Never underestimate the power of kindness. It has the ability to change lives.
Tomoko Tajima moved to Vancouver from her native Japan to study. She’d made a life for herself here, working at an international recruitment and educational services company, when her son developed a serious illness and was hospitalized for a year. That Christmas, a local spa donated the gift of free treatments for mothers of sick children.
Cristina Cesa was my absolute favourite teacher.... she taught us that clients choose you for your skills and personality. Blanche Macdonald students are known for their good skills, so getting hired was easy!
“Their kind touch moved my heart,” explains Tomoko. “I was so worried about my son I’d started forgetting to take care of myself. They offered me a haircut, a mani-pedi, and a facial. The spa therapists listened to my story, and gave me warm and kind words. I was in tears. I knew this was safe place to cry and for somebody to take care of me. I remembered how important and necessary it is to love and take care of myself. Right then, I decided to change my career. I was going to be a spa therapist with a warm heart.”
Today the Blanche Macdonald Esthetics graduate owns and runs Trinity Facial Spa in her home city of Miyazaki, working with clients from around the world looking for that special touch.
“I opened Trinity three years ago. My clients range from local women and men, international guests and even regulars who come to visit for facial once a month from Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. I’m a Dermalogica Expert. Trinity is the only Dermalogica spa in Miyazaki! I’m the only esthetician here, so I know my clients come to see me. They trust my skill and enjoy the private atmosphere.”
In Japan people have a preconception that having a facial is expensive, and you’ll be pressured to buy skin care products. My dream was to change that old idea, and let people enjoy the feeling of relaxing and pampering themselves.
Tomoko knew she wanted to become an esthetician from the moment she received the ultimate Christmas gift. That meant finding the right training.
“I started work as a spa receptionist in Vancouver. I took several introductory courses, but I knew they weren’t enough. The more research I did, the more I heard that Blanche Macdonald is the best Spa Therapy School in Vancouver.
“Cristina Cesa was my absolute favourite teacher. She stressed the importance of being confident in our knowledge and skills. Most importantly, she taught us that clients choose you for your skills and personality. Blanche Macdonald students are known for their good skills, so getting hired was easy!”
Vancouver’s spa industry was eager to employ the therapist with skilled hands and a warm heart, and Tomoko was able to share her passion for wellness at a variety of luxury spas, adding to the knowledge she’d acquired at Blanche with more diverse treatments, techniques and management styles, and perfecting her client communication skills.
She returned to Japan in 2015, confident that despite the challenges she’d need to overcome, the time was right to open her own spa.
Making clients happy makes me happy. There have been so many improvements in treatments over the past few years. A good esthetician’s knowledge and skill can change a client’s skin, their appearance and their life.
“I hadn’t lived in Miyazaki for over 20 years, so I had no friends and acquaintance there when I opened my spa. It was my first business and getting clients was difficult for the first year.”
Tomoko persevered. Word soon spread that Trinity was a different kind of spa.
“In Japan people have a preconception that having a facial is expensive, and you’ll be pressured to buy skin care products. My dream was to change that old idea, and let people enjoy the feeling of relaxing and pampering themselves.
“I have first-hand experience that one spa treatment can change your life. Once people feel relaxed, they feel energetic. Once people have good skin, they feel confident. I’ve had clients who have become interested in a more health-conscious diet through their time with me. Becoming aware of their outer and inner beauty has changed their lives. I want to go beyond my clients’ expectations. I believe in the power of touch. I’ve had clients cry for joy after I’ve touched them.”
I have first-hand experience that one spa treatment can change your life. I want to go beyond my clients’ expectations. I believe in the power of touch. I’ve had clients cry for joy after I’ve touched them.
Tomoko is reaping the emotional and financial rewards. She’s now selling and exporting health products, ranging from international skincare lines to medically certified compression socks, in addition to her high-end treatments. And she’s enjoying every minute.
“Making clients happy makes me happy. There have been so many improvements in treatments over the past few years. A good esthetician’s knowledge and skill can change a client’s skin, their appearance and their life.”
Above all, this Spa Therapist is now able to pay forward the life-changing gift she received to others in need.
“I volunteer my time to give spa treatments for the mothers of ill children at the children’s hospital in Miyazaki. There’s nothing I love more.”
