The tingle of bubbles in a warm pool, the chill of winter’s breath on your face, the soft glow and crackle of a wood fire, snowflakes on your head, pungent aromas of orange and eucalyptus filling a steam bath, the searingly dry wood of a sauna – these are a tonic to the senses and all in a day’s play at Nordik Spa-Nature.
The spa, founded by owners Martin Paquette and Daniel Gingras in the attractive village of Chelsea, within the Outaouais region of Québec, is now 8 years old. WHERE magazine ranked it one of the top 9 tourist attractions in Canada for 2012.
Surprisingly – or not — the clientele is mainly women from Ontario, although no one holds a monopoly on stress and the need to release tension. With 14 million dollars spent on development of the site, Nordik spa stakes claim to being the largest in North America.
Although conveniently near the Autoroute de la Gatineau (Highway 5), it is effectively shielded by a natural landscape of trees, rocks and bush on several acres of land. Access is easy – a mere 15 minute drive north from downtown Ottawa/Gatineau.
Nordik is already expanding with plans for 2 more spas: one in Whitby, Ontario, on the eastern fringes of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), and in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Greater Trauma Area, (as I call it) should be an excellent source of clients needing to shed their anxieties or just kick back and relax.
Nordik’s Scandinavian approach to facilities is evident in the wooden structures which blend with rather than subdue the landscape as well as minimizing environmental impact.
A variety of pools, dry saunas and aromatic steam rooms lead spa goers indoor and out in a recommended sequence of warm-cold-rest. Warmth raises the body temperature, cool/cold creates a mild shock, rest allows recuperation. The regimen is designed to stimulate mind and body. Except in extreme weather conditions such as a lightning storm, these procedures are viable year round – including a Québec winter!
Silence is mandatory in order to allow fellow participants peace of mind. I am not a spa person, but there is definitely much to be said for immersing oneself in a warm bubbling pool, snowflakes plopping on you, with steamy vapours disappearing into the chilly air. Beneath sun or cloud, night or day, it’s pretty magical.
The youngest, bravest and most hardy souls then plunge into icy outdoor pools or walk beneath a frigid waterfall to cool off. For those less inclined to extremes, gentler results can be achieved in the pools with warmer temperatures.
Massages can be booked for any time during a stay. A tapas room with snacks and beverages including beer and wine was our choice during a mid-day break, but there’s also a chic restaurant, popular in the evening. A lodge for those wishing to overnight sleeps up to 12.
The most recent addition to Nordik Spa is a Källa treatment (extra fee required). Meant to simulate the same experience as floating in the Dead Sea, bathers enter a shallow underground pool to float in a mixture of 12% Epsom salts.
The theory is that both parts of the brain come together in complete relaxation. Of course, to ever active people like me, getting it all together doesn’t come easy. Salt absorption is maximized after 12 minutes, with many bathers opting to stay for up to an hour. The only other location with a Källa bath is Switzerland, where the Nordik staff were trained in proper procedures for this unique treatment.
PHOTOS
For maximum size click once on any large photo, then click on white side arrows (> or <) within the frame to advance or go back.
Story and photos copyright © Gary Crallé 2013. No commercial reproduction without written consent.
Nordik Spa-Nature http://www.lenordik.com/
Tourisme Outaouais www.outaouaistourism.com
Tourisme Québec http://www.bonjourquebec.com/ca-en