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wellness

Building the Spa Business with our Neighbors, The Skin Institute Internationalé

One of Kakaako’s hidden gems is just upstairs from Impact Hub HNL. The Skin Institute Internationalé (TSII), a locally-based teaching spa and esthetician school, is on the third floor of our building. Their training programs are for new and experienced estheticians (think eyebrow tinting, facials, waxing) and help people of all ages start a business in the spa industry.

And the spa and wellness industry is nothing to dismiss: FastCompany explains that, “the wellness market, which encompasses everything from boutique fitness gyms to day spas, is now valued at a whopping $4.2 trillion, having grown 12.8% in the last two years. The industry now represents 5.3% of global economic output.”

If you or anyone you know wants to get into this industry, there is an easy opportunity just a few floors away from us!

TSII trains hundreds of students each year, and they offer their services at discounted rates to the community. Better yet, Hub members get an additional 20% discount on spa services, perfect as relaxation after a long day at work or if you need to treat someone special to some body care.

I chatted with Mary Ronnow, expert esthetician and Founder of TSII, to learn more about her thriving business and how she helps grow wellness businesses in the islands.

Andrea Bertoli (AB): Tell us a little more about your background and why you started an esthetics school?

Mary Ronnow (MR): I’ve been in the beauty and spa industry for over 40 years, and I’ve worked in every avenue of the industry. It’s an exciting multi-billion dollar industry that is always changing. I have had the great fortune to work with my three daughters who are, like myself, master estheticians. All of us are serial entrepreneurs – addicted to starting new businesses. We see opportunity everywhere- likely many Hub members can relate. My daughter Lierem and I saw a huge need for a thorough, sophisticated training in our industry on island, and we have been greeted with open arms – the business community of Hawaii has encouraged and support us over our first three years, helping us become the thriving company we are today.

AB: We love seeing that it’s a woman-owned business. Do you see any particular challenges to running your team? Has this changed over the years? Do you think it’s different than when you started your business years ago?

MR: How great are women-owned businesses? Not only do studies show that women-owned (or companies with women on their board) do better and create better outcomes, I get to work each day with my daughters – all compassionate, powerful women. Our team is all women, all dedicated to supporting the students in their learning environment.

There is a stereotype that it’s challenging to work with a team of all women, but there are not any particular challenges that I’ve found. Regardless of their gender, employees and team members want the same thing: recognition for their contributions, interesting creative work, and appreciation for a job well done. What I do think has changed is that most of the young women students don’t even know what the term ‘glass ceiling’ means–  which has been a long time coming!

AB: The school seems really active: about how many students do you train each month/year and what types of jobs will they get after they graduate your programs?

MR: We do have a lot of students coming and going! We train all ages, as the spa industry is a great career for the student who has tried college and found the traditional route didn’t fit them, or for mothers who have just put their youngest in school or their oldest is off to college – for all of them, now it’s time to do something for themselves.

Our students so highly trained when they graduate, they can essentially choose their own path and salary among the many options in this growing field. Each student is required to take Hawaii State board exams to become professionally licensed, and after that they can work for day spas, resort spas, medi-spas, or focus on back-of-house spa operations (accounting, education, and more). At least 30% of our graduates start their own businesses.

AB: What services do you think are the best options for our hardworking coworkers, and how can Impact Hub members enjoy these services?

MR: Impact Hub members are welcome to 20% off our elegant spa services at already extraordinary prices at our beautiful and calming spa – it’s a great way to treat yourself, a friend, or a coworker. Our pricing is an incredible value and we just love spoiling people. For the member discount, they just need to mention Impact Hub to receive the 20% off.

Learn more about TSII on Facebook or Instagram.

Healthy Living Cooking Classes at Impact Hub HNL with Down to Earth!

If you are interested in learning more about natural foods and healthy eating, Sisi and Maddie from DTE are hosting 2 more classes over the coming months (August 28 and September 25, both at 6pm). This free class gives the community an opportunity to explore simple vegetarian recipes that can be enjoyed as weeknight meals or shared at office potlucks. And there are always yummy samples!

The August 28 class will feature Rainbow Veggie Pinwheels, which are made by wrapping pretty rainbow salad in tortilla smothered with beautiful hot pink beet hummus! Upcoming classes are FREE but do require reservations. Please register in advance here.

Our Kakaako neighborhood is full of awesome places to eat, drink, and be merry. A few months ago we were happy to see that Hawaii-based company Down to Earth opened their largest Oahu store just a few blocks from us.

Down to Earth operates four stores on Oahu and one on Maui, offering a huge selection of organic and natural foods, local produce, and fresh deli offerings. The Kakaako location offers made-to-order sushi, pizza, sandwiches and more, great for a quick bite to eat before, during, or after work.

You can reach the DTE team for questions or to learn more: (808) 947-3249.

Wellness Wednesday: Learn to Brew Your Own Kombucha

Wellness Wednesdays are ongoing classes at Impact Hub HNL that allow our multitalented members to share their health and wellness knowledge with our community. To see upcoming events, visit our Facebook events page.

In February we hosted our first Wellness Wednesday event with Diana Dymarsky of Awakened Mana, a local organization that focuses on conscious, sustainable events. In addition to running her events company and a grocery delivery service, Diana is also a kombucha expert, and she shared her funky ferment skills with almost 20 eager students.

Diana Dymarsky of Awakened Mana

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that has been sipped for centuries around the world, and in the past decade has become increasingly popular for health-conscious consumers here in the US. Kombucha (or booch) is tangy, fizzy, and flavored in hundreds of ways to please a wide range of palates. Diana says that she fell in love with kombucha over four years ago, and it’s become daily staple for her. “I love all of the health benefits of Kombucha, but mostly my ability to swap out my coffee habit for ‘booch,” she says.

While the recipe is quite simple, the magic of fermentation makes the drink extraordinary (and offers a bunch of great health benefits, too). Kombucha is made by brewing black tea and sugar together, then adding a bit of premade kombucha to a large jar with a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts). During the two week fermentation period, the SCOBY digests the sugars in the mixture, resulting is carbonation, and changing the flavor considerably. Kombucha can then be flavored with fresh or dried fruits, spices, and other ingredients to personalize your ‘booch. Diana’s favorites are Mango/Ginger, Blueberry/Ginger and Peach/Ginger! Yummy!

Awakened Mana offered organic kombucha starter kits at the event that consisted of everything you need to start your own brew:

  • 1 Gallon glass jar with lid
  • 1 SCOBY
  • 2 Cups starter liquid (premade kombucha)
  • 1 Cup organic sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons organic English breakfast tea

This class was very popular, so we hope to be offering it again soon! Diana said after class, “Teaching my first workshop at Impact Hub was such an honor. The students were so engaged and asked such wonderful questions, and I really look forward to offering the class again.” Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to keep up with upcoming events.

 

kombucha starter kit

Wellness Wednesdays: Powering Up Your Productivity with Wildkraft

Wellness Wednesdays are ongoing classes at Impact Hub HNL that allow our multitalented members to share their health and wellness knowledge with our community. To see upcoming events, visit our Facebook events page.

Blair from Wildkraft Herbs

Many of us deal with mid-morning slumps or afternoon crashes. Why do we experience energy crashes of this sort, and how can we improve our productivity throughout the day?

In March we hosted another Wellness Wednesday event called Power Up your Productivity, to help our coworkers and community be their most productive selves. The workshop was taught by Blair Townley, a Western Clinical Herbalist and owner of Wildkraft Apothecary & Clinic, based at Impact Hub HNL.

Blair talked about four areas of optimization in our lives that can help combat the sleepiness, blood sugar crashes, and energy dips: food, sleep, movement, and environment.  She chose this topic because of client needs: “One of the things I see often in clients is need for better focus and clarity, and it’s important to make the connection between diet and lifestyle and our overall energy.”

Her first food tip is to avoid blood sugar spikes by maintaining a healthy diet that reduces simple carbs (like white rice and bread) and instead focuses on fiber-rich vegetables, healthy protein, and healthy fats, which digest slowly for more consistent energy. Blair has lots more tips for healthy blood sugar balancing on her website.

The second main way to keep your productivity high is to ensure you get a good amount of sleep each night. Lack of sleep, even for one night, can lead to impeded memory, reduced multitasking ability, slower creative thinking (thinking outside the box), and can lead to feelings of depression.

To ensure you get enough sleep, blackout your room at night (ie: avoid streetlights, gadget lights, and television), avoiding caffeine after noon (or entirely… scary, I know!), and turning off computers and phones an hour (or more!) before bed.

Other tips for better productivity include getting more movement (if you work here it’s just a five minute walk to the beach), and keeping a clean, organized workspace, which can help your brain feel more free.

If you are seeking further guidance, you can make an appointment with Blair. Wildkraft specializes in plant medicine via custom blended herbal tinctures, teas and tonics made from mostly European and North American plants. Off the shelf offerings include teas and tinctures for immunity, sleep, allergies, grounding, anxiety, depression and digestive support.

You can learn more about Blair’s offerings in this recent clip from KITV Channel 4 news.

Images from  Unsplash