The big soak: three rewarding, watery wellness experiences in Toronto
This article is part of a guide to Toronto from FT Globetrotter
Bleary-eyed, beleaguered, dozing at the dinner table or staring wide-eyed into the wee small hours. For me, whether I’m battling jet lag, a hangover or a busy mind, stepping into the soft quiet of a spa or bathhouse, knowing a treatment or warm pool awaits, feels like a deep relieving breath. This isn’t news: after all it was Hippocrates, Greek physician and acclaimed father of Western medicine, who said: “The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and a scented massage every day.”
Toronto’s offerings in the wellness realm have expanded and evolved in recent years. Where before the choice was limited to high-end hotel spas, over the past decade a string of alternative spots has emerged, drummed up by the city’s young populace of tech entrepreneurs and the health conscious, where you can experience everything from dunking yourself in ice baths to sensory deprivation tanks. The list below shows that there is something for all persuasions in Toronto’s growing wellness scene.
Miraj Hammam Spa, Shangri-La Toronto
188 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5H 0A3
Good for: Expert, detailed treatments
Not so good for: Going out immediately afterwards. Whether you’re flushed from the hammam, dewy from a facial or simply too thoroughly relaxed, you’ll want to give yourself a little time to unwind before you re-enter the real world
FYI: Access to the hotel’s health club is included with treatments of 75 minutes and over, or for an additional fee of C$25
Prices: Hammam, C$160 (about £97) on weekdays (C$170 weekends and holidays). Marine Renewal Facial, C$230 weekdays (C$240 weekends and holidays)
Website; Directions
The Middle East-inspired decor of Miraj Hammam SpaA lift ride up to the fifth floor of the Shangri-La hotel, through the ornate doors of the Miraj Hammam Spa, and suddenly the rest of the world fades far behind you. A softly lit, seemingly windowless space enhances the submersion. Middle Eastern influences are woven throughout. A gold-domed reception welcomes guests, replete with tiled flooring, Persian carpets and intricately patterned arches. Pendant lights and silver lanterns hang throughout. Post-treatment mint tea and baklavas are served on ornate little tables in the snug spa lounge.
Othership has already gained hundreds of devotees. The experience is rooted in the health benefits of cold-water immersion, with group sessions or a guided free flow (90 minutes to use the space at one’s own pace with the advice of a guide). Classes range from the high-octane (movement, vocalisations, yelling in the sauna) to the downtempo (candlelit, meditation, yin yoga) and therapeutic (couples’ sessions, breathwork). There’s also an evening social until 1am on Friday and Saturday. The 3,000-square-foot space is crafted from cedar wood with low-lighting, and has a tiered seating area with a wood fire. Open year round, the sauna is roomy (50-person capacity) and four stone ice baths (that each fit two) await courageous plungers.
When I went on a Friday afternoon, the atmosphere was subdued and peaceful, women chatting in pairs in the pool, a few dozing on the red loungers, others on a solo immersion under one of the waterfalls. Time short, I had a body scrub (the longer and more luxurious body glow is recommended). The name — Blitz Scrub — says it all. I lay on a bed and was hosed down and scrubbed. Warm orange-scented milk was poured over my body, followed by a light-touch massage. In Laura’s words, the therapists’ are trained to ensure you “feel you haven’t been that clean since your mother bathed you”. I can’t say I remember that in huge detail, but I certainly felt soft as a baby.
This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Jessica Rawnsley
