Enter Valhalla

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This article was published 29/06/2015 (3929 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With the busy schedules we keep these days, many people don’t take any time out to relax. But a new spa in Kildonan Place has crafted a relaxing experience that fits seamlessly into the hustle and bustle.

Located in Kildonan Place (1555 Regent Ave. W) near the Famous Players Theatre, Valhalla Automated Spa offers a personalized spa experience for those on go.

“The whole idea is to just kick off your shoes and get treatment,” said Dean Dalman, co-founder of Valhalla Automated Spa.

Over the course of either 30 or 60 minutes, customers make their way — fully clothed, minus shoes — through three private relaxation stations, or have the option of a 10-minute “express massage” at the station of their choice.

Dalman started Valhalla Automated Spa with his wife Amy this past winter. Setting up shop at Asessippi Ski Hill & Resort near Inglis, Man., the Dalmans did brisk business with skiers who were looking to work the kinks out after a day on the slopes.

“You can imagine people after a day of rental boots,” Dalman said. “It was instantly a hit here.”

Jessica Sutton, manager of Valhalla at Kildonan Place, said what makes their experience unique is its convenience.

“With a conventional spa, you have to get undressed, book way in advance and it’s usually an hour,” she said. “Here we do walk-ins or you can book in advance whenever’s good for you. If you’re a member you can come and do a half hour or 10 minutes, whatever works for your schedule. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, you can come on a break.”

While the express option gives customers a chance to quickly de-stress, both Sutton and Dalman suggest that running through the series of three treatments in sequence maximizes the experience.

First, the Hydrotherapy Bed uses warm water jets to massage from head to toe as you lay back, listening to relaxing music with a sleeping mask blocking out the light.

“You don’t get wet or anything,” Sutton said.

There’s a layer of material between the water and your person. The experience is indeed very relaxing.

“We get a lot of people who fall asleep at this station,” Sutton added.

Next is the Dreamwave Massage Chair.

“There was something about the chair that was different than anything else,” Dalman said.
“The best thing about that chair is that they are individual, they form to your body,” Sutton said. “I’m five feet tall, but the Dreamwave forms right to me.”

The Valhalla experience rounds off with a session in the Zero Gravity Chair.

“That leans you back and makes you feel weightless,” Sutton explained. “It takes the pressure off your back and joints. It also opens your chest and allows you to do some really deep breathing.”

The Zero Gravity Chair is accompanied by a “vibroacoustic therapy” feature, which pulses rapidly along with music.

While far from your typical spa experience, sitting through the three services Valhalla offers is certainly relaxing. However, Valhalla Automated Spa is at this point only committed to Kildonan Place on a trial basis until Aug. 31. However, if there is enough interest, the spa will stick around after summer is over. To encourage folks to step inside and give them a try, the spa is offering some incentives.

“Typically a 30-minute circuit is $29.95,” Sutton said. “But we have a special on for the summer which is $99, and you can come and do that circuit every day until Aug. 30. We’re only selling 100 of those.”

“I think people have forgotten how to unplug,” Dalman said. “People are so busy, they’ve got so many things going all the time. To take 30 minutes out of the day, turn inward and relax, I think we’ll all be surprised how good we feel.”

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