Since the historical Grande Bretagne Hotel Spa opened in 2003, Vasso Prepa has treated thousands of guests, many of them exhausted professionals or high-flying VIPs seeking the most qualitative ways to destress and re-energize via the multitude of sophisticated therapies and treatments on offer at the luxurious hotel. As the Head Therapist at the GB Spa, Prepa has learned and discovered a great deal about holistic wellness, herself and the world. Here she talks to I’m Very Well Thank You and gracefully shares a snippet of her 20 years of rich experience.

“I was always drawn to discovering the essence of things, not basing myself on the superficial. Whenever I meet people, what interests me most is what their true intent is, and I am especially drawn to those with a positive one. In order to exchange energy in such a way, my work was exactly what I needed, as it is based on giving and receiving energy.

“I started by having a great interest in Reiki, and then also energy massage. The Ayurveda therapies that we do here are very much based on energy healing; by pressing the Marma Points on the body we are working directly with physical and emotional energy. The points we work on differ depending on the needs of each client. In Europe there is a great focus on working on relieving stress via Ayurvedic therapies, as that’s the greatest malaise of the Western world today, while in India they work on different Ayurvedic therapies, many of which are based on cleansing the body in various ways.

“It’s been 20 years since I started my journey in holistic therapies-I have studied and practiced many different healing disciplines. I have been at the Grande Bretagne Spa since the first day it opened in 2003, and have offered therapies to thousands of people since – all kinds of people with all kinds of energy. Global celebrities, royalty, political personalities and other notable people have passed through my hands. It’s impressive how some of the most powerful people keep their energy very tightly closed off and protected from the outer world, or have a very different frequency from regular people.

“Before starting a therapy I practice certain techniques to protect my energy by doing certain prayers – it has taken years of experience to be able to do that effectively. I have met some people who have an extremely powerful energy – you feel it as soon as you touch them.

“What I’ve perceived in people in the world today throughout the years is that increasingly, people cannot seem to relish in deep joy or authentic pleasure of their life despite how much power or money they may have. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that because of how western society has developed they feel they should always have more. Some people manage to acknowledge this incongruence in their life and opt to change path by leaving behind a certain lifestyle and changing the work they do or going to live outside of the city in a more natural way.

“I make a point of having as much contact with nature as I can, in order to rebalance myself. More people with a particular level of consciousness are waking up to the need for finding heartfelt satsfaction in the simple things, like the daily exchange they have with people, or in nature, and living more in the now. Greeks are finally starting to recognise how valuable complimentary medicine and alternative therapies are; they are understanding what really matters – not just material things but in offering something meaningful to others through relationships and exchanges. Being able to give and receive is an art one has to cultivate – it is based on generating a balanced flow of energy.

“My day starts with a good stretching session, to tone up my muscles and relieve stress. My work can create a lot of muscle tension so I need to keep my body strong, flexible and agile. Swimming is also very therapeutic for me so I enjoy it whenever I can. I eat a protein-rich breakfast – I adore Greek honey, tahini, eggs. I also love ginger and use it throughout the day, I drink ginger tea every day. On average I do around five therapies every day, some of which are two hours long, and in summer I’m busy throughout the day – our spa menu is one of the largest in Greece, so there are a huge variety of treatments to choose from.

“Working as a healing therapist has changed me as an individual on a very profound level. I am far more patient, more stoic, and I able to forgive far more easily – I think forgiveness is a vital key to a rewarding existence.

“Patience is essential if you want to learn to be a good therapist, but you need to have a calling for it too. If you feel a calling for healing, you should follow it. It’s also important to try learning via a variety of therapies, in order to find the one that suits you best as a practitioner.  Start slowly, and gradually move through various levels of therapies; Ayurveda is the top level of therapies as it requires a great deal of experience, practice and study. It also requires a lot of inner strength in order to offer it.”