spa

Chelsea Harbour Club is nestled away in a quiet street of Fulham, making it tricky to find but it’s worth the walk. As a busy and bustling centre for sport and leisure, it’s only once you’ve wound your way down to the lower level spa that you begin to feel like you’re in a place of pampering. After a quick questionnaire about our current skincare routine, we were sent off to the luxurious and spacious changing rooms to swap our office wear for a fluffy white robe and matching slippers. Therapist Louisa then showed us around the stunning spa facilities, with the steam and sauna rooms and peaceful hydrotherapy pool, before heading to the hammam treatment room to begin.

A softly-lit, earthy looking hideaway to the side of the long swimming pool, the hammam room puts you at ease. Centred in the room is the warm plinth, where we have to lay for the treatment – it’s tough work, but someone has to do it! After leaving us to get comfy under the towels, Louisa came in to explain what the treatment involves – and we couldn’t wait.

Hot stone massageThe treatment

Starting with the backs of our legs, Louisa applied the mineral-rich Atlas mountain mud by Phytomer, massaging it in to make our skin soft and our muscles soothed. The mud felt grainy, while the heat of the plinth warmed through the body creating complete relaxation. The only snag was the hardness of the plinth, which can feel uncomfortable – but the massage soon melts that away. Using hot stones, Louisa gently relieved tension in our muscles while the wrap got to work. After one leg was fully smothered, Louisa wrapped it up and started on the other leg, repeating the same relaxing process.

While our pins stayed wrapped up and cosy, Louisa then applied the mud onto our back and shoulders, again using the heated stones to rub away tensions, then after unwrapping us so we could flip over, the front of our legs and tummy were given the same treatment. Louisa paid extra attention to problem areas such as the feet, making it feel like a mini pedicure. Once our whole body had been muddied and wrapped, she then applied the deliciously soothing mud mask to our face and neck, including an added scalp massage which made it tempting to fall straight to sleep in a state of bliss. But, after wiping away the mud from our face with a warm cloth, Louisa refreshed the skin with a cool Phytomer facial spritz, reviving the senses and bringing us back to reality.

The result

We then had the odd experience of being unwrapped, and without leaving the plinth, the mud was rinsed away using a shower and a mitt – making our skin feel softer than ever and utterly exfoliated. Sadly, this meant the treatment was over and we could no longer lie back on the warmth of the plinth, but Louisa had more than worked her magic. Our skin felt refreshed and radiant, and we felt completely calm after such a relaxing 75 minutes, ready to head off into the sunshine for a leisurely walk home.  Perfect as a body wrap with a difference, the Muddy Stones treatment is far more luxurious than it sounds – our skin has never felt better.

We tried it, we tested it, and we loved it. Book yours now on Wahanda, with our exclusive 20% off introductory offer. Plus,  find out more about the Chelsea Harbour Club and read our quick fire questions with Spa Manager Laura Carrick.

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