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TAKEAWAYS FROM SHINE ON WITH DR . CINDY GEYER
Dr . Cindy Geyer and ISPA Board Chairman Patrick Huey discuss how best to support the holistic wellness of spa leaders and staff during the pandemic .
IN DECEMBER OF 2020 , Dr . Cindy Geyer joined the ISPA community to share with us her professional insights regarding holistic wellness in the spa workplace . A veteran clinician with more than 20 years ’ experience at Canyon Ranch Lenox , in Lenox , Massachusetts , Dr . Geyer spoke to ISPA Chairman Patrick Huey about building up resilience to stress and supporting your team ’ s mental well-being along the way .
1LOOK OUT FOR NUMBER ONE : Nobody ’ s perfect .
Those words are easy to say , but often hard to apply , both to ourselves and others . The stress of “ triage mode ”— constantly prioritizing and executing a large volume of work tasks — is enough to leave any spa leader feeling burned out . Unfortunately , those leaders often respond to this feeling by doubling down at work and neglecting to practice the very habits , such as exercising and getting enough sleep , that can help alleviate that stress . Putting aside the goal of perfection and focusing instead on what ’ s possible given your time and resources
( while leaving time for restoration and self-care ) can help build resilience to stress and put you in a position to better support your teams .
2BE A MIRROR AND A MODEL : Supporting the
mental well-being of your team doesn ’ t require you to first have everything under complete control yourself . Remember , nobody ’ s perfect . In fact , finding appropriate ways to share your own vulnerability can create a more welcoming atmosphere for your team and prevent employees from perceiving their own struggles as something that must be endured in silence . As an example , Dr . Geyer noted that a leader who has been sleeping badly might briefly share that information with the team before detailing a plan for getting more rest the next night . Using this pattern , leaders can not only mirror open communication and vulnerability but also provide a framework or resource — like a pre-bedtime mindfulness or meditation routine — for responding to stress .
56 PULSE ■ MARCH 2021