It has been over 2 years since the words social distancing, quarantining, global pandemic, and COVID have been commonplace in our day-to-day vocabulary. While things are MUCH better for most of us than they were 2 years ago, many of us are still reeling from burnout, disappointment, and exhaustion. At the Wellness Center, we care for people day in and day out. We witness, interact with, and hold space for the stress and anxiety that our clients bring in. More than ever, our practitioners and our staff need to take care of themselves, so they can create a safe space for clients to unwind and let go of their stress.

With that said, self-care is not a luxury but a necessity for our team. When people hear the word self-care, they think: spa days, massages, hot baths, yoga, meditation (which is all part of self-care). But another aspect to self-care is preserving your energy and time, which means setting boundaries. For many of us, we can’t move at the same pace and drive that we did pre-COVID.

At The Wellness Center, we set boundaries in a couple of key ways:

  1. First, we encourage our team to set boundaries with their schedule and to take breaks when they need them. We promote taking time off so they can be present and strong when they come into work, essentially so they can THRIVE doing what they love. We pay a living wage to our therapists, which allows them to do 15-20 hours of bodywork a week (which is typically the normal to prevent burn out) and get paid enough to live.
  2. Second, with our policies. Our 4 hour cancellation policy is set in place to protect our practitioners from the adverse financial effects of late cancellations. When we receive push back on these policies, it creates stress and emotional labor for our team. We hold an incredible amount of respect and appreciation for those who honor our policies and therefore, honor our boundaries.
  3. Third, we maximize our practitioners’ schedules to make the most efficient use of their availability and in turn promote their livelihood. We appreciate your grace and flexibility when we move your appointment 15 minutes or ask to modify your appointment time to accomplish this goal.
  4. Lastly, we hold The Wellness Center itself as a safe space for our clients, practitioners and staff. We do our best to ensure that anyone entering the center will be treated with compassion and respect and in return we ask that this be offered to staff and practitioners. Thankfully it is a rare occurrence that someone is asked not to return and we appreciate the overwhelming river of kindness that flows through our clients.

Our policies and care for our practitioners are what set The Wellness Center apart from so many other places, our practitioners love what they do and it shows in their work. They are deeply valued and respected for their expertise. You can feel the difference when you receive bodywork in a positive environment where the staff and practitioners love what they are doing. Do you agree? We invite you to reflect on the boundaries that feel worth holding in your own life.

Wishing you all a safe, healthy, and happy summer!

In Gratitude,

Sharon