Aahh Inspiring

You don’t need a lot of time to benefit from a spa break. One hour at a Canadian day spa is enough time to try anything from a pedicure to a facial. Length of treatment is less important than the quality and depth of the experience.

Pampering is number one for most spa-goers, but other reasons to visit the spa include a weekend getaway with girlfriends, bonding with family, or solo bodywork. Perhaps you need to kick-start healthy living through detoxification or you need to shed a few pounds.

But sometimes schedules allow for only an hour-long visit. A short reprieve may be all you need to refresh, and the best spas can tailor programs and timeframes to meet your needs.

On the Coast

Experience the Sapphire Day Spa (sapphiredayspa.com), located in Victoria, where each client is greeted with a cup of herbal tea and treatments are rounded out with luxurious touches such as black velvet robes, highly skilled staff, and a light organic lunch.

Try the nutrient-and mineral-dense body wrap, made with hand-harvested seaweed from nearby Sooke, or treat your face to Eminence organic skin care products. For a longer spa visit, book a retreat package, with accommodation at the swish Oswego Boutique Hotel (oswegovictoria.com) overlooking James Bay.

On the Prairies

When on the Prairies, sample a champagne and bubbly couple’s retreat at Moosejaw’s Temple Garden Mineral Spa Resort (templegardens.sk.ca), where warm geothermal mineral-rich waters from ancient seabeds are piped directly to a large rooftop pool.

You can swim and steam as often as you like at no extra cost. Or pop in for an hour-long gentleman’s hot towel treatment, which includes a relaxing scalp and hand massage. Either way, enjoy a light lunch beforehand at Morningside’s Café.

In Ontario

If you live in Toronto, book a treatment from Simple Spa (simplespa.ca)–a mobile spa service. This spa finds you, wherever you are, saving you commuting time. After treatment, feelings of regeneration and rejuvenation linger on, unmarred by the stresses of travel between spa and home.

If you want to feel fabulous after your visit, do your homework first and your spa experience will meet or exceed your expectations­–even if you’re only there for an hour.

Getting the Most Out of Your Spa Experience

1. Call first to find out whether the spa serves meals.
2. If it is your first visit to a spa, try their signature treatment; it’s the one they do best.
3. Extend the benefits of your spa experience by being mindful and calm in all you do.