HELLO 2021 & GOODBYE 2020!

By Madeline Blackburn owner of Thee Soul Spa, a place to build your mental strength and resilience which is based in Bath.

As the year starts to turn – how are you feeling about 2021? 

I would say I’m cautiously optimistic – can it really be as bad as 2020?  Opportunities in the mental health field are opening up as people realise the importance of looking after themselves mentally and the benefits this can bring.  I feel that The Soul Spa is well-positioned to be at the forefront in helping people deal with stress and overwhelm, as well as developing positive mindsets to achieve personal goals.

What are your business goals for the coming year? 

I have so many ideas! I would like to increase our membership. We still have plenty of spare capacity in our online mental relaxation classes and we can accommodate many, many more members.

I have a vision that the Soul Spa will be a must-do for visitors who are coming to Bath for a wellbeing trip. As our excellent reviews help us to climb the Trip Advisor ladder, I am sure more people will find us. We are also collaborating with various hotels and B&B’s to create bespoke and unique packages for their guests.

For locals, I would like to build on our wonderful team of practitioners so that we can offer everything you could wish for in terms of mind-body therapies.  We are planning so many courses so that can educate as well as treat.  My vision is to give as many people as possible the skills they need to help themselves.  I am also keen to create a one-stop shop for families, so that parents and children can access services and fun events where the next generation can learn the mental skills they need to lead fulfilling lives.

Will you be introducing any new products or services? 

We are constantly adding to our course offering and this will expand when we are allowed to open fully again. New teachers and mental relaxation classes will be added to our daily timetable.

Will you be looking to employ any new staff during the new year? 

I am hoping to employ a receptionist and social media manager via the KickStart programme.  I would love to be able to afford a cleaner!

Will you be looking for any new local suppliers in 2021? 

I will be looking for new practitioners and therapists who would like to become part of the Soul Spa family.

Are you looking to invest in yourself as a business owner or company director in 2021 in any way? 

I am constantly reading and learning; my development as a meditation teacher never ends!

Looking back across 2020 – name three highlights for you and your business? 

The growing element of working with the corporate sector and helping their teams and individuals learn to relax and deal with stress.

The new practitioners and teachers who are now working with the Soul Spa, I love the variety and quality that we provide, as well as getting to know new therapies and the wonderful people that deliver them.

Working with the Bath University Meditation Society and collaborating with them on a project to reach out to students across the UK, in an effort to help them through these extraordinary times.

Looking back across 2020 – were there any lowlights? 

Obviously the first lockdown was extremely tough.  Trying to save the business whilst home-schooling was very challenging.  However, taking all our classes online enabled us to accept members from across the country and beyond, so those clouds had plenty of silver linings!

Who, in your business community – have been the shining stars of 2020? 

I think everyone who has kept going and not allowed all the restrictions this year to defeat them has been a star, especially those businesses who have come up with new and novel ways to serve customers.

Any special offers for 2021 you’d like to mention? 

People can access unlimited mental relaxation and meditation classes from our timetable for only £12 per month, and this can even be discounted further to £5 per month for students, unemployed and our partner companies.  It’s hard to put into words the value this can bring to people’s lives.  We all turn up better for our families and friends when we are feeling better mentally, so the positive impact ripples out throughout the whole of society.

And finally: 

We all want a better world.  Sadhguru said, “if we can make 1% of people meditative this world would be a better place.” 

 It’s my mission to help as many people as possible develop a habit of mental relaxation because I know this will help us all to be kinder to ourselves and kinder to others, which I know will make this world a better place.

For more information visit www.thesoulspa.co.uk