New Semiahmoo Resort spa manager takes holistic approach

Semiahmoo Resort’s new spa manager Joy Spoerndli knows a thing or two about holistic wellness.

“Holistic wellness helps an individual, whether it’s a man or a woman, feel cared for, nurtured, and have their heart, soul, emotions and the physical body touched,” she said. “They can walk away from an hour and say, ‘I feel nurtured. I feel so much better. My heart is happier.’”

Spoerndli started her 11-year career in the wellness industry as a lotion maker at Grace Harbor Goat Farm in Custer. Working at Grace Harbor made Spoerndli realize how she would love to one day make her own lotions, which led her down the path of organic skincare and nutrition. Spoerndli earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Grand Canyon University in 2013 and her master of esthetics certification from Evergreen Beauty College in 2017. Before joining Semiahmoo at the beginning of September, she worked at M.D. Medical Spa and Wellness in Birch Bay.

Spoerndli works with about six spa coordinators and 10-15 fitness and massage therapists. She schedules fitness instructors, spa coordinators, massage therapists and estheticians as well as locally sources spa products.

Right now, the spa includes massages, facials, body treatments and salon services. Spoerndli said she hopes to bring new elements to these services, such as putting a greater focus on sourcing local ingredients and partnering with the culinary team to improve the spa’s holistic wellness. 

“You can get a great Washington raspberry wine and create a sugar scrub out of it. And then you offer a wonderful guest a glass of the same wine,” she said. “Semiahmoo is now making truffles in the kitchen. Pair it. Wine, chocolates and a beautiful raspberry wine chocolate body scrub. Creative, healthy, local, fun. It smells great and tastes great, and you can even put it on your skin.”

The new spa manager is also brainstorming ways to help clients better destress as the world comes out of the pandemic. One of those ways, she said, is helping people sleep better. She envisions a “dream corner” where guests can stop by the spa after dinner and receive a to-go sleep dream bag filled with lavender pillow mist, creams with magnesium and lemongrass bath salts. “They can have a little grab-and-go bag to help them sleep well that night,” she said. 

As for Spoerndli’s top three tips for someone wanting to incorporate wellness into their lives, she recommends getting outside, taking time for stargazing and spending time with loved ones.

“When you go somewhere like Semiahmoo, you’re getting great customer service,” Spoerndli said. “You’re getting excellent care, you’re getting encouragement from everyone you see and then you’re getting a fabulous facial or massage therapy with local, hand-crafted ingredients.”