Dear body, heal thyself with a little help from the spa Visiting a spa can be a passive experience. Lie on a table. Get done. Go home re-energized and beautiful. At the Scandinave Spa in Blue Mountain, active participation is required. And we all know, being in control is a sweet path to satisfaction... The Scandinave spa has built a global reputation for guiding spa-seekers to find their own unique path to bliss. They've been touted as one of the world's top spas, as seen in the Toronto Star. After visiting the spa, GoGirlfriend is happy to confirm this accolade. Scandinave Spa - the experience Considering all I'd heard about Scandinave, I expected pomp and circumstance. Instead, I found a gravel parking lot with a forested trail leading to knot of log cabins. Humble, charming and unassuming set the tone for relaxation and peaceful introspection. After changing into our swimsuits and covering up with fluffy, white robes, we ventured outside to labyrinth of hot and cold pools, steam room and sauna.
The eucalyptus steam room, our first stop, opened the pores and released toxins. We were advised to spend as long as possible here but were also told 10-15 min is the longest most people can stand the 180'F room. Lack of clocks forced me to listen to my comfort/discomfort level to know when it was the right time for me to move along. To close the pores and wash away all those released toxins, the cold plunge came next. We were invited to choose one of three cold pools - all with ridiculously cold temperatures (50'F to 65'F). I've done cold plunges at the Body Blitz and Caesar's Palace and challenged myself to last as long as 5 minutes fully immersed. Not so at Scandinave. I was in and out in less than 30 seconds, sure that I'd need defibrillator to restart my heart. From there, we chose between hot pools (104'F) or the sauna (180'F) alternating each hot experience with a cold plunge. The hot/cold philosophy prevents overheating while forcing blood through the body at an accelerated rate.
Couples talking quietly to each other filled the pools, walkways and deck chairs. The sauna, steam room and quiet rooms were almost completely silent but I assume that's because each person was carefully gauging tolerance levels and planning an exit strategy. Smart. The cold plunge pools were the noisiest - and the most fun to watch. Massage packages Like the Body Blitz spa in Toronto, Scandinave offers daily and monthly rates. Guests are welcome to come just for the pools or to add a massage into the experience. While Scandinave is not a medical spa, it's also not a beauty spa - you won't find facials or more elaborate treatments like a body scrub or wrap. We chose a Duo Massage after enjoying the circuit for 3 hours. Scandinave employs registered massage therapists and Canadians who have a massage prescription from a medical doctor can claim the fee on their health insurance policies. Spas like Scandinave's 4 Spas across Canada, Le Nordik Spa in Quebec and Blue Lagoon in Iceland focus on the body's ability to heal itself through water.
It would be really nice if Scandinave spa could update their system and block out the dates that aren't available like every other place in the world does effortlessly due to the technology we have. That being said, I will most likely never get to use the gift cards I was given by someone trying to support local business during a pandemic. Be forewarned people who are trying to do a nice thing and gift someone with a massage. I seems like the giftcards are a huge a scam because you won't ever get a booking and they are always fully booked 4 months in advance, also they don't know what dates they have available so you will be required to guess over and over only to be told there is nothing on that date. This should be a very simple process. … Date of experience: March 2021 Response from Scandinave Spa B, Public Relations Manager at Scandinave Spa at Blue Mountain Responded 2 weeks ago We are sorry to have not met your expectations. If you would like to tell us more about your experience, please email Thank you.
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It is one of the most tranquil places and a great escape from the city! When I go, I usually get a massage (they make me drool…and although that may be awkward to admit it's so true and I'm not ashamed. On the contrary, I'm impressed 😉) and then spend the rest of the day enjoying the baths. You can do either/or, it's totally up to you (but either way, call ahead of time because they book up so fast!! ). Oh! And don't fret the rain because it rained on and off through-out Sunday, and it didn't take away from the experience at all. In fact, I found it rather fun! You're wet anyways so embrace it – sit outside by the fire on the Muskoka chairs, or swing on a hammock, and let the rain kiss your skin! I would highly recommend it for anyone in need of relaxation, self pampering, a girls getaway, a romantic experience, and the day after a bachelorette party. I guess that kind of means everyone, right?! Have you been to the Scandinave Spa? What did you think of it? (let me know in the comment section below).
COVID protocols were in place and were great. Although there were more people in the baths area than spots in the pools so at times people did have to wait to access a hot bath. There was some debris - peoples hair in the baths that were floating around and that was pretty gross. This I only noticed in the pool closest to the entrance so it's probably the busiest one so we just moved to another. … Date of experience: October 2020 Response from ScandinaveSpaBlue, Public Relations Manager at Scandinave Spa at Blue Mountain Responded Nov 12, 2020 Thanks for telling us about your visit, we hope to see you again soon!
Healing nutrients rocket through the bloodstream and the metabolism gets the equivalent of a shock treatment. When we began the circuit, it was snowing lightly outside. While I'm a hardy Canadian, I was skeptical about being outside in bare feet and a bikini. After an hour of traveling between pools we decided to hang out by a small fire. I was not even remotely chilled. Seems the celebration going on inside my bloodstream created its own tropical environment. There are also relaxation indoor rooms with expansive windows overlooking both the forest and pools. You'll also find outdoor hammocks, both single and double for couples looking to sneak in some canoodling time. If you plan to do the circuit more than once, give your body a chance to recover periodically. A note about the "Quiet Please" signs. Prior to my visit, a friend told me she'd heard talking was strictly forbidden within the spa - and had not visited based on that belief. While whispering is encouraged, complete silence is not an expectation.
The word spa comes from Latin and roughly translates to healing by water. We torture our bodies with epic amounts of stress, foods laden with chemicals and forcing our bodies to withstand long periods in uncomfortable furniture. Thankfully, a soothing soak and massage can break down that damage and reset our body clocks. Hungry for more info on Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain? Visit them online or call: 877 988-8484. As well, connect with them on Twitter and Facebook or read reviews on Trip Advisor or Yelp. Ever been to a health or medical spa? Share your most memorable spa stories - follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook and let's start talking!
I can honestly tell you that I spent Sunday in paradise!! The Scandinave Spa (a Nordic Day Spa) is seriously one of my favourite places to relax! How it works is simple – you spend 15 minutes warming up in the hot baths, eucalyptus steam bath, or Finnish sauna; followed by 2 seconds to 2 minutes (what ever your body can take! ) cooling down in the cold baths, nordic waterfalls or cold showers (in the winter it's fun to jump in the snow!! ); and finally relaxing for 15 minutes on the terraces, in the solariums, on hammocks, or by the outdoor fireplaces (while sitting on lovely Muskoka chairs no less! ). You repeat these steps for the duration of your visit. Seriously, this must be what Heaven feels like! There are four Scandinave Spa locations in Canada. I've been to the one in Blue Mountain (Collingwood, Ontario) a number of times, and the Whistler (British Columbia) location once…I can ever get enough. There are also locations in Montreal and Mont Tremblant (both in Quebec) that I am dying to visit.