Edmonde Sidibe-Jones achieved Master spa and beauty status in the South of France before arriving on the Turks and Caicos Island of Providenciales in 2002. After working for several years on a cruise ship that traveled the world four times, Sidibe-Jones believes fate brought her to Providenciales.
In early 2000, Sidibe-Jones remembers picking up a flyer that she found aboard her cruise ship. The advertisement described the need for a Spa Director on the island of Tortola in the Caribbean. Something about the ad intrigued Sidibe-Jones and she stuffed the flyer in her suitcase. That’s where it stayed for almost two years.
Cruise industry business began dwindling on the heels of 9/11. After almost two years of sliding sales, Sidibe-Jones thought the time was ripe to entertain new opportunities. In 2002, following a chilly holiday season back home in Marseille, France, Sidibe Jones became convinced that her next spa venture would be in a warm weather destination.
Turks and Caicos Calling
Sidibe-Jones dusted off the flyer she had stashed in her suitcase. Two weeks after responding to the Tortola Island advertisement, the company replied that the Tortola position was filled. They asked if Sidibe-Jones was interested in another opportunity, only this one on the most inhabited of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Sidibe-Jones didn’t hesitate, and she immediately traveled to Providenciales.
After working in the fast paced and culturally chic environment of an international cruise ship, Sidibe-Jones was struck by the quiet of Providenciales. “In 2002, Providenciales was relatively calm as a tourist destination. The truth is I fell in love with the solitude and beauty of the island. I knew this place was the answer to my prayers,” the 52-year-old native of Senegal reflected.
In 2007, Sidibe-Jones’ dream of starting her own business culminated in the opening of the Teona Spa. Teona means “spirit of peace” and this feeling is immediately evident upon entering Sidibe-Jones’ chateau-like abode located on the property of the Villa Renaissance hotel. The spa is located 500 yards from Providenciales’ famed Grace Bay Beach.
Magic of the Sea
It’s no accident that the Teona Spa is perched just a stone’s throw from the Caribbean Sea. Sidibe-Jones has a deep belief in the powers of water. “The closer to the ocean one is, the more the spirit of healing is present,” Sidibe-Jones said. This water-based philosophy is also apparent in the Teona Spa product line.
A good share of the products used in a Teona Spa therapy sessions come from France and Africa. “Much of what we use is comprised of algae elements and extracts. Our mud is imported from the Dead Sea in Israel. Our products, treatments, and therapies exude an overall feeling of being close to the ocean,” Sidibe-Jones said.
Going Deep – A Connection is Felt
The international breadth of the spa and makeup techniques used by the Teona team has roots that evolve from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific. Sidibe-Jones believes we’re all connected and she stimulates this international thread through her products, therapies, and her gift for healing. Whether she is transforming a bride the day before her destination wedding, providing a facial treatment on an oceanfront balcony, or prescribing a Signature Massage at the Teona Spa, Sidibe-Jones is grateful for the opportunity to do what she does on an island she finds to be an exhilarating place to live.
“I knew from a very young age what I wanted to do. I’ve had the good fortune to experience the finest training and travel the world because of massage. Here at the Teona Spa, we get very close to our clients. To be able to connect with a client is not only a gift, it’s a very beautiful experience,” Sidibe-Jones said.
Sometimes the best opportunities in life occur when you take a flyer. For those seeking a great spa experience in the Turks and Caicos Island of Providenciales, fate may find you in the good hands of Edmonde Sidibe-Jones and her team at the Teona Spa.
http://www.villarenaissance.com/
Tim Cotroneo is Minneapolis-based writer specializing in travel, business, and golf.
