Each generation has its own description of the “do-it-all” mom…from Super Woman to “Alpha Mom”, the latest in the monikers for the stretched thin, incredibly organized, super MOM. Good Morning America has talked about her, USA Today has written about her, and now I have met her (AKA “Alpha Mom”) in person.

It all started when our new yoga studio needed a babysitter for the 8:30 am vinyasa yoga class. In walked two seemingly normal moms–you don’t know an alpha mom until you actually see the diaper bag. It is also very organized, just like their life. They transport the little one to other hands, promptly close the door, and they have just adjusted to 1 hour of bliss, sans (without) the little bambino.

Now, one was an alpha mom, latest style of clothing, cutting edge of technology (iphone), hot yoga clothing and the other, well, she was “just a regular mom”. Ask alpha mom her plans for the day–well she wakes, gets son ready for school, says goodbye to husband, packs up new baby, off to yoga class, back to house, change, feed baby, meet business friend for lunch, work at 1:00, 5:00 grocery store, dinner at 6:00, homework at 7:00, husband time at 8:00, sleep at 10. I am awed at her amazing ability to get everything done in one day and juggle all of her responsibilities with such apparent ease—-I can barely get one person (me) ready, much less juggle 4, a job, yoga classes, house, and do it with such grace and smiles.

After one hour of my yoga class babysitting, my hats off to alpha mom. She is a goddess, we need to worship the ground she walks on….and I learned another important lesson…she takes at least one hour every day just for herself. She loves the yoga because it makes her grounded, stretched and relaxed. Whether it is yoga, or a walk, or a rerun of her favorite sitcom, or a book, she takes one hour every day for the alpha mom that she is.

Take one hour every day just for you! Breathe, stare at the ocean, read a book, have a massage, take a yoga class!

One of the funniest stories in our spa happened many years ago on a Saturday morning.  We were completely booked, 5 treatment rooms, 4 nail techs, and 1 hairstylist.  One of the massage therapists was not showing up for the 9:00 appointment and the client was there and she was a brand new client.  We escorted the client into the room and let her get ready for her massage. 

Then panic set in.  The very late massage therapist was not answering her phone (too much Friday night partying).  Who was going to do the massage?  Everyone was booked except one nail tech had just received a cancellation–Chong, a warm, friendly, & very funny Korean stepped up to the plate.  She flung her hands to the ceiling and stated, “Once they have a massage with Chong, there is no going back”.  I waffled between my desire to please the client or to disappoint the client…my warped rationalization said, well if she doesn’t like the massage, we can always refund her money.  Then, Chong do you know it is 90 minutes?  Do you know what to do?  Chong, ever the funny girl, replied, “Not to worry…I massage in Korea”.

90 minutes sweat-ed by tick, tock….my pedicure was taking forever…as I wondered how the massage was going.  Finally Chong came out of the room,  she washed her hands, and then with a brillant smile exclaimed, “She loves me, she’s re-booking next Saturday”. 

The brand new client finally came out of the room and confirmed with the front desk, that indeed, she had loved her 90 minute massage and would be booking one every week with Chong.  The new client thought the best part of the massage was when Chong stood on the table….I said…WHAT?

When a client walks in the door to experience the spa, what do you think you are offering as the service?  Do you think, build a spa and they will come?  Do you think, create a monument and they will visit?  or Do you  think, let me create the best anti-aging treatments in the world and they will flock to the spa?  Do you think, we have the most known spa name in the business, we can be okay and still make a profit?  Or are you hitting on the low part of the industry setting yourself up as a spa, but you are really a McDonald’s in disguise.  Yes, McDonald’s could get away serving food that was not really edible for a long time, but will you be able to continue giving okay “spa” massages at a discount without the experience?

As we are startng to see, everyone will not come.  As our spa industry grows, so does the education of spa goers.  They know great spa experiences, they know great services, and they know when it is not so great.  You see, it is one thing to think you can sneak past an okay massage therapist in a 4 star spa, and you might get away with it for now, but very soon, just like a 4 star restaurant with demanding clients, spa goers will be demanding high standards.  It with much pleasure that I applaud spa critics.  You deserve to have a great spa experience, and not only should it be good, it should be great.