Spa at Gwinganna in Australia Shows Innovation in Massage, Facials and Body work – and it works
By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

What a novel idea. Instead of creating a spa menu and then hiring therapists to perform the various massages, body scrubs and facials offered, how about hiring the practitioners first and then creating the spa menu to include unique treatments that they have created and perfected?

That’s what Sharon Kolkka, the general manager here at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in Queensland, Australia decided to do, and it works beautifully. I think it might be a glimpse into the future actually.

I have never seen this done so extensively before. It isn’t just a matter of offering a few unique treatments. This is a core part of their philosophy.

You would wonder then, what if a therapist leaves? Well let me tell you, they don’t have many leaving because these therapists are so happy doing what they feel called to do and doing it largely the way their healing hands and hearts work best.

The spa menu is printed in a “Kinko’s” kind of way, bound with a white spiral so that it can be reprinted quite easily when necessary. And yes there are some generic/standard offerings such as Thai massage, shiatsu, hot stones and a Hydrating Facial, however the “Specialty” section of the spa menu is extensive.

Here are some of the amazing treatments offered:

• Music to My Muscles
• Heavenessence
• Soul Search
• Sound and Stone
• Annoint Chakratherapy

So far I had one therapist who included some chanting in her starting ritual for a Ka Huna Hawaiian massage, with beautiful oils, indigenous dance music, and a dark room with multiple candle clusters. Last evening I joined the group on the floor in the quaint old church, which they had saved from destruction and moved from somewhere in the area to the Gwinganna property. With cushions and blankets, we relaxed on the floor while the practitioner took us through a “Garden of Sound” which included a combination of vibrational music and gongs and singing bowls and drums.

I won’t easily forget these magnificent and unique experiences.

Kudos to Sharon who oversees this approach and assures that all of these specialties are done by seasoned practitioners at a “wow” level and the owner Tony de Leede, who has encouraged this novel direction.

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