RITUAL NORDIC SPA | BRITISH COLUMBIA'S FIRST URBAN NORDIC SPA OPENS IN VICTORIA

Ritual Nordic Spa has opened in Victoria, BC. Although it's the first Nordic Spa built on Vancouver Island, it's not BC's first Scandinavian focused spa. La Scandinave Spa opened in Whistler just in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  

Inspired by the classic sauna tradition of Finland, Victoria's Ritual Nordic Spa reimagines the hot/cold/relax circuit -- creating a modern sauna experience in an urban setting. Located in Harris Green neighborhood just minutes from Victoria's Inner Harbour, Ritual Nordic Spa's features include:

• Indoor cold plunge pool
• Four saunas (including Finnish and infrared)
• Steam room
• Warm Himalayan salt lounge
• Nordic showers
• Outdoor patios
• Lockers | Robes-Sandals | Showers | Towels

Other wellness offerings include massage services, a generous lounge and outdoor space and a cafe bar featuring beverages and apres spa snacks. 

The newly-opened urban oasis is the vision of of Marci Hotsenpiller, Founder and CEO of Ritual Nordic Spa. "My first sauna experience was at age three at my grandmother's Muskoka cottage in Ontario, and I've been obsessed with the experience ever since," said Hotsenpiller. Growing up in a ski racing family who spent winters on the slopes of Austria and Switzerland, post-ski recovery in thermal baths and cold plunge pools was part of their program. "Ritual fulfills my dream of bringing all the amazing benefits of the hot sauna, cold plunge and massage under one roof in my hometown of Victoria," said Hotsenpiller. "With the opportunity for a cold beverage afterward." 

In Scandinavian culture, the sauna is a place to rest and cleanse your mind and body. The heart of Nordic spa involves moving the body through a cycle of thermotherapy: Hot | Cold | Rest | Repeat. The cycle's goal is to achieve temperature contrasts that boost immunity, mood and overall wellbeing. 

Ritual Nordic Spa was designed with the environment and sustainability in mind. Spaces were created to maximize natural light and utilize energy efficient water filtration, heating and energy recovery systems.

The Ritual Nordic Spa Circuit is a two-hour experience in a contemporary space. Guests move through the hot/cold/rest cycle offered by the spa's traditional Finish sauna, herbal-scented steam room, cold plunge pool, bucket showers and the chill-out zones of a Himalayan salt lounge and outdoor patios. The circuit may be completed on the guest's own time, independently or with others. Other offerings include massage services from a registered therapist in one of three treatment rooms and a unique Alpine dry-brush experience. 

Ritual Nordic Spa Circuit

$59 for mid-week visits, $69 on weekends

Series passes available

Ritual Nordic Spa

989 Johnson Street - #1

Victoria, BC 

778.440.9009

Canadian Skin Care Spa skoah Opens Locations in Seattle and Bellevue

skoah on Seattle's Pike Street. Photo courtesy skoah. 

I first met skoah face to face (pun intended) when it opened in Vancouver's Yaletown neighborhood in 2001. It was somewhat revolutionary in the spa world back then, specializing in smooth skin, melted muscles and "no whale music." I experienced the Facialiscious, a deluxe facial that includes cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, massage and moisturizing. And my skin felt as soft as a baby's bum! 

Chris and Andrea Scott's Canadian-based company has grown and expanded in the past dozen years, and now includes seven Canadian locations and two in Boston. Recently, they ventured south of the 49th Parallel again, opening three locations in the Puget Sound area: one in Bellevue and two in Seattle.

I had my first American Facialiscious a few weeks ago at skoah's Pike Street location (downtown Seattle, on Pike between Fourth and Fifth). They also have a location on Capitol Hill's Broadway, and one in Bellevue. Katie was my aesthetician, and she didn't disappoint. Not only did my face feel delightfully rehabbed, the masks and massages included in the treatment were most welcome. 

Since my debut at the Vancouver spa, skoah has developed its own line of skin care products, all made in BC's largest city. Through customer and crew feedback, its original product line of five has expanded to 70 products, plus a proprietary make-up line. The skoah spa menu has 10 customized treatments, from a $45 Quickie to a Mancial facial for men -- which includes exfoliation of the feet.

With its tag line personal training for your skin, skoah employs skin care trainers who provide customized facials that they dub "skin care workouts" (sweat-free). And just like a gym, skoah offers memberships, which include product discounts and other member-only benefits. Use the coupon below to experience skoah yourself -- just book and use before Christmas Eve. A perfect pre-holiday gift for you or a friend!

Catchin' sun and salmon on British Columbia's Sonora Island

I'm on my third and final day here at Sonora Resort on Sonora Island, BC. Located in what is called the Discovery Islands, Sonora is one of the outer islands. The only way to get here is via boat, float plane or helicopter. I did the latter, flying from YVR to Sonora Resort in a 15-seat helicopter; the scenic trip took a mere 50 minutes, and we landed on the resort's heli-pad.

My itinerary for the girl getaway was fairly simple: take a mini-R&R with three other women during the last week of July. Not only did we find an ample supply of sun, two of us caught salmon. That's me in the photo with fishing guide Tommy Thompson, after reeling in an 18.5 chinook (king) salmon. Tommy was a great guide, and was also a member of the Canadian Olympic Ski Jump team. He still skis in the winter and fishes in the summer -- what a great gig! The other woman in my boat, Wendy Hartley, pulled in a nice nine-pounder.


We celebrated our superior fishing skills with a couple of Canadians (beer, not people!) on the deck of Sonora Resort, followed by a yummy lunch of burgers, fries and salads. Later that afternoon, we went on a wilderness tour in a smooth-riding 12-seat boat with pilot and narrator Ben. It was an hour of seagulls, seals, eagles, whirlpools, blue sky, forests and water. The couple next to me from Wales summed it up in one word, "Fantastic!"

The food at Sonora Resort has also been fantastic; the staff helpful and sincere; and the accommodations top notch. Oh, I do have one last thing to do before flying back to YVR: enjoy an hour-long massage at the resort's Island Currents Spa, followed by a farewell lunch on the deck. So long, sweet Sonora!

 

Photos by Sue Frause