The Heartbeat of Harmony: A Spa Director’s Mission

Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club recently welcomed Theresia Kelly to Horse Country as the Director of Spa. While our mission for her is to help the facility thrive as the number-one full-service luxurious spa and salon in all of Central Florida, Theresia’s goals are far more vivid — as in paths paved with the inspiration that comes from the commitment to harmonious getaways and matters of the heart. Since Golden Ocala members may turn their wellness over to Theresia and receive caring and nurturing forms of treatment, we’d like to share more about the remarkable woman setting the tone for the ultimate setting for indulgence.

An Illustrious Spa Career

Theresia Kelly has over 20 years of experience in luxury, resort and medical spas — much like ours. Born in Heidelberg, Germany, she migrated to Oregon at age 18 to attend Eastern Oregon University where she graduated with a degree in sociology and psychology — ideal for understanding how people think of and incorporate whole-body wellness into their lives.

Theresia has held Director of Spa positions at Sheraton Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach, Westin Hotels and Resorts in Mississippi, and Newnan Dermatology in Georgia. She has also dedicated her time to freelance spa education and consultation services throughout the Northeast, specifically wellness lifestyle and yoga instruction. For 12 years, Theresia operated her own Wellness Store and Day Spa in Rhode Island, which led to three statewide locations, earned her a “Best New Health and Beauty Store” by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine, and granted her media opportunities in numerous New England periodicals.

Endeavors of this magnitude were inspired by Theresia’s research of the immune system and challenges for today’s women. With that, she created a center and one-stop shop for women who wished to learn more about leading healthy lifestyles, as well as handling modern-day stresses and pressures. This naturally progressed into the creation of treatment rooms for massages and organic facials — channeling Theresia’s love of a store and spa concept and prompting the very first dedicated organic spas in New England. Today, she still has a passion for helping people achieve balance and happiness within an ideal climate.

Theresia’s Wellness Teachings

Theresia leads spas with a primary wellness message – take charge of your life. In other words, we are children of the earth, and living in harmony with it brings health and wellness; only you can determine the harmony that is right for you, because it’s your body, and therefore, is geared with innate instincts.

The biggest challenge for individuals and wellness instructors occurs when individuals wish to dwell on negativity, rather than find happiness and balance. Satisfaction for both parties comes when those same individuals learn that an obstacle is simply an opportunity.

Destination: North Central Florida

Over the course of her career, Theresia has visited many beautiful corporate and private, luxury spas — each with its own heart and dedication to guests and team members. From Mandarin Oriental, to Marriott International, to Canyon Ranch, and Spa Via, as well as the Ritz Carlton, she has also found each one’s form of pure commitment, further driving inspiration and setting the bar for her own objectives.

An invaluable example of this level of inspiration was generated during Hurricane Michael on Panama City Beach. Theresia witnessed her own staff lose their homes, as well as their jobs, bringing her face-to-face with trauma, human tragedy and matters of the heart. With a newfound joy for the simple things in life, such as the caring and nurturing in the form of a harmonious getaway like the spa, Theresia is incorporating those agendas into everything at the Spa at Golden Ocala.

So, why Golden Ocala? She sensed happiness among the team members and is intrigued by the hospitality associated with membership spas.

Now, with a March Madness Spa Package, including a deep muscle massage and signature facial, as well as a recently added eyelash extensions service, there is no better time to book an appointment with Theresia. Please call (352) 402-4350, and find out how she is contributing to the growth of our great spa.