About Lisa Dawson
I qualified after a 3 year beauty therapy and holistic course in 1990. I always knew I would work hard enough to build my own business. My fascination in skin health came from years struggling with acne and low self esteem. I delved endlessly into complementary therapies and professional therapies to find effective ways of managing my hormonal profile. And now greeting menopause I see many parallels and feel more compelled than ever to help myself and my clients find keys to unlock doors to a better adolesence and second half!
In 2000, I built up a successful salon in East Sussex. Gallery Day Spa soon attracted a loyal clientele for our staff of 8 therapists and we grew our reputation from offering "a well being experience" not just a treatment
Azara Therapies
Seven years later Hair Gallery wanted to buy the business to complete their brand and still run it today. I was ready to spend more time with my young daughter and work from an annex at home, so fortunate to have a flexible vocation where I could be there at the school gates, essential with a husband who worked away.
Today...
I feel more enthused than ever by the incredible array of treatments we offer and I always have an eye to new developments but equally I won't be romanced by the latest trend until I am convinced it is safe and not just a quick fix with possible unknown ramifications. As woman we are vulnerable to the constant noise about how we should look and I feel we all deserve to be enough as we are and ask ourselves what or who is driving our self worth. As the mother of a daughter, we navigated social media bombardment and social paradigms together and feel strongly about helping other young woman surface from its pull.
My professional and personal aim is for every client to leave me feeling rested and revitalised,in both mind and body. Reassuringly, they will be armed with strategies to target the skin or muscular needs they arrived with.
My clients come from Crowborough and surrounding areas such as Groombridge, Rotherfield, Buxted, Mayfield, Uckfield, Maresfield, Hartfield and Royal Tunbridge Wells.
About Sophie Dawson
Sophie is my daughter and works alongside me at the clinic, she has always had a passion for skin therapies and holistic treatments. She has been doing beauty therapies for over a year and is now a level 3 insured beauty therapist and has worked in a local Spa and high street salon. She has suffered with acne as a teen and together we left no stone unturned to resolve the stubborn issues of breakouts on her face, chest and back. Sophie really understands how demoralising skin issues are and chose to study skin/wellbeing therapies over a career in nursing/midwifery, having started down this path. She is a compassionate, enthusiastic and a knowledgable therapist with an eye for precision and exceptional customer care.
Sophie is also embarking on a counselling skills course as feels she would like to volunteer with mental health charities for young people and I am so very proud of her genuine concern for mental health issues facing youngsters today.
Sophie is qualified and able to deliver most of our facial, well being, massage and maintenance beauty treatments that we offer and is excited to be opening the clinic with me in Benenden!
Qualifications
1991 CGLI Beauty Therapy 3 Year Diploma including Electrical Treatments
1993 IHVCT Diploma Aromatherapy
1995 Reflexology
1996 Practitioners Reflexology Diploma, 60 hours Case Studies 1 Year Course
1999 Sports Massage 1 Year from Brighton, Opened Gallery day Spa
2000 Dermalogica Facial and Body Therapy courses, Oriental Face Reading
2001 MLD for Face/Neck Dr Vodder
2002 Indian Head Massage, Foundation in Advanced Clinical Massage Techniques: Lower Back Pain, Neck and Shoulder pain, Shoulder Girdle
2003 Hydrotherm Pregnancy Massage, Dr Vodder Manual Lymphatic Drainage for the whole body, Advanced Stretching
2004 Had a baby
2007 Sold my business Gallery Day Spa and travelled
2009 Accredited Hip and Pelvis Course
2010 Set up Forge Therapies in Danehill, Accredited Leg, Knee and Foot Pain Course
2011 Hot Stone Fusion 6 Day Course
2012 Certificate in Advanced Myofascial Release (62 hours), Opened Azara Therapies in Crowborough
2014 Cranial Sacral Techniques Workshop for massage therapists
2015 Living Anatomy Masterclass
2016 Dermaquest SkinTherapy
2017 Jing Advanced Massage Shoulder Girdle Pathology and Treatment for Frozen Shoulder/Rotator Cuff Injuries etc
2018/2019 Venus Freeze Radiofrequency, Dermapen Microneedling Training, Dr Andrew Christie Advanced Dermapen Master Classes in Pigmentation and Scarring, Acne and Rosacea, LA Facelift and Rejuvination Techniques
2021/2022 BTec Level 4 Advanced Clinical Soft Tissue Massage Specialist Grade Distinction