When you walk in to Jewel Wellness, you automatically feel at ease.
Located in the Sault YMCA at 235 McNabb St., the spa came into being after Lifeforia Wellness Club’s sudden closing in June 2017.
That prompted esthetician Julie Godbout, who was planning to open her own business, to set up shop earlier than anticipated, fortuitously learning of an open space at the YMCA.
After renovations, Julie was able to accommodate many Lifeforia clients in her new spa, as well as bring in new ones.
“I was here day and night, painting the spa. I actually slept here. It was a labour of love,” Julie smiled as she and daughter Iesha Godbout, a makeup artist, accepted a pair of complementary SooToday coffee mugs, Jewel Wellness the subject of this week’s Mid-Week Mugging.
Julie originally worked as a professionally trained Personal Support Worker (PSW) before returning to Sault College to enrol in the school’s Esthetician program.
“I always wanted to do esthetics. I was always fascinated with special effects and makeup, I always did Halloween makeup for myself and my friends, and then I started to play with makeup.”
A very creative person, Julie said “I love art and I love to paint, so I would find myself painting my face, removing it all and then painting it again, I started looking at magazines and the techniques of makeup artists and try to mirror it, and I got really good at it.”
“A friend of mine at college told me ‘you’d be really good in esthetics, so I went back to school and did it,” Julie said, stating she “absolutely” found her niche.
“It fills my soul, it’s very fulfilling. I get to pamper people. I have a really special relationship with my clients, I’ve had some of them for years. I have clients who I have really close relationships with, they come to me in hard times, and I can just love them and send them home feeling refreshed,” Julie said, adding “it’s especially great to be located at the Sault YMCA.”
Being at the YMCA gives Jewel Wellness clients access to a hot tub and sauna for about a half hour before an appointment with Julie.
“They can unwind and decompress so by the time they come to me they’re like jello and I can work on them, and relieve that stress. That’s one of the things I like about my area here.”
Julie always has fresh water on hand for clients to sip on (or a cup of tea), offers sugar scrubs to moisturize dry and damaged skin, along with massages, pedicures and body wraps (which use natural products to help rid the body of toxins).
“You wrap their bodies in hot towels and cocoon them so they feel nice and cozy, and while they’re cocooned I’ll give them a scalp massage, those are amazing, and after that I’ll pull the towels off and do a body massage with a moisturizer.”
“I like to do that at the end of the day or on your day off, so I can send you home in comfy clothes so you can go home and sit by the fire or sit outside on the deck and have a beautiful night’s rest.”
The whole process can take a full day for one client, Julie said (with a cafe serving nutritious snacks in the YMCA’s lobby).
“What’s beautiful about the spa is it’s very intimate, and people can come in and unload.”
Sounds terrific!
But is it just for women?
“Eventually I will open up for men, I hope to,” Julie said.
What makes Jewel Wellness unique among Sault spas?
“I think it’s the connection I have with my clients, the relationship I have with them. It’s intimate, and it’s one on one, you’re getting quality care and I’m not rushing you. I’m here to take care of you. At other spas there can be lots of distractions. There are no distractions here. You’re not in and out like cattle. I book a chunk of buffer time for my clients, I want to get to know them,” Julie said.
“I can’t imagine not doing this, it’s so fulfilling.”
Business has been good, said Julie, who has hired new employee Brittney Merritt for clients hand and foot care.
Hours are flexible.
Julie will work around clients schedules, meeting them most days early in the morning or in the evening.
Meanwhile, Iesha Godbout, who has inherited her mother Julie’s skill for making people feel at ease and helping them feel their best, said she is available (when not working at her job as a salesperson for Superior Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram) for makeovers to help women look extra great for proms, birthdays, weddings and other special occasions.
She performs makeovers for no charge, or for a donation of canned food items for the Soup Kitchen.
“My Mom’s very soft and if you have any stress, my Mom is the best person to talk to. But I like to joke, so if you come and see me we’ll joke around and laugh and have fun. My Mom’s like that too, but she specializes in making people feel calm. If you’re upset and need somebody to talk to, she’s great. You have these two people who both love you and want to help you, but we both have our different strengths,” Iesha said.
When it comes to makeovers, Iesha said “everyone is beautiful within and without but when I put my face makeup on it’s like ‘yeah!’ I have this extra confidence come over me and I feel empowered. I love watching that person come out in my clients.”
Iesha will give makeovers for free to young women for their proms at Jewel Wellness June 6, 9 and 24, with Julie doing eyebrow shaping at Jewel Wellness the day before.
“It’s completely free. All we ask is for women to bring their own foundation, lashes if they want them, and preferably their own lipstick so they can reapply it later that evening,” Iesha said.
The program is for young women who want to attend their prom this summer, but can’t afford a makeover at a time when everything is expensive.
“I remember being in high school and having friends of mine be stressed out about their makeup. It’s expensive to have your makeup done professionally, it’s very expensive (approximately $50, plus a tip),” Iesha said.
Prom clients are urged to text Iesha soon at 705-975-5886 or through her Facebook page, or text Julie at 705-206-8936.
The prom initiative is primarily Iesha’s, said Julie.
“This is her baby. I’m such a proud parent. I’m so impressed with her.”
Iesha returned the compliment.
“She’s the best at what she does. My Mom used to do my makeup. I get it from her. Your brows will never look better, and her massages... she's amazing.”