Women In Wellness: Melissa Wilson Of Woodhouse Spa On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Wanda Malhotra

To quote Beckett, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Melissa Wilson.

Melissa is a wellness-industry leader and professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry. As a licensed Massage Therapist and Esthetician, Melissa brings supreme expertise to her role as Director of Education at Woodhouse Spa, where she is responsible for overseeing the treatment design, protocols, and service experience for Woodhouse’s 82+ locations.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I’ve always been passionate about wellness but didn’t realize it could be a career! I received my undergraduate degree in Language and Literature in the UK, intending to become a teacher. When my family moved to the United States, I realized that wasn’t the exact path for me, so pivoted into wellness. I got my start in the resort market as an esthetician and after about five years, I got my massage license. I moved to Kauai to work at a St. Regis (and live my best beach life) before being recruited back to the mainland as an educator and account manager for a skincare brand out of San Francisco. The journey continued with different brands until I found my current and happy home at Woodhouse Spa HQ.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

It’s all about the people you meet along the way. I’ve had the honor of supporting many clients through multiple children, major life events, and milestones. Our beautiful spa industry is welcoming, supportive, and the best community. I’m reminded of this after every tradeshow, conference, and visit to the spa.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

It’s something that every person in the client-facing industry learns — we can’t take on the emotions of others or take things personally if it’s not ours to own. About five years into my career, I supported a fertility retreat at the resort where I was working. I learned there to hold space and to have grace and love for others, but not to take the experience of others home. We can have deep support and empathy, but to stay strong ourselves, we also need to have boundaries. It doesn’t diminish our work; it allows us to do even better work.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

I hope that every guest who visits a Woodhouse Spa location leaves a little bit lighter in spirit and body. I hope that every spa professional who works at a Woodhouse Spa feels supported in their health and wellness, from physical and emotional to financial.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?

The boring stuff — sleep, clean eating, exercise, and meditation. These are all non-negotiables for your best life. Beyond those four pillars, my top one is community. We need and thrive from our deep relationships. I’ve found mine not only through the spa community but most importantly, in what I do outside of work — through a local refugee resettlement organization and the freediving community.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I’d introduce as many as I could to the sport of freediving. It gets you out of the “monkey mind.” It connects people with our glorious oceans and marine life, provides a sense of awe and wonder, and is a lesson in all that your mind and body are capable of, even if it seems impossible at first. Along with an intro course to freediving, I’d also gift as many people as possible a glass or aluminum water bottle. I’d also get more people passionate about growing their own food and pollinators… My movement would be freediving, gardens, and no plastic — sounds good to me!

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

• To quote Beckett, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
• Try to always come from a place of “yes.” It’s an attitude I look for in business and personal relationships.
• Have grace with yourself and others as much as possible.
• Running will become your best friend and freediving the love of your life. I was such an awkward kid and I wish I had known that someday sports would become my sacred place.
• Shyness can be interpreted as being standoffish. Make sure to be aware of how you’re presenting yourself to the world. Luckily, I grew out of any shyness 😊
• For extra credit — buy the best silk eye mask you can, and use it every night!
• Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
• They’re all pieces of the same puzzle. The climate crisis, which causes so many of us mental anguish, could be helped by more people eating plant-based and leading more sustainable lives.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

I’m on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/13wilson/

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.