Taylor Toreno

Spa Manager, Shangri-La Springs Hotel & Spa

Taylor Toreno is the Spa Manager at Shangri-La Springs Hotel & Spa and is also a student at Florida Gulf Coast University. A former recipient of the ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship, Taylor is proud to be the first in her family to go to college. She enjoys practicing yoga and going to thrift stores and finding hidden treasures.

“When I lost my mother I found that inside of spas I could take time for myself both physically and mentally. I learned about mediation, essential oils, and holistic healing approaches to help me on my grief journey. I now mediate every day and have oil diffusers all throughout my dorm room.

We all will experience heartbreak or grief at one time, and society needs to have a better way of dealing with it. If we had certain places we could go such as destination spas, healing retreats for grief, or even mediation classes our society would be much healthier. If we want to change our circumstances, we must alter our perspective about things.

Recently, I worked with a local nonprofit that I helped start-up called Valerie's House that helps children deal with grief. We held a fundraiser at the spa I manage and had more than 300 people attend, raised more than $80,000 and were able to raise awareness about the healing benefits that the spa can offer.”