An Ancient Ritual Helps Guests Release Worries and Start 2021 Fresh
Over 500 years ago village healers from Latin America found the secret to healing illness spiritually. Now the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa pays tribute to these healers by incorporating one of their rituals into its services, and they offer directions so you can do it too.
More than 500 years ago, village healers in Latina America, known as curanderos, found the secret to healing illness spiritually and physically. Curanderos practice a holistic form of healing that combines prayer, herbal remedy, ritual, spiritualism, and massage. These days, the magic of the curanderos has been passed down from generation to generation and the practices remain nearly the same.
At the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, the Lantana Spa holds admiration for the healing powers of the curanderos that have graced San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country. The Lantana Spa pays homage to these curanderos with services that honor their holistic practices in the services and rituals offered.
Ad Loading...
One ritual practiced by curanderos is the Seven Knots Ritual to release worries and stress from the ill. The Lantana Spa holds this ritual at the spa for guests, empowering them to release their worries and stress before their services and leave their worries behind.
In 2021, The Lantana Spa will have a 21 Knots Ritual in honor of releasing the stress from 2020 and bringing good intention into the new year. The ritual historically involves tying seven knots into a red ribbon, one for each worry, the seventh knot completing a circle. Tying the knot releases that specific concern, enabling the person to leave it behind. Before the guest enters the spa they will be given their ribbon at check-in to complete the ritual on their own and embark on their spiritual journey.
Whether a guest has 21 worries or seven, they can expect to start fresh in 2021 with relaxing services at The Lantana Spa and a therapeutic knot ceremony inspired by curanderos.
The spa also offers directions for performing the ritual at home if guests don’t yet feel comfortable traveling. This simple yet beneficial practice can be done easily:
Materials Needed:
Ad Loading...
Red ribbon, string or cord measuring 9 to 12 inches long. The red ribbon is required as it symbolizes strength, health, vigor, energy, passion, courage, element of fire, career goals, fast action, vibrancy, driving force and survival.
A quiet place to concentrate.
A moment to slow down and release stress
How to Perform the Ritual:
Tie the first knot at one end while you focus on your first concern. Take a moment.
Tie the second through the 21st knots – each one focusing on a different worry.
Tie the seventh knot to create a circle of ribbon.
When tying each knot, concentrate on one specific concern, visualize a best outcome and let go of the concern.
When the ceremony is complete, all worries can be left behind and a fresh journey can begin. By sharing this practice, the resort hopes everyone can start fresh in 2021.
To find out more about JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, please contact 210-276-2500 or visit www.jwsanantonio.com.
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan.
The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry.
Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.