Taking the plunge at Thermëa

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/11/2017 (3090 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With fall celebrations behind us and the Christmas season still to come, it might be time for a mini-vacation.   

I’m thinking that could mean another visit to Thermëa spa. Located right next door to the Crescent Drive Golf Course, where I like to golf at least a few times a year, I had been planning to check out the spa all summer. One day in August, I decided to “take the plunge,” so to speak. Along with my two sisters, we spent the day checking out all the spa has to offer — including a delicious and healthy lunch at the spa’s restaurant.         

As first time guests, we participated in the recommended thermal cycle, which involves warming up in one of the four saunas/steam room; cooling off in one of the two outdoor baths — one of which is cold (Polarber plunge and cold waterfall) and then rest in the outdoor relaxation areas, which include lounging chairs, hammocks and beach beds.       

Designed to be a year round experience, Thermëa’s temperate and cold pools are kept cooler in the summer and warmer in winter. In winter, the hammocks are heated, as are the pathways between pools so you can walk in beach sandals. There are also a number of fire pits to keep you warm while you enjoy this beautiful setting in nature.    With a glass of wine, if you please. So now that the temperature is cooler, the time is right to check out the Thermëa “winter” experience. 

The spa is open seven days a week, and you don’t have to book ahead for the Thermëa day experience, so you can visit the spa without a lot of planning. All you have to bring is your bathing suit and slippers. You can bring or rent a robe, and you are provided with an electronic wristband, which you can use to pay for their meals, drinks or spa items.
  
Thermëa offers a range of body, foot and face care treatments, but if you want to take advantage of the treatments, you do need an appointment. Because our visit was impromptu, we didn’t participate in the treatments but I plan to do that when I decide on the date of my winter experience.

The body treatments range from relaxation and signature body treatments to specialty massage treatments. The specialty message treatments include the guided thermal cycle, which is recommended for newcomers because the therapist stays with you and explains the benefits of each cycle. The 90-minute session starts off with the thermal cycle and includes a Swedish or deep tissue massage. The Hydrothermea treatment is a 90-minute massage that is designed to improve circulation. They all sound good to me. Just have to pick one and book a date for my mini-vacation.

If you want to know more about Thermëa, go to www.thermea.ca
 
Donna Minkus is a community correspondent for Charleswood.