The Friday Five: Must-Haves for Relaxation

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Phew! I completely missed Friday over here, so that surely tells you what kind of week I’ve had!

It’s the end of the semester which means university life has been chaotic. I had busy days and something on the go every night this week. While it was a fun and rewarding week, I need a bit of relaxation time this weekend. I don’t know about you, but if I don’t get “Jordana time”, I feel overwhelmed and cranky.

So…what do I do to relax after very intense weeks? These things usually do the trick for me (and yoga isn’t even one of them).

To do lists.
If I take a few minutes to regroup and think about what tasks need to be done, I feel calmer. I can see what needs to get done, and I can empty my brain of things that are taking up space in there.

Cleaning.
Seriously. I get in a zone, and I just go to it. Yes, most of the time, I find cleaning to be tedious, but it also forces me to clear my head and breathe.

Magazines.
I never tire of reading magazines on my big comfy couch. I have a few that arrived in recent weeks, so the build-up means extended periods of quietness. Print magazines also force me away from my computer, which is a good thing.

Baking.
Most of the time, weekend baking means bread making. Again, I get in a zone, make a mess in my kitchen, and end up with something delicious after a couple of hours. My dough is rising as a type this, by the way.

Sleep.
I’m not someone who naps, but sometimes it’s exactly what I need. Especially on grey days (or days like today where the weather sends over a surprise mini snow storm).

What do you do to relax after a very busy week (or several!)? I’d love to know!

Happy weekend, dear readers!

The Friday Five: 5 Points about Scandinave Spa

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Last weekend, Rox-Anne and I headed to Scandinave Spa at Blue Mountain (Ontario) for a day of rest and relaxation. I’ve never been a spa girl, but several friends convinced me that I should give Scandinave a chance.

White-Cabana-ScandinaveWhite-Cabana-Scandinave-1photos by Rox-Anne

Here are five things to share about my first Scandinave experience:

1. It’s not as cold as you might think even when the outdoor weather thermometer says it’s 2 degrees Celcius. I thought we’d have a relatively warm day at the end of April, but we didn’t. It was cold! Even though the heat was on in the car during our drive up, and I wore a coat and scarf, I was not actually cold during the spa bath rotation. It was magical, really! Things that kept me warm during the day experience at the baths: the heated stone patios inside and out, the gorgeous solariums with incredible views, the hot baths (obviously), the fireplace lounge area outside, and the sunshine!

forest baths winterphoto via Scandinave Spa

2. Go early to avoid a lengthy line-up. The baths hold a maximum number of people, and so when when they’re full, they’re full. I have heard wait times can be as long as 4 hours (!!!), so it’s best to arrive during a non-peak time (e.g., the morning) or day of the week (e.g., mid-week). That said, the spa has thought of everything and has several suggestions of things to do while you wait for entry into the baths (e.g., the Caves at Blue Mountain, a cheese shop).

steam room 2photo via Scandinave Spa

3. What to bring: Bring your bathing suit (or two if you do not want to wear a wet bathing suit while you lounge inside or eat a meal), a robe, flip flops, and a water bottle. You might also want to bring your sunglasses on a sunny day and sunscreen to protect yourself against the rays (I forgot both of these things). You can bring your camera for photos of the indoor spaces and the property, but you are advised to leave your camera and iPhone in your locker rather than take these gadgets to the baths. When you check in, you’ll be given two towels (save one in your locker, bring one with you) and a locker key. The showers are equipped with soap, shampoo, and conditioner, so you don’t need to bring these items with you.

spring 3photo via Scandinave Spa

4. Shhh…relax… Scandinave strongly encourages silence or a spa voice. A spa voice. I love it. Although this was a bit hard for me to get used to at the beginning of my visit, I respected the recommendation, and it really worked out. Honestly. The silence (or near-silence) helped clear my mind of distractions and noise. It was so peaceful. Rox-Anne and I did talk (we weren’t in a completely silent zone), but we kept our voices down so as to not disturb the other guests.

spring 1photo via Scandinave Spa

5. Hammocks are awesome. I discovered this last year after I won my very own hammock. I rediscovered this at Scandinave. The rotation at the baths goes something like this: 15 min in a hot bath, quick plunge in the cold bath, steam room or sauna, and then rest. There are several options for the rest portion including relaxing on an adirondack chair on the patio, sitting around a fire pit, lounging in a solarium, or lying on a hammock. Rox-Anne and I tried all of the above, but lounging around in the outdoor hammock looking up at the trees and sky might have been my favourite rest option. It was too cold to stay out there for too long, but on a slightly warmer day, it would have been just perfect.

White-Cabana-Scandinave-Spa-Blue MountainRox-Anne and I enjoying lunch in the indoor space, colour version right here

Many thanks to Mallory at Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain for arranging our visit.