Spatisfaction pretty much guaranteed Take a break from self-care by putting yourself in the hands of these experts By: AV Kitching Posted: 3:00 AM CST Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023

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This article was published 30/12/2023 (824 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been a tough year. You’ve worked hard. You’ve played hard. You’re spent. Exhausted. In dire need of a refresh. What better way to welcome the new year than by indulging in a relaxing treatment?

Self-care has become a buzzword in recent times but there’s no denying how important it is to make time for yourself. And while pricey spa treatments might be out of reach at the moment, all of the locations mentioned below offer more affordable options that are worth considering.

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Spa Botanica

1459 Corydon Ave.

spabotanica.ca (204-489-8107/info@spabotanica.ca)

The brainchild of Gabrielle Zoppa and Harmanpreet Kaur, Spa Botanica offers Ayurvedic treatments alongside more traditional spa services. Ayurveda — an alternative system of medicine practiced in India and Nepal — is the belief the body is composed of five basic elements: space, air, fire, water and earth, which combine to form three life forces called doshas: Vata (space and air); Pitta (fire and water); and Kapha (water and earth), which control bodily functions.

Try: The Pinda Swedana, a two-hour treatment with customized handmade bolus (bundles) created according to your dosha type. Filled with either rice, milk and herbs (Vata), sand and Himalayan salt (Kapha), or moringa leaves, herbs and coconut (Pitta), the warm boluses are massaged over the body. They exfoliate and target joints to relieve pain, improve circulation and induce sweating. Afterwards you are wrapped in a customized body mask and cocooned for about 30 minutes before having a shower and a light oil massage.

Price: $275

They say: “January is a wonderful time for most of our Ayurvedic treatments, as many include the use of heated oils and specific movements to create warmth in the body and regulate the nervous system.”

Try something else: Nasya Sinus treatment ($49). Nasya includes a targeted head/face massage, intense eucalyptus/lemon steam, and the inhalation of an herbal mixture. This treatment cleanses, lubricates and strengthens the mucous membranes, helps to clear brain fog, keeps nasal passages clear and open, and eliminates toxins from sinuses, throat and nose.

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My El Spa

1589 St Mary’s Rd.

myelspa.ca (204-255-6104)

It’s a one-stop shop for everything you need to feel your best, from customized facials and mani-pedis to full-body therapeutic soaks, steam baths and massages. But we’re mostly interested in Winnipeg’s only Spa Oceana Capsule, a 53-gallon futuristic-looking tub designed to carry out all manner of therapies, including hydro fusion (combined energy of infrared heat and steam), chromotheraphy (light therapy) and Vichy showers (an overhead shower spray system meant to aid lymphatic circulation).

Try: Re-mineralizing Hydrating Treatment, which starts off with a body-brush exfoliation using moor mud, followed by a steam and Vichy shower to rinse off the mud before a scalp and hair massage follows. The 75-minute treatment ends with a full-body relaxation massage using warm aromatheraphy oils.

Price: $137

They say: “Treatments done in the Spa Oceana Capsule can quickly restore the vitality of body and mind.”

Try something else: A form of Vichy shower, the Scottish shower ($62) is a less expensive way to try out the capsule. Lie flat on your back and feel your skin tingle as 10 rotating spray nozzles blast alternating hot and cold jets of water all over your body.

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Pocca Poca Spa

3-840 Waverley St.

poccapocaspa.com (204-488-1314/info@poccapocaspa.com)

Pocca Poca specialises in Ganban-yoku, the Japanese version of a hot stone spa, where mineral and volcanic stones are heated by a hot water system running under the treatment rooms. There are two areas: a communal room for six people or a private room for two. When heated, the volcanic stone, imported from Kyushu, Japan, and the mineral stones — jade, black tourmaline and maisan — emit far infrared (FIR) and negative ions, said to temporarily relieve joint pain, inflammation and aid in cell regeneration.

Try: Beginners should opt for the 60-minute Ganban-yoku to relieve aches and pains. Arrive 20 minutes before your session to get changed into the outfit and sandals provided by the spa. Bring towels — one large and one small — and a water bottle. After changing, head to the heating room, place your towel flat, and lie down on your stomach for 15 to 30 minutes. Use your smaller towel as a barrier to avoid putting your face directly in the heat. After your first turn on the stones, head to the cooling lounge for up to five minutes before returning for your second heating session. Repeat the process until your time is up.

Price: $48 for an hour

They say: “Ganban-yoku is especially good for those who are stressed or have difficulty sleeping. It gives the body a chance for a full reset. Lying on the hot stones will lull you into a calm, meditative state and you will leave feeling energized and refreshed.”

Try something else: Buddha Ganban Head & Shoulders Massage ($80 for a 15-minute massage during your 60-minute Ganban-yoku session), which aims to help you relax even futher, lulling you to sleep as you lie on the heated stones.

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Float.Calm

337-C Pembina Hwy.

floatcalm.com (204-477-6507/hello@floatcalm.com)

Winnipeg’s only dedicated floatation therapy centre offers five float tanks in two different styles: three pod-style tanks and two traditional Oasis float tanks.

Each float tank is about 2.5 by 1.5 metres (8 1/2 by five feet) and contains upwards of 550 kilograms (1,200 pounds) of pharmaceutical-grade Epsom salt in the water, which creates a buoyant solution heated to the same temperature as your skin to help you feel weightless — once you stop moving around and allow yourself to relax into the liquid. Each float tank is in its own private sound-dampened room with a private shower and amenities, including mouldable silicone earplugs.

All sessions are 90 minutes, allowing time to calm the mind and the body. All pods and tanks are rigorously cleaned with integrated germicidal UV-C light between each guest. There is also a weekly deep clean of all rooms and tanks.

Try: The intro three-pack float, recommended for first-timers. Check in and watch the introductory video before heading to the float room, where you will be asked to dry the inside of your ears with a Q-tip before you insert earplugs. You will be advised to shower in warm, not hot, water to rinse off any dirt, oils or body/hair products before you enter the float pod for your session. Five minutes before your session ends, soft music will ease you out of your float.

Price: $162 for three 90-minute sessions ($54 per float)

They say: “Many people come to see us for anxiety, stress management, pain, athletic recovery and sleeping issues, but it really is the most relaxed you will ever feel. It is a challenging environment to calibrate and create consistently. The pods contain only 10 inches (25 centimetres) of water, so don’t worry if you can’t float or swim naturally. The extremely high concentration of Epsom salt will keep you buoyant, no matter your size or shape.”

Try something else: Not convinced? Opt for a single 90-minute float at $79 to test the waters before committing to package sessions.

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Ten Spa

Fort Gary Hotel, 222 Broadway

tenspa.ca (204-946-520/info@tenspa.ca)

On the 10th floor of the Fort Garry Hotel, Ten offers a number of wellness treatment packages catering to solo flyers, couples and groups. There are facials galore — using Anne Semonin treatments and products — as well as experiences such as hair removal, mud wraps and salt scrubs. It also has the city’s only hamam — an ancient Turkish bath ritual, which, when done correctly, is the ultimate in relaxation.

Try: Hamam Fully Loaded, a nearly two-hour deep bathing and cleansing experience that starts off with a self-administered salt rub, followed by a traditional rinse and a head, scalp and foot massage on a heated marble slab. Then you’ll get a full-body gommage and an olive oil wash and shampoo. Finally, end with a traditional stretching session.

Price: $290

They say: “Our hamam rituals are performed by expert attendants trained in the secret lost art of hamam. The hamam hot-air bathing ritual was one of the most important pillars of social life in the mighty Ottoman Empire.”

Try something else: Intro to Hamam ($160) is an abbreviated version of the fully loaded experience. Lasting around an hour, it starts off with mint tea and Turkish Delight before going on to a salt scrub, rinse, and head, scalp and foot massage.

av.kitching@freepress.mb.ca