n mid-February this year, RAIN Urban Boutique Spa in Rosebank was launched. It is situated in a secluded section of the first floor of the newly refurbished segment of The Zone mall. The spa is open exclusively to women and it was therefore fitting that over 200 ladies graced the launch of this unique offering. “Stepping out of the traditional spa environment is what gives RAIN the X factor,” Amanda Johnson, a cofounder of the spa, explains to The Expatriate SA magazine. “We aim to deliver personalised and detailed attention to our female clients while meeting their social needs. Our focus is on meeting and surpassing the expectations of the woman who takes an interest in her own wellness and recognizes the need to take care of herself. The concept of RAIN was born with the woman in mind, understanding that women are not necessarily happy when they are beautiful, but are always beautiful when they are happy. We want to make sure that every woman that walks through the door feels absolutely special, taken care of and part of the RAIN family.”
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Amanda is a registered nurse with six years’ experience specialising in neonatal and infant critical care. She is accustomed to a holistic approach to health and sees spa therapies as a natural and highly beneficial part of one’s overall wellness plan. “I am passionate about people and see the provision of services as an incomplete package without caring and personalised delivery,” she explains. Her fellow founder of this avant garde establishment is Nicola Hopwood. Nicola is no stranger to the start-up arena. She spent the last three and a half years at an educational and leadership start-up in Johannesburg where she played key roles in multiple facets of the organisation. Former colleagues describe Nicola as having an exceptional work ethic, an innovative mind and outstanding critical thinking skills. These traits are invaluable to the spas development process. “It’s time women had a space of our own, and what better place than the spa?” Nicola asks. “We want women to be able to have a safe and comfortable place where they can simply be themselves. That’s what
makes RAIN the perfect place to come to by yourself or with a group of your friends for a bridal shower or girl’s night out – knowing you can just be one of the girls.” RAIN elegantly introduces a trendy and hip verve to the traditional calming spa experience, and sets a new benchmark. With a clean, fresh and airy white palate accented by invigorating aqua green accents, RAIN creates a comfortable, uncluttered and affirming environment for its clientele. RAIN’s massages are based on a fully customized model where clients are free to explore with therapists the type of treatment that best suits their needs and desires, all at a flat rate based on time rather than type of treatment. For example, for a 1-hour massage, a client can opt for a 30-minute foot reflexology with a 30-minute hot stone back massage at the same cost as a 60-minute full body deep tissue massage. More than just a spa, RAIN is positioned to be the exclusive women-only rendezvous of choice for the discerning woman seeking a comfortable space to freely interact with like-minded women. It will double up as a venue for a