Meet Your Therapists: Gemma
Our 'Meet Your Therapists' series continues with Gemma. Gemma has been with us at Gaia since opening and is now one of our senior spa therapists, supporting the spa management team. Gemma moved to Gaia from Cliveden House Hotel in Windsor and prior to that was a spa therapist on the cruise ships...
How long have you been at Gaia Spa?
I've been working at Gaia Spa since day one, and in the hotel reception team six months before waiting for the Spa to open.
How did you come to work within the spa?
I chose to work at Gaia as the Spa I was in before in Windsor was having a big refurbishment which took a year. My mum and Grandparents live in Plymouth, heard about the 'big Spa opening' and suggested I move down. I'm very happy I did!
What’s your biggest achievement since joining Gaia Spa?
My biggest achievement is the training they've provided and the confidence I have in all the amazing spa treatments on the menu.
What do you love most about working at Gaia Spa?
The thing I love most about working at Gaia Spa is the environment, we are very lucky our treatment rooms have natural light, fresh open doors down the corridor and so much space compared to all other treatment rooms I've worked in.
"My favourite treatment to perform is the Pure Massage and Crystal Therapy. These treatments require a lot of focus and intuition and I like being in an open meditative state while massaging."
What’s treatment do you specialise in?
I specialise in the Fire & Ice Facial, seeing such great results and having guests return every couple of months is very satisfying.
What’s your favourite treatment to perform?
My favourite treatment to perform is the Pure Massage and Crystal Therapy. These treatments require a lot of focus and intuition and I like being in an open meditative state while massaging.
What's been your best experience with a guest – or outcome from a treatment?
My best experience with a guest has been performing the wellness for cancer treatments. A woman who was scared of being massaged as all past experiences have made her swollen or in pain left the treatment unrecognisable to her friend and said it was the best hour and a half of her life. I had to use a lot of what we learnt in training to make sure she didn't have another bad experience.
"I start my day in Gaia at 7am. I eat my pre-made granola and smoothie in the Spatisserie before anyone else is there."
What’s your morning routine before beginning a day of treatments?
My morning routine varies from a weekday to weekend but traffic changes what I do. I find nothing more irritating than sitting in bumper to bumper traffic in the morning so on the three week days I work I start my day in Gaia at 7am. I eat my pre-made granola and smoothie in the Spatisserie before anyone else is there, I gym for over an hour using TRX and free weights but if my body is tired or I have a day of a lot of massage then I will do Yoga in the relaxation room and have a massage in the hydrotherapy pool and steam before setting my treatment room up at 9am - avoiding traffic! However if it's a weekend I wake up at 7am, do some yoga/meditation before getting 'made up therapist style' and have a big breakfast (eggs, avo, salmon ect) fuelled for a busy weekend day.
How do you take care of your own wellbeing?
I look after myself on my days off by keeping active, I am a member at a different gym so I have an out of work balance and try to train there twice a week. I love walking, cooking and reading.
Do you have any wellness / skincare secret tips you can share?
A big tip to help with your body and mind is to treat yourself to massage, it has SO many benefits and everyone after says/thinks why don't I do this more often. I do have a lot of wellness and skincare tips, if your someone looking to improve quality of life then come and speak to me!
Find out more about treatments and spa experiences at Gaia Spa here.
