We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jenna Morcos. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jenna below.

Hi Jenna, thanks for joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

It was my 50th birthday: the pharmacy where I had dedicated the past 13 years was closing its doors for good. As I finished up my final day, I couldn’t ignore the irony—an entire chapter of my life was ending on the very milestone birthday that marked my mid life.

Prior to this day, I had a gut feeling that I was supposed to be doing something different. But, I didn’t know what that was. Plus, my pharmacy job was amazing and I wasn’t ready to voluntarily leave it. So, the powers that be, did it for me!
With this unexpected door closing, I was actually now free to explore what that “something else” might be.

In the months that followed, I selectively applied for new pharmacist positions, puzzled for hours a day while watching “The Great British Baking Show”, and allowing my mind to wander. I had joked for years about opening a salt spa, but it wasn’t until I had the time and space to really reflect that I realized how serious I was about it. I began to dig into what it would take to bring this idea to life—figuring out the what, how, where, and who. And out of that, my dream started to take shape, turning into a solid business plan.

Looking back, I see how that seemingly simple closing of the pharmacy was the catalyst for something profoundly transformative. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and into a new realm where I could blend my professional skills with my personal passion. For me, it wasn’t just about opening a business; it was about embracing change and daring to pursue what truly resonated with my heart.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a pharmacist with nearly 25 years experience, who has decided to open up a salt spa! Something I’ve come to realize is that Western medicine, while effective in many ways, doesn’t always address every aspect of well-being. My passion for holistic and natural remedies has led me to explore alternative modalities, blending scientific knowledge with personal experience.

My first encounter with a salt spa was in 2015 during a heart breaking period of my life. Amidst a divorce, a friend introduced me to halotherapy, also known as dry salt therapy, by booking us appointments. I was initially drawn to the idea of self-care and relaxation, but the experience proved to be far more transformative than I anticipated.

As I settled into a zero-gravity chair, wrapped in a cozy blanket with a warm lavender-scented neck pillow, I was enveloped by soothing music and a gentle pink glow from the salt lamps. For 45 minutes, I simply relaxed and breathed. The experience felt reminiscent to a serene walk on a quiet beach, where the salt air and rhythmic waves create a sense of calm and perspective. It was an emotional and physical healing I hadn’t expected, but deeply appreciated. There’s something about the serenity of nature, and the science of salt that positively affects us in mind, body, and soul.

Over the years, I visited various salt rooms and recognized that the aesthetic of the environment played a crucial role in my experience. This insight became the foundation for my vision of a perfect halotherapy room, leading me to create a space in Charlotte that embodies this vision. Every detail of the spa has been thoughtfully curated to provide a truly immersive and restorative experience.

Halotherapy offers benefits to everyone—from those dealing with allergies, asthma, and skin conditions to those simply seeking stress relief or a peaceful nap. Salt & Souls offers this ancient healing of salt therapy along with other services such as facials, massages, and energy work.

To date, I’m most proud of being over 50 and learning new things. For the past year, I continued to work in pharmacy jobs honing skills in different softwares, compounding, wellness, marketing, management, and even assisting in the opening of a new pharmacy. As a new business owner, I have also been learning new things in the business world. And I’m a constant student of the natural world.

Salt & Souls is truly the merging of all of these worlds and I’m grateful for all the people who have helped me along this journey.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

The thing that has been crucial in making Salt & Souls a reality, is utilizing the expertise of other people. At first, I was reluctant to pay for help, thinking I should do everything on my own. But I soon realized that having people by my side who knew what they were doing was not just helpful—it was essential.

There’s the value of time, the benefit of insider knowledge, the realization that I may not excel in every area, and my peace of mind. All of these factors influenced my decision to work with various experts in their fields. And for some things like commercial real estate, my experience was, you need a broker to even be considered to look at a space. After numerous unanswered calls and emails to leasing agents, I was connected with a consultant group who specializes in people like me-first time brick and mortar business owners. Without them, I definitely would’ve bailed after the first round of lease negotiations, feeling I was in over my head. Without a lease, I would not have a space. Without a space, I would not have a place for Salt & Souls. I owe being where I am today to them.

A valuable piece of advice I have received is to work within my zone of genius and delegate tasks to others in theirs. Just this week I spent many hours struggling to learn the world of PR. When I thought about what I could’ve been accomplishing instead, I reached out to the experts for help. Now, there is a lot I’m learning how to do and taking the time to be my own expert in it, but it has been incredibly valuable to collaborate with professionals. Their excitement and support has also kept me going through the challenging times.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I went through my divorce, my life shifted dramatically. I went from being a stay at home mom who worked part time, to needing to be able to provide for my children. I was fortunate in that I had a part time job that I was able to expand into more hours. When they needed a manager, despite never having planned or aspired to such a position, I accepted it.

Transitioning from home life to working more hours and stepping into a managerial role was a significant adjustment. I wasn’t comfortable in my new found responsibilities. With everything from personnel issues, to stocking supplies, to managing inventory, to keeping record of licensure and compliance, to resolving customer issues, to improving workflow, I was learning things. At the time, these lessons seemed isolated, but they were actually preparing me for a future I hadn’t yet imagined.

I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason, but it’s often difficult to see the purpose or the bigger picture in the moment. I find, things are revealed to you one step at a time, as you are ready for them. Just take that next step.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.saltandsouls.com
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Image Credits

Mary Len Cutter