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Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
An evening at the spa...
You didn't expect that title coming from me did ya? And why would you. I'm not the type. I'd never been to a spa before last week. I'd never really been crazy about my perception of the typical spa experience (sitting around, being pampered, having cucumbers placed over your eyes and mud smeared on your face). I've always been more interested in being active. If you know me, you know I can't sit still for very long without getting bored. I rarely finish what I start. I'm slightly ADD. A year ago, if you asked me to go to a spa - I'd probably laugh... a lot. Then, when I was physically able to stand up after my ab muscles recovered, I might go with you... if you paid for it.
However, Whistler offers a much busier lifestyle than I was accustomed to back home. Working in a restaurant is a demanding job. It's physically challenging and dealing with the lovely and always respectful people on a daily basis is mentally tough as well. It takes a lot out of you. Combine that with the social aspect after work and you eventually get an exhausted Tash. In the winter I had snowboarding as my release to de-stress and get back on an even keel. Come summertime the gym has been great for helping me stay on track physically and emotionally. Lately though, it hasn't been enough. I've been feeling exhausted. I needed something a little bit extra to get me feeling good again. Back in March, I purchased a discounted day pass for the Scandinave Spa. It was a really good price so I figured what the hell. It was set to expire at the end of June so I had to use it or it would have been wasted money... and in Whistler, the only acceptable way of wasting money is on alcohol.
I did a bit of research beforehand and basically, the idea is this: get really hot, get really cold, relax, repeat. It's called hydrotherapy. The location itself is gorgeous and tucked away from the hustle and bustle (can't believe I just wrote that) of the Whistler village.
The most interesting "hot station" I tried was the steam room. As soon as you open the door, you get a massive wave of listerine scented vapour all over you. It's like the entire population of Whistler chewed a couple packs of dentyne each and blew all of their minty breath into one small room. Once you get over the stinging of your eyes from the minty freshness as well as the inability to breathe, it's actually pretty relaxing. This whole dealio is supposed to start the detoxifying process.
After you hang out in the minty room for a while, you then proceed to the "get really cold" part. Basically that means plunging into some super chill water. This is supposed to boost your immune system and it freakin' better because it was freezing cold, dammit.
After you get out of the ice cold pool, you get to my favourite part - the relaxation bit. They have a couple of options but the best by far is the hammock. I never used to understand the appeal of a hammock. Probably because I was a hyper-active child who never liked to sit still. However, at the ripe old age of 23 I have come to completely appreciate every aspect of the hammock. Pure comfort. Every part of your body is supported and rested while you swing gently in the air. Perfect bliss.
In between my hydrotherapy cycles, I stopped at the in-house health bistro to grab a snack. I devoured a yummy plate of grapes, almonds and a variety of cheeses and then washed it down with some mango juice. The cheese was by far the best part. It had been so long since I'd eaten good cheese. I also got a free double chocolate cookie. Things just kept getting more awesome.
The whole experience is pretty cool. But by far, the absolute best thing about this place is the code of silence. No talking to others. No cell phones. No ipods. Just you and the spa. No creepy old perverts hitting on you like they do in the hot-tub at the gym. No annoying chatty kathys who feel the need to constantly have a phone attached to their hand. No young punks putting their terrible taste in music on display by blaring it through their headphones. The Scandinave Spa is a place of peace and tranquility. Just the sounds of waterfalls splashing and birds chirping while you soak up the sun and breathe the fresh mountain air.
This is my new paradise. I was only there for 2 hours but it felt like 10. It seemed like time just came to a standstill. I left feeling rested, relaxed and re-energized. If it wasn't so expensive I would have bought the 3 month passport for unlimited bath access. But since I'm poor, I'll have to settle for the spa being a treat for when I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Tash.
However, Whistler offers a much busier lifestyle than I was accustomed to back home. Working in a restaurant is a demanding job. It's physically challenging and dealing with the lovely and always respectful people on a daily basis is mentally tough as well. It takes a lot out of you. Combine that with the social aspect after work and you eventually get an exhausted Tash. In the winter I had snowboarding as my release to de-stress and get back on an even keel. Come summertime the gym has been great for helping me stay on track physically and emotionally. Lately though, it hasn't been enough. I've been feeling exhausted. I needed something a little bit extra to get me feeling good again. Back in March, I purchased a discounted day pass for the Scandinave Spa. It was a really good price so I figured what the hell. It was set to expire at the end of June so I had to use it or it would have been wasted money... and in Whistler, the only acceptable way of wasting money is on alcohol.
I did a bit of research beforehand and basically, the idea is this: get really hot, get really cold, relax, repeat. It's called hydrotherapy. The location itself is gorgeous and tucked away from the hustle and bustle (can't believe I just wrote that) of the Whistler village.
The most interesting "hot station" I tried was the steam room. As soon as you open the door, you get a massive wave of listerine scented vapour all over you. It's like the entire population of Whistler chewed a couple packs of dentyne each and blew all of their minty breath into one small room. Once you get over the stinging of your eyes from the minty freshness as well as the inability to breathe, it's actually pretty relaxing. This whole dealio is supposed to start the detoxifying process.
After you hang out in the minty room for a while, you then proceed to the "get really cold" part. Basically that means plunging into some super chill water. This is supposed to boost your immune system and it freakin' better because it was freezing cold, dammit.
After you get out of the ice cold pool, you get to my favourite part - the relaxation bit. They have a couple of options but the best by far is the hammock. I never used to understand the appeal of a hammock. Probably because I was a hyper-active child who never liked to sit still. However, at the ripe old age of 23 I have come to completely appreciate every aspect of the hammock. Pure comfort. Every part of your body is supported and rested while you swing gently in the air. Perfect bliss.
In between my hydrotherapy cycles, I stopped at the in-house health bistro to grab a snack. I devoured a yummy plate of grapes, almonds and a variety of cheeses and then washed it down with some mango juice. The cheese was by far the best part. It had been so long since I'd eaten good cheese. I also got a free double chocolate cookie. Things just kept getting more awesome.
The whole experience is pretty cool. But by far, the absolute best thing about this place is the code of silence. No talking to others. No cell phones. No ipods. Just you and the spa. No creepy old perverts hitting on you like they do in the hot-tub at the gym. No annoying chatty kathys who feel the need to constantly have a phone attached to their hand. No young punks putting their terrible taste in music on display by blaring it through their headphones. The Scandinave Spa is a place of peace and tranquility. Just the sounds of waterfalls splashing and birds chirping while you soak up the sun and breathe the fresh mountain air.
This is my new paradise. I was only there for 2 hours but it felt like 10. It seemed like time just came to a standstill. I left feeling rested, relaxed and re-energized. If it wasn't so expensive I would have bought the 3 month passport for unlimited bath access. But since I'm poor, I'll have to settle for the spa being a treat for when I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Tash.
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