Whew! What a weekend!

Our very first in-person workshop in 2019 included just 25 spa partners who joined us at our small and mighty micro-farm here in Sausalito, gathering together to nerd out about plants and all things skincare. 

This year, we zoomed in from 34 states with 140 Botnia spa partners in our community and about 200 holistic practitioners from all over the world at our 2023 Esthetician Workshop! It was a whirlwind of aha-moments, big learnings, new skills, and creative thinking and we couldn’t be more intrigued to see how our spa partners will incorporate their takeaways into their practices. With a theme of Harmonizing Healing: Crafting a Balanced Practice, our estheticians learned new tools they could apply within the treatment room and in their small businesses to help create a balanced lifestyle. 

When we sit back after the workshop and think about the impact it has on our partners, we can’t help but feel so proud of our community and the curiosity they have to be open to learning, especially in an industry where new trends are emerging and changing constantly. It’s in this curiosity that we find what makes Botnia estheticians different from most - because they care so deeply about their healing practice and about their guests, with a desire to offer the most advanced holistic healing possible.

It has been an honor to sit with our partners in this curiosity, learning what makes their eyes widen with excitement and minds expand in ways they never thought could be possible. Seeing all their beautiful faces in one place warms our hearts with so much joy that we could help foster the blossoming of each individual business to create the lives they’ve always dreamed of. 

We are so grateful for the wisdom our amazing speakers offered in their area of expertise. Each year, our connection with our returning speakers deepens. And with new speakers, we can’t wait to continue to foster our new relationship, widening the network of our amazing community. 

Without a doubt, this workshop would not have happened without the hard work of Team Botnia. Each and every department had their hand in making this workshop take place, and we are so proud of the tenacity each and every one of our teammates had to push through to meet deadlines, while still making and shipping skincare, and making this workshop run as smoothly as it did.

Our biggest dream is that our spa partners grow in their practices in ways that will help enrich their lives beyond their wildest dreams. Some of our spa partners have been with us from the very beginning, putting the trust of their practice in our hands and we couldn’t feel more honored to watch them grow every step of the way. It’s been such a privilege to be a part of so many holistic estheticians’ professional back bar and to watch our partners heal skin with plants all over the nation. To witness each and every one of our spa partners ebb and flow in their small businesses, helping to raise them up during times of struggle and celebrate their wins alongside them each step of the way.

In gratitude and with love,
Justine and Team Botnia

P.S. Here’s Justine’s closing speech from this year's workshop! 

A final note from Justine…

As we close our 2023 workshop, I'm reflecting on what it means to be part of the Botnia community and gather together over these two days. We are actively creating the business landscape, lives, and industry that we want to see thrive. Thank you for being the best partners I could ask for. You are my esthetician family, and I'm honored to take this journey with you.

When we come together with a shared vision, I believe anything is possible. Our collective knowledge creates an ecosystem of healing, which we share through our practices to help others find balance.

As skilled practitioners, we are multidimensional - as family, friends, and partners - complex people seeking nourishment and equilibrium in our own lives.

Through creative expression of our gifts, we have built masterpieces out of our practices, leading with heart while running smart, sustainable businesses. I could not feel more grateful to have facilitated this experience over the past two days. What an immense privilege it is to learn from you.

My greatest hope is that you feel energized, equipped and connected after our time together. Hold close to reminders of how powerful we are as a community devoted to expanded care. Keep nurturing true balance within yourselves as the foundation for all you offer outwardly. Stay open, stay curious, and know I'm here cheering you on in this meaningful work.

The journey continues, but feel confident in the progress made here. Together, we will shape the future of holistic skincare one act of care at a time.

Thank you for being a part of this vision. Here's to many more years of growth and balance ahead!

–Justine