Dear readers,

Have you ever wondered who the person behind the gifted hands massaging you was? This interview is dedicated to all these masseuses and masseurs also called Spa Therapists, who are behind your relaxing happy moment at the spa.
From the beginning, How To Spa has been working in partnership with many of these experts, and we wanted to give voice to one of them, so we are pleased to share with you this new interview of Aurelie, a masseuse at the Chi, the Prestigious Shangri-La Hotel’s Spa in Paris.

Hello Aurelie, thank you for having us.

You currently work as a masseuse at the Shangri-La Spa in Paris . How did you land such a prestigious position?

Passion and patience are key! I was also lucky to have worked with Ms Colette Audebert before. She trusted my again this time to join her team at The Chi, the Shangri-La’s spa. This opportunity gives me the privilege to work in the most romantic hotel of the French capital!

Tell us a bit more about your spa journey.

I was only 15 when I got the bug! I simply wanted to help others feel good. When I was in my last year of secondary school, I told my mum I wanted to become a beautician. She looked confused and I think she thought it was just a teenage thing that would go away.
Sixteen years ago, you needed a very good school record and marks to be accepted in a beautician school. Back then, I repeated my latest year of secondary school to have a better record and was then accepted one year later by the only beautician school in South Brittany.

At the last minute, I decided not to go and continued onto high school instead, choosing a Business and Communication speciality. Three years later I passed my baccalaureate and joined the IFOM learning centre in Nantes. There, I attended a one year preparatory course designed to get students up to speed for beauty and cosmetics studies. I then started a 2 years degree course in that field but stopped at the end of the first year (or French CAP), feeling the urge to do what I really wanted all along, MASSAGING! I simply couldn’t wait to get to it!

Ten years ago, the now famous and recognised Spa Therapist CQP (French Professional Qualification Certificate) didn’t exist and I didn’t have many options. I could have gone on to a “bac pro” but it wasn’t an option for me. Doing my research I came across the Body and Spa School in Rennes (Britanny). This school, founded by Chantal Cozic, offered exactly what I was looking for! I gained extensive knowledge and skills in massage techniques from around the world and valuable training on the spa world specifics and its multi-sensorial aspects.

This field of work offers endless possibilities and I wanted to explore them all! I worked as a beautician and beauty advisor in institutes and cosmetics stores, and as a cosmetics and fragrance advisor for high-end perfume brands. I also worked seasonally as a spa massage therapist for Cinq Mondes and Clarins in Paris, which allowed me to travel and explore other techniques and gain more skills the rest of the time. That’s how I got the chance to study traditional massage in Bali, and also has the incredible opportunity to help introduce visually impaired teenage girls to pratical aspects of beauty and wellbeing.

Since 2014, I work as a spa therapist full time in Paris. I started at the Peninsula Spa, where I stayed 3 years, working as a spa therapist and also massage trainer, and I’ve now been working for the Chi-Le Spa at the Shangri-La for six months.

I meet many masseuses and masseurs through my work and I’m always touched by how passionate they are about their work and how you can feel it when they take care of you. They all seem to have one same goal; making people feel good. I’m sure you share this motivation, but what do you love most about your job?

I love taking care of people and making them feel good, indeed! Naturally, my favourite thing about my job is bringing this little extra something to my clients’ day that makes it a lot better when they leave my treatment room than when they walked in.
It’s mainly about wellbeing through massage, of course, but it’s also about sharing with the person; we often have a chat; I listen a lot without judging and do my best to advise them or guide them, and sometimes it’s a bit like a talking therapy!
The aim is that they leave the spa feeling relaxed and comfortable.

I love sharing and have a lot of care and love to give!

Massaging is said to be very demanding both physically and psychologically. We often hear that there is an energy transfer happening during a massage that can be draining. How do you manage to always give your best, client after client all day long?

There is indeed an energy transfer going on. Sometimes, from the moment a client walks in, before I even massage them, I can tell if it’s going to be an easy peaceful massage or an energy draining one!The key for me is to never give the same massage twice. It may be the same on paper, the specifics of that particular massage are respected of course, but I use variations, different pressure strengths etc. I’m never bored, even if I do the same type of massage several times in a row. I tell my clients that it’s THEIR massage, fully tailored to them. I’m the one who needs to adapt, that’s why it’s important to listen to the clients’ needs, preferences and expectations.

I do have a little secret too…I’m always bare feet when I give a massage; it helps me feel grounded. Also, after each massage, I wash my hands and forearms up to my elbows wih warm water, and I wear an amber stone that protects me from negative energies.

Before I start a massage, I ask my client to take 3 deep breaths, which also gives me the time to take these important deep breaths at the same time. I always make sure I breathe properly during a massage, it’s very important. Too many masseuses and masseurs still hold their breaths, it happens to me sometimes, but deep abdominal breathing is essential.

After a massage, I always do a few back and arm stretches.

Whenever possible, I believe airing the space after a massage is a good idea. It helps get rid of the previous energies, making the space clear and ready for a fresh start for the next client.

You have gained extensive knowledge throughout your career on skin health and cosmetics as well as global wellbeing. Are there any tips or advice you would like to share with our readers?

Breathe! It really was an epiphany for me! I didn’t know how to properly breathe until a physiotherapist, who also trained in Chinese medicine, showed me.
Breathing helps with stress and anxiety relief. I recommend you try the “RespiRelax+” app (designed by a famous French thermal spa). I use it every evening to reconnect with my inner self and relax. My mantra is “Your body is no place for suffering!”.

Taking care of myself also means being conscious about what I eat. What you put in your body can impact it both inside and outside. I find it very difficult nowadays to know for sure what’s good and healthy or not. I discovered the Yuka app that helps me make better choices by simply scanning food items with my smartphone while shopping; the app tells you how healthy it is, based on nutritional aspects and the additives content. The app is based on products found in France, but you can find some products elsewhere.

Also, I recently got into Face Mapping. It’s a way of identifying skin conditions and their origin. It could be a bad diet, smoking, stress, pollution etc. I could go on and on for hours about Face Mapping, it’s so fascinating! Why not come and see me at the spa for a diagnosis? You can start by having a look on Pinterest, there is plenty of info on the topic and you’ll find “maps” to give you an idea of what it is. From now on, you’ll have a better clue of the reason behind that nasty spot!

Which massage would you recommend our readers to try?

Face massage! It’s a small part of our body and yet has no less than 20 something muscles. Your face is constantly “working out” and is the only part of your body that’s always in direct contact with the outside environment.
Every body meridian runs through your face and scalp; some even start or finish here, and every other part of your body as dell as manu organes are linked to this area. That’s why it needs attention. It needs to be relaxed, stimulated, and oxygenated.
It comes as no surprise that 9 out of 10 clients completely let go and relax when having a face massage. Highly recommended!!

What are your plans for the future?

I’m now 30 and going back to school! I started an apprenticeship at the Shangri-La last October, through the Catherine Sertin Spa School. This coming April, I will officially qualify as a Spa Therapist through the VAE process (a French Certification Scheme that assesses your skills through your work experience), and in October, I’ll take the Spa Manager Diploma exam.
I plan to start off with a Spa Manager assistant position, then Spa Manager and eventually a Spa Manager trainer, to have the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion for this wonderful job!
Other than that, I must say improving my English and taking up yoga classes are on my to-do list!

Thank you so much Aurelie for this heart-warming testimonial, we wish you all the best for your future!

Have a fabulous day everyone!