Spa industry demands more trained professionals

by Pritika Ghura

Confronted with increasing incidence of stress, people from all walks of life are flocking to spas and wellness clinics, making a demand for qualified and trained professionals in this global $255 billion industry. Spas are no more just a segment of beauty industry, it is a mini hospitality industry with plethora of career options, writes Pritika Ghura.

With the sustained growth of Indiaâ€™s hospitality industry, there is simultaneous growth of health and wellness business. Cashing on the increasing purchasing power of people and stress-related ailments, health and rejuvenation resorts or spas based on Indian traditional Aryuveda and massage are mushrooming all over the metropolitan cities. This trend is leading to a huge demand for trained spa managers and therapists.

Talking about this huge demand of trained specialists, Reeta Juneja , a specialist in aromatherapy, who is in this business for last 25 years, says,â€ Spas are not only restricted to people who are stressful or who want to look good, but it is the answer for people suffering from depression, insomnia, arthritis, back problems and anxiety. In fact people have started realising its benefits and as a result lot of hotels offer spa facilities. Besides this, there are destination spas and many day spas mushrooming all over the metropolitan cities. This spurt of growth in the interest and realization of the benefits of spas is leading to lot of career opportunities from beauticians, masseurs and management people.â€.

Indeed the explosion of indulgence in health and wellness is a global phenomenon. The value of the global spa and wellness industry is pegged at US $255 billion (Rs. 11,47,000 crore), making it one of the fastest growing industries worldwide, says a report..

Why a career in spa industry a good career option?

For school and college graduates, this emerging industry offers benefits of attractive pay packages, quick advancement, stress-free work environment and opportunities to work abroad.

With health and wellness industry booming, remuneration packages for trained professionals range from Rs. 20,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per month depending upon experience, qualifications and choice of employer. One can work in independent spas, hotels, hospitals, sports clinics, health clubs and corporate offices.

Career options:

Various career options in Spa industry are- spa therapist, spa manager, spa consultant, spa trainers, spa product consultants and demonstrator, masseur and manicurist and pedicurist. Their work maybe varied but their purpose is same â€“customer satisfaction. A spa therapist provide various spa skin care treatments- like aromatic and revitalizing facial, make-up, manicures, pedicures, waxing, back cleansing, massage , body wraps, body scrubs and reflexology. The consultant or the manager will advise guest on spa skin and body care programme established by the Spa. There will be staff to perform skin, nails and body care treatments according to cleanliness and physical ailments of the customer. Staff is also recruited for marketing, house keeping, managing inventory of stocks, manage log books and record.

Training and courses offered:

A course in spa therapy will familiarize the student with basic physiology, anatomy of the body, help understand body forms and identify imperfection. Specialistsâ€™ programmes deal in various therapies and massages and how can they heal health problems.

For interested students, it makes sense to sign up for professional programmes in spa therapies and acquire international certification. There are several institutes in the US which specialise in professional education in this field. However, while selecting an institute be careful that it is approved by National Certified Therapeutic Massage Workers Body.

In India, institutes offering specialized courses are -:

1) Ananda Spa Institute, Hyderabad
2) Shahnaz Hussain chain of institutes
3) The Reeta Juneja Spa Academy
4) Pivot Point India
5) VLCC Institute of Beauty, Health and Management