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In a fast-paced world where wellness often gets reduced to surface-level routines, founder of Selene Spa and Wellness, is bringing something deeper to the table, or rather, to the treatment room. Drawing on her experience from the acclaimed Ayurveda Village in the Adelaide Hills, Katina has created a luxurious spa space in the heart of Adelaide that honors ancient Ayurvedic traditions while embracing modern comforts.

Housed in a beautifully restored heritage building on Currie Street, Selene Spa offers more than just treatments, it offers a shift in energy, a reconnection to self, and a reminder that true beauty begins within. We sat down with Katina to talk about what inspired her to bring these time-honoured rituals to a contemporary setting, how she personalises every experience, and the daily practices we can all adopt to live with more balance and intention.

1. Selene Spa is the first in Adelaide to offer tailored Ayurvedic facial and spa treatments, what inspired you to introduce these ancient wellness rituals into a modern, luxury spa setting?

What inspired me was witnessing, time and again, the profound transformation that occurs in people after experiencing authentic Ayurvedic treatments at our retreat centre in the Adelaide hills, Ayurveda Village. There’s a visible shift, not just in their skin and energy levels, but in their entire presence. Ayurveda’s holistic approach doesn’t just treat the surface; it brings the body, mind, and spirit into harmony. I’ve seen people leave with a kind of inner peace that invites deeper reflection and a renewed sense of connection with themselves. Bringing these ancient rituals into a modern, luxurious spa setting felt like a natural evolution, offering city dwellers the chance to experience that same transformative stillness, within their busy lives.

2.With Ayurveda becoming more popular globally, what do you think is driving this renewed interest in holistic, natural beauty treatments?

I believe the growing interest in Ayurveda and natural beauty stems from a deeper desire for meaning.  People are yearning to reconnect with themselves, with their health and with the rhythms of nature.  At Selene, I see this every day.  After treatments, clients often sit quietly in the Gathering Room, their whole energy softened.  In that relaxed state, intuition awakens.  They begin to reflect, not just on their appearance, but on how they are living, what truly nourishes them and what needs to shift.

There is a growing awareness that beauty isn’t just skin deep.  True radiance comes from balance, alignment, and living in harmony with nature. As I often say, we shouldn’t put anything on our skin that we wouldn’t be willing to eat.  Nature offers everything we need, when we slow down enough to listen.

3. Can you tell us more about how you personalise each treatment at Selene Spa, and what makes the experience truly bespoke for every guest?

Ahhh, this is something you really need to experience for yourself. Personalisation at Selene isn’t just about choosing a scent or adjusting pressure, it’s a deeper process.  We take our time to understand where each guest is at, physically emotionally, energetically and from there, we create a journey that is as unique as they are.  But, the true magic? That’s a trade secret you will have to come and feel for yourself.

4. The spa is housed in a stunning heritage building on Currie Street, how did the design and atmosphere of the space come together, and how does it enhance the overall experience?

Interestingly, the building we now call home was once associated with chasing debts.  It’s original name, Dun & Bradstreet still remains on the façade as a nod to its history.  But for us, the vision was to completely transform the energy of the space from one steeped in finance and stress to one in heart, healing and soul.

Our architects have journeyed with us for may years and deeply understood our life’s purpose.  Together we reimagined the space to become a sanctuary, a place where every detail invites calm, self connect, care and of course, luxury.  We wanted people to walk through the doors and feel accepted, nurtured and gently encouraged to come back to themselves.

Every element in the design, from the flow of the rooms to the textures, soft lighting and natural materials was chosen to plant seeds of tranquillity and introspection.  The entire building is now dedicated to health and wellbeing, a far cry from its former life and a powerful symbol of transformation.

5. For someone new to Ayurveda, what would you recommend as the perfect introductory treatment to experience its benefits?

If you are wanting to sample the world of Ayurveda, I would recommend beginning with our most nurturing treatment, the abhyanga oil massage.  It is warm, rhythmic, full body massage using herbal infused oils tailored specifically to your unique constitution.  It melts away the physical tension while deeply nourishing the skin and calming the nervous system.

To enhance the experience, we often follow the massage with a gentle herbal steam bath. This allows the therapeutic oils to penetrate more deeply, while also helping the body and mind gently detoxify.  There is something profoundly grounding about this combination.  It softens you physically, emotionally and even spiritually. 

It’s the perfect introduction to the Ayurvedic philosophy of self-care and balance, and time and again, we see it leave people feeling lighter, clearer and more connected to themselves.

6. Beyond treatments, what simple Ayurvedic beauty or wellness practices can people incorporate into their daily routines at home?

Ayurveda is really about how we live, not just what we do in a spa. It is the small, intentional daily rituals that create balance and bring a sense of calm. And clarity.

Some of the most powerful practices are also the simplest.  I always encourage people to:

Start the day with warm water – it gently wakes up the digestive system and supports natural detoxification

Scrape the tongue – a traditional practice that clears overnight toxins and helps you tune in to your body first thing.

Give yourself a quick oil massage (Abhyanga) – even just a few minutes with warm oil can calm the nervous system and make you feel held.

Go outside -nature is a natural regulator.  A short walk in the morning sun or barefoot time in the garden can shift your whole mood.

Go to bed early – the body does its best healing before midnight.  Deep rest is one of the most underestimated wellness tools we have.

These aren’t complicated or expensive things to do.  They are acts of self respect and nourishment.  When we give ourselves that kind of care daily, it shows on our skin, in our energy and in how we move through the day and indeed in our life.

To see more or make a booking visit here.