ISPA 2010

ISPA stands for the International Spa and Fitness Association. It is a finely run organization based out of Lexington, Kentucky that services the Spa and Fitness industries via conferences, trade shows, education and meetings. They have a board of directors and task force members who volunteer their time to serve, as well as administrative staff in Lexington.
Every year the conference is held in large facility hotels that can accommodate an expo floor as well as meeting space. I just got back from the conference which was held at the Gaylord Resort in Maryland. There were over 1,100 attendees and about 75 vendors on the expo floor. I was there with the company I work for, Tara Spa Therapy. It was my first show out of five that I have attended as a sales manager for a vendor, not as an operator of a Spa.
I of course feel strongly about my company, or I would not choose to work with them. We are a natural Aromatherapy and Ayurvedic based line that provides trainings, professional and retail products to our accounts. We have some of the finest spas and wellness centers in the world using our products and doing our treatments. And it looks like after this conference we will have several more spas added to our list!
But to highlight some of the noteworthy new lines at this years show were:
La Bella Donna: natural and mineral makeup
Kumani Essentials: natural hair, face and body line using shea butter as a prime ingredient
Teatulia: new fair trade tea line with many Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs as ingredients
Neuma: natural hair care line
Project Iris: natural t-shirt clothing line committed to world issues and fighting malnutrition

Have you ever heard of Doc Hendley and his company Wine to Water? If not, you have to check out what he is doing! His speech was so inspiring on being an everyday bartender and stumbling on a path of helping to get third world countries clean water. He spoke at the conference and I was in tears.

The world of Spa, natural products and healthy lifestyle's are exciting and rewarding industry's to be involved with. If this interests you at all I encourage you to check out the ISPA website and maybe become a member. As well, we have the Green Spa Network and my passion, NAMA, the National Ayurvedic and Medical Association.

To health and wellness.

AA