iSpa's Conference - so much more than spa products...

Each year, thousands of spa professionals - owners, directors, managers and suppliers - from around the world gather to network and learn cutting edge tips on where the industry is headed at ISPA's (International Spa Association) annual conference.  Unlike most conferences, ISPA's is always filled with excitement, passion, inspiration, pleasure, and a wealth of information. The tradeshow floor allows everyone to see, smell, taste, and experience all things spa and the education sessions are filled with information that can be applied to all parts of business and life. Here are a couple of my takeaways (in addition to all the products) from this year's conference.

Tradeshow - New & Interesting Products (maybe some ideas for holiday shoppers...)

• Bissingers Chocolates - yes, chocolate & spa do go together.  Bissinger's packages 7 chocolates in a box, designed to last a week if one chocolate is enjoyed per day. While deep in discussion with the chocolate master, I tasted several flavors. My favorites: 60% Dark Chocolate (I'm a purist) and Green Tea Truffle.
• Spa Ritual Nail Care - finally, vegan nail care products that are free of dbp, toluene, and formaldehyde. I polished my nails for the first time in many years while at conference.
• Microplane Foot Files - this was definitely one of my favorite finds. The same company that makes the microplanes that are used in the woodshop and kitchen, have taken their product to the spa market. The file exfoliates the feet, leaving them silky smooth. WARNING - I found this to be addictive.
• Lava Shell Massage - similar to a stone massage but with some improved services and benefits to the customer.  I definitely see this as one of the new treatments for 2008, especially for beach side locations.
• ZZZZZmersion - a sleep program commited to helping people reclaim a drug-free, good night's sleep. Both Red Mountain Spa and Rancho La Puerta use a customized ZZZZZmersion program.

Jim Collins, best-selling author of Built to Last and Good to Great

• To succeed you need to make sure that you are surrounded by the right people FIRST. Then, you can decide what you are going to do. Not the other way around.
• Everyone should have a NOT To Do List. Anytime you add something to your To Do List, you need to add to your NOT To Do List.
• Do what you are good at and what you are deeply passionate about!

It's time for me to finally finish this book that I bought and started reading (twice) last year.

Mya Angelou - poet, author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director

Dr. Angelou captivated the audience as she accepted the 2007 Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award. She shared several life stories, joked around, and chatted as if she had joined us for a cup of coffee or a camp fire gathering. The entire room was focused on her and her words, laughing and crying throughout the hour. Her message - remember to laugh and smile! To illustrate her message, she read "The Health Food Diner" - a poem which she wrote to remind herself of this same point. As a dietitian, this is one of her poems I've always enjoyed so this was extra special to hear it directly from Mya. My absolute favorite Maya Angelou poem that I'd like to share with everyone is Phenomenal Woman.

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou
   
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelous is indeed a phenomenal woman and one of the highlights of this year's conference.