What is it like to work at Raffles Hotel Singapore? Wellness Specialist Dianne Lim shares a day in her life—from dreaming up new wellness programs to her top hack for helping stressed guests relax.
A Day in the Life of Dianne Lim
Dianne Lim is a Wellness Specialist at Raffles Hotel Singapore. She oversees guests, staff, and community wellness initiatives. These include fitness, yoga, sound-healing,g and meditation at the hotel, which offers a Technogym-outfitted gymnasium, an open-air, and a plant-lined swimming pool. There is also the famed Raffles Spa, which is known for its restorative treatments and luxurious private area with its own treatment room and facilities. Here is a peek into a day in her life.
6:00am
Although I do shift work, I wake naturally at 6am every day. I’ll sip a glass of warm water by the window while watching my neighbors hurrying to work and school. I do my breathwork – breathing in deeply through my nose and exhaling through my mouth – for a few minutes. I started this last year during Covid. It really helps me to feel grounded and grateful for the day I’ve been given.
6:30am
I make breakfast for my husband and children, who wake up round 7am. I’m mum to three very active boys (and future MMA fighters!) aged three, five, and 15 months old but our mornings are relatively calm. We usually have overnight oats, and then my husband goes to work and my kids to school. The baby stays home with our helper while I head to work.
7:45am
I give myself just over an hour to get to work in case of heavy traffic. I use my bus ride to go through the day’s spa appointments, as well as browse Instagram for wellness trends. I check out the latest posts from our collaborators like Space2B, as well as the hashtags #yogamotivation and #motivationdaily – I love sharing inspirational quotes with my teammates.
8:30am
The first thing I do when I arrive at the spa is switch on the music and boil some water for tea. I’ve already seen our appointment list so I know what to expect. We really personalize our service. For example, we’ll give our guests a tour of the spa and facilities, explain their treatments in detail, or even have our therapists analyze their skin on the spot to identify the best facial treatments for them. Because of this, 16 appointments in a day are considered busy, although we sometimes have over 20. If the day is quieter, I’ll ask our therapists to do some yoga or meditation because this will help them better convince our guests to try it for themselves.
9:00am
I head to my computer to answer emails. Once a week, I’ll have morning meetings with Siti Alawiya, our Spa Director, to discuss existingprogramss and plan new ones. I’m very excited about the water activities launching soon in our beautiful hotel pool, as we’ve only had poolside activities till now. There’ll be aqua yoga and aqua aerobics, as well as swimming lessons for kids and adults. We’ll open these to our guests first in September, then hopefully the community.
10:30am
Guests are flowing in. First, I’ll pop by the gym to ensure all the amenities (like towels, water, and fresh fruit) are in order and the equipment is working properly. Then I’ll head to the hotel lobby and chat with guests about the wellnessprogramss on offer. We have complimentary wellness activities for our guests every Tuesday to Saturday, which include yoga, pilates, meditation, and sound healing. If you stay with us, you must try Yoga by the Pool, which is available for our guests every Friday and Saturday at 7:30am. You’ll experience the sun rising in the rosy morning sky – it’s just magical. I also organize wellness programs for our staff on Tuesdays (right now we’re doing HIIT) and the public on Wednesdays. The latter is very popular – we have about 12 slots for each session which fill up really fast.
11:00am
I have an early lunch at the staff canteen. I usually get brown rice, half a plate of vegetables, and just a little meat. I try to make healthier choices but won’t say no to some ice cream if I need a pick-me-up!
12:00pm
I might head to a fitness session with a guest in the gym or a yoga session. I usually conduct about two yoga sessions a day, along with some sound healing, which I’m trained in. Yoga is definitely our most popular offering because most people are familiar with it. Many guests choose the more fast-paced power yoga because it’s a great workout and really makes you aware of what your body can do. But sound healing (where sound and music are used to enhance your sense of physical and mentalwell-beingg) is becoming more popular. Although you’re lying down, it activates all five of your senses. Like feeling the surface you’re lying on, or becoming more aware of smell by closing your eyes.
3:00pm
More yoga. Some of our guests can be quite stressed and tense. But a kind smile and sincere praise really helps to loosen them up. I might say: “Oh nice arms – have you been working out?” When I talk with my guests, I can quickly see what they’re “holding” inside, like if they have a negative emotion or their chakras aren’t aligned. Each crystal bowl has its own frequency, so I try to match it to my guests’ needs.