Wellness is all encompassing for Nadine Tonnis, a wellness practitioner and Reiki master at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa. The industry pro has a burning passion to integrate self-care and well-being practices into the daily lives of everyone she meets. This deep rooted love for wellness developed after she realized that she was making a profound impact on her guests, with so many becoming happier and healthier versions of themselves. Tonnis sat down with WellSpa 360 to discuss how to help clients find relaxation amidst stress, the growing trend of holistic healthcare and why a facial massage is her favorite wellness service to receive.
Wellness is all encompassing for Nadine Tonnis, a wellness practitioner and Reiki master at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa. The industry pro has a burning passion to integrate self-care and well-being practices into the daily lives of everyone she meets. This deep rooted love for wellness developed after she realized that she was making a profound impact on her guests, with so many becoming happier and healthier versions of themselves. Tonnis sat down with WellSpa 360 to discuss how to help clients find relaxation amidst stress, the growing trend of holistic healthcare and why a facial massage is her favorite wellness service to receive.
1. What was your first job in the spa/wellness industry?
I taught yoga and swimming.
2. What is your favorite memory of your time working in this industry?
The feedback I’ve received from clients. It is the biggest inspiration and motivational factor for a wellness coach to see the resulting transformations in the lives of people you have treated and coached. It’s wonderful to receive grateful and amazed reactions from my clients.
3. What do you love about spa and wellness?
I love having the opportunity to help people to become a better, happier and healthier version of themselves. There is nothing more fulfilling than making a positive impact on someone's life. We are all dealing with a lot of stress in our modern world, and the spa and wellness industry is an essential counterpart for everyone to find relaxation and balance.
4. What new wellness trends do you find most exciting?
Holistic healthcare. It is wonderful to see the wellness industry moving more and more towards recognizing people as a whole by treating body, mind and spirit, instead of solely treating specific physical issues. This is what it takes to achieve true health and well-being.
5. What’s the first thing you do after a long day at work?
I sit on my balcony with a beautiful view of trees, and take a little time out of my day to simply be, breathe and take in the calming energy of nature.
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6. What’s your favorite wellness treatment to receive and why?
Facials. There is nothing more relaxing for me than receiving a gentle face massage, being able to relax all the little facial muscles, releasing tensions, as this is the area I personally feel the most stress.
7. What’s your greatest accomplishment?
Teaching my first Reiki Certification Course. Teaching other teachers and enabling likeminded souls to help others was my goal from the beginning of my career in the wellness industry and this course was my first step accomplishing said goal.
8. What advice do you have for someone just getting started in the industry?
Take it one step at a time. There is so much to learn, so many different approaches, so many perspectives, so many aspects – it can be very overwhelming. Take your time to find out what resonates with you the most, complete each course at your timeline to fully dive in, and then give yourself enough time to practice until you are confident in this field before you move on to another complimenting education. Never stop studying, and build a strong base of knowledge for yourself and a strong network of fellow wellness practitioners for inspiration and collective expertise. And, always make sure you take care of yourself along the way – you can only help others when you are in a good place yourself.
9. What’s one thing you can’t leave the house without?
My water bottle. I take it with me wherever I go, and on the rare occasion when I forget it, I get super nervous. Water is the elixir of life!
10. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate. How could you resist this delicious, sweet bliss?
11. Who or what inspires you?
People who continuously work on themselves to heal, learn, grow and become the best person they can be.
12. How do you practice self-care?
Regular yoga and meditations. This is what strengthens my self-awareness; makes me strong and helps me to develop a sense of calm, no matter what life holds.
13. What is on your bucket list?
More travelling, several courses, and finding relatives of mine I haven´t met yet.
14. What's on the horizon for you professionally?
Big things! My mission is to reach as many souls as possible to help them heal and become strong, healthy, and happy human beings, so they can shine their light, and so we can make this world a better place – together.
