EUNICE ESTIPONA, started as a freelance massage therapist way back in 2001 and since then worked her way up the career ladder of the spa, currently a spa director and consultant, she became hooked to the intricacies of the spa industry which eventually led to organizing the International Council for Complementary Medicine, Inc. She is a Registered Medical Technologist, a Licensed Massage Therapist and an Emergency Medical Technician. She is a spa and wellness center consultant, teacher, lecturer, coach (even a cyber coach), referral facilitator, mentor and speaker specializing in Massage/Touch Therapy. She is a spa and indigenous healing aficionado, connoisseur and information consultant. She will tell you what you need to know and direct you to people who can be of help. Nearly half of her experience in the industry was spent on managerial, consulting and supervisory level. Through this exposure she has been able to gain strong insight into the wellness industry. Being a frequent spa-goer herself who has experienced being a practitioner and a client, she also has first hand-experience on what it is like wearing different hats.

She is a member of the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) and one of the founding Board members of the Massage and Bodywork Association (MBAI) which is under the umbrella of the Department of Health, Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care. She is the first Philippine-based member of the American Massage Therapy Association (Evanston Illinois, USA) and a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Association (Bristol, Tennessee USA) and many other organizations. In 2004, when information was very limited, Eunice was the first Filipino to look into organizing the first Philippine online group and started both the Philippine/Manila Massage Therapy Meet-up and the Manila Entrepreneur Meetup groups which currently have more than 500 members. Her first book will be released in September 2008. Contact her if you want to get included in her publications and articles.

An out-of the box thinker, her passion is in educating and developing a mind set geared towards a responsible and caring attitude of the spa personnel through her articles, lectures and speaking engagements. Her love for natural, uniquely-Filipino indigenous concepts of the spa is evident in her speaking engagements. She believes that "Filipinos have the natural ability to excel in "touch therapy" as exemplified by our culture and our traditional values through our ancestors' practice of "HILOT" and other indigenous healing modalities". One of her advocacies is to make healing and information regarding the field of spa, massage and wellness accessible and affordable to everyone.

If you are serious about turning your business or practice around, making the right decisions, getting an unbiased opinion and knowing where to get help, for lectures and other concerns she can be contacted at yunesa@yahoo.com or +639184745685.

My passion is ...

spa hopping, travel, reading books, massage, wellness, indigenous therapies

I know too much about ...

I do not believe I know too much, as we can never have enough learning

My parents always told me ...

ano?

My childhood ambition ...

ay...hay naku too many to mention but my first was to be a flight stewardess

My favorite memory ...

when I can skate like a pro

Why I write ...

to be able to inform and help others who are looking for answers

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

ay marami

My first job ...

is in the sales and marketing of hotels and resorts worldwide

My best moment ...

everyday

My inspiration ...

God, the Maker of heaven and Earth, no other- well of course there is my family, my loved ones and the Filipino people

Business > Business (Other) How to begin a spa business

1 of 1

How to Start and Open Your Own Spa, Massage or Wellness Center
(with emphasis on Philippine setting)

For several years now, lot of people are asking me, papano ba talaga dapat magsimula ng isang spa, massage center or wellness center? and what are the steps to make before starting their own spa, massage center or wellness center. I will give you seven (incidentally, my favorite number) MUST and NEEDED major steps in order for you to be well-prepared in starting your own spa, massage or wellness center. Although not step-by-step and dogmatic, this article will approach the issue in ...

More..