The morning I speak to Endota Spa founder Melanie Gleeson, she’s surrounded by boxes, preparing to merge two offices into one Melbourne headquarters.
Having grown the business to 100 locations across Australia, employing over 1,000 people (around 90% women), and generating an annual network income of $60 million, it’s clear her empire needed a bigger space.
Yet there isn’t an ounce of stress in her voice. Instead, she’s lighthearted as she confesses she’s just had her lashes tinted and accidentally smudged them on her white pantsuit — a minor mishap before heading straight to speak to students at a local high school.
“Oh well,” she laughs.
Wellness from an Early Age
Melanie’s introduction to wellness began at a young age. Her parents were deeply spiritual, and she attended what she calls an “alternative” school on the Mornington Peninsula. Her Year 10 school camp was at an ashram in Dalesford, planting early seeds of curiosity about wellbeing.
She became a spa entrepreneur because she wanted to help people. While yoga teaching could have been her path, she envisioned creating accessible wellness for everyone.
“There weren’t many spas around 16 years ago,” she explains. “You could go for a massage or a facial, but there wasn’t a space that merged the two. And if there was, it could feel intimidating. I wanted to create a place where people could just take some time for themselves.”
A Self-Care Philosophy That Works
After our interview, I was booked in for one of Endota’s newest treatments: a Deep Recovery Massage. After weeks of intense gym sessions and long hours at the computer, my body was crying out for it.
“I love that treatment,” Melanie said when I told her. “Turn your mind off and just see what comes up for you.”
Her own self-care practices are just as impressive:
Sleep: “I’m in bed by 8:30pm and up at 6am. Sleep is so important — I’ve only recently realised how much of a difference it makes. You just feel better.”
Alcohol-free lifestyle: Melanie quit alcohol this year. “I used to have a glass or two of wine, but it would turn into three before the weekend. My sleep is so much better now. I even have a soda water with apple cider vinegar in a wine glass — I’m still fun!”
Yoga and meditation: “I go to yoga twice a week and have been practising since Year 10. I also do guided meditation most nights with my boys [Jimmie, 4, and Fergus, 8].”
Gratitude practice: “Being thankful for what we have is part of wellness. Science now backs up the benefits of mindfulness, sleep, and gratitude.”
Redefining Spa Treatments
For Melanie, spa treatments are simply designed to help you lead a balanced lifestyle.
“People used to see spa visits as a treat,” she says. “Now, it’s less about indulgence and more about necessity. Treatments at Endota work on so many levels. A massage quiets your mind, oils nourish, and you reconnect with creativity. A facial hydrates your skin but also gives you rest. It’s healing, not just pampering.”
Her approach combines wellness, beauty, and mental clarity, reflecting the ethos that has driven Endota Spa’s success.
