Spanista » Self Care Rituals, Reflections & Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Ginny Shiverdecker here, Spanista Lifestyle Blogger sharing a unique idea that blends The Art of Self Care with Spa Culture. Welcome to Spanista where the conversation takes flight.

May I share my story?  Tampa Bay, Florida is my home base when I am not traveling for my style of adventure. In addition to my love of fashion, my passions extend to all things that enhance our wellbeing including the emergence of Spa Culture – what defines it, why it is so valuable for us today, and what it could evolve to in the future. My story is shaped by personal experience that began with a dynamic marketing career in retailing that took me from a small town in the Midwest to Madison Avenue and the global marketing stage. My journey was surely not a straight line. More like a series of zig zags with interesting stops along the way but it did bring me to where I am today – connecting with you on topic I feel deeply about.

While I love my magical career, I often felt that there was something missing. So hunger of soul went where I did feeling like an extra empty suitcase. Then while catching my breath at a spa in a remote resort, I had an awakening of the heart. A new purpose took hold deep within. After that break to restore myself, I returned to my demanding work routine, yet that epiphany continued to stir in my soul and grew in intensity until I no longer could resist it. So I decided to open up my heart to embrace it fully. Yes, I shed my old dependable life to follow a new path – to adopt a new philosophy for a different, more rewarding way of living – Embracing a self care journey to joy through the birth of Spanista Lifestyle. Since devoting my time to developing Spanista, I realize what a difference sharing this is making in my life.  As someone wiser than me once said, “I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world,” I have been transformed by the experience of creating and sharing Spanista, to a level of happiness that has proven priceless.

During my travels, I reached out to others to discover many had similar curiosities and desires to feel deeper emotional wellbeing, so I knew I was not alone. Questions I posed were: What do you seek from a Spa Experience? What makes is satisfying and what does not? Could it play a more significant role in our quest for health and wellness? My journal is full of thoughts offered from people of all walks of life – Like you and me.  The exploratory helped to confirm my point of view: I believe that in this fast paced, complex world we all seek real connections and comfort, however my revelation is we should shift the effort in a different direction. We focus our energy on others, thanks to all the new technologies we can stay engaged, but we lack a relationship with the most important person in our lives – ourselves. We suppress our hunger to know ourselves more deeply – To uncover the true wellspring to joyful living. To get in touch with ourselves – Open our vast resources within to help us live a richer life. I suggest this should be a new priority!

The Spanista Lifestyle concept took meaningful shape on a notebook page I sketched on the day it blossomed in my heart. Looking back, it seems a higher power was working through me. I return to it regularly as a treasured reminder of the mission that came to me through that inspiring spa experience I shared. Since then I invested time in researching the effects of health and wellness, studying iconic voices of vision about the power of wellbeing and asking many people for their personal thoughts and feelings.  Earlier I suggested that we deserve ‘more in life’…but what is ‘the more’ really all about?  To me it is about seeing ourselves through a new lens. It means embracing a new style of self awareness while addressing stress points of the way we live today to consider dealing with the effects.

This led me to an insightful point of view. I believe that in this fast paced, complex world we all seek real human connection and comfort, however my revelation is we should prioritize our life AGENDA differently. Because we focus most of our energy on others, thanks to all the new technologies we can stay engaged – we therefore lack a relationship with the most important person in our lives – ourselves. We suppress our hunger to know ourselves more deeply – To uncover the true wellspring of personalized joyful living. To get in touch with ourselves – Open our vast resources within to help us live a richer life.

I suggest this should be a new priority for true wellness  – having a healthy relationship with OURSELVES!  Spanista believes this goes beyond physical wellness to deep emotional wellbeing.

For me, when I finally realigned my life to focus on time for self awareness to recognize and put my needs first, ritually with time devoted to regular message therapy, where ever I was in the world, the practice became a catalyst, something major shifted inside me in unbelievably good ways. I began to take charge of my self care experience. I got out of my mind and into my body to get in touch with my true feelings. For me the ritual of massage therapy helps me focus on what my body feels. It brings body, heart and mind into the present. I move from being stressed, distracted and ‘out of touch’ to ‘in touch’ by really feeling in the moment.  For example, in one post massage deep reflection session, I was in a euphoric state of mind and a powerful thought occurred to me – Could others benefit from what I am experiencing? This amazing level of joy I feel, that carries me forward in a happier state of mind – helping me be who I was intended to be and in turn I express that to the world around me. Could this learning make a difference in others lives too?

That is what inspired me to create Spanista as a Lifestyle Resource where anyone who is seeking a better way to wellbeing can come together around the themes of self care, spa culture, solutions and sharing experiences. Through my personal posts you will discover inspiration to become a Spanista too if you like and stage your own self care journey to joy. You will discover ‘How to Self Care’ ideas and ways to explore Spa Culture through Spanista Values System – Reflections, Rituals and Resources. This includes ways to evaluate Spa Salons that go beyond basic reviews so you get more out of the experience. Or make your home a place for a Spa experience too. Over the last few months I have explored various ways to shape this platform and make it meaningful. Please take a moment check it out the Menu tab ‘Philosophy’. Plus as part of the conversation I will post on these topics and create more features with your encouragement matters to me.

My hope is The Spanista Lifestyle Blog will become an inspiring destination you will enjoy experiencing it as much as I do creating it for you. I welcome your thoughts on how to make this platform inspiring, fun and useful to you. We can all learn from each other – if you are experienced Spanista or not. Anyone can adopt many of these practices at home or take them on the road if you travel. Or begin a practice by selecting the right Spa Salon that understands what you want and need from your personal experience. Practicing the Spanista Lifestyle is what I do to stay in touch and keep the positive feeling of joy alive.

If the spirit calls you and want to learn more, won’t you join me to begin your personal Spanista Self Care Journey To Joy by registering to become part of the Spanista Society and post updates? And please share this with your friends too. With your help we can watch our Spanista community evolve and grow. Thank you for being herewith me.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny 

Spanista Founder & Self Care Advocate