I just got back from paradise, only this time I’m not talking about Hawaii, Bali, or the coast of Mexico – I’m talking about the Thermëa spa in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
I’m not kidding. I think this place may have saved my life. After months of intense stress, my back was knotting up, my legs were getting tight and even my jaws were beginning to ache. When I heard about a new Nordic-inspired spa opening up in Winnipeg, I was intrigued.
Nestled on a slice of Crescent Drive Park, Thermëa is all you really need to gain back your senses, sooth your soul and feel like you’ve just got back from a one-week vacation without leaving the city. They’ve really got it all. Swedish massage, body treatments, facials, and best of all – a thermal spa.
I’m talking two steam rooms infused with scents like eucalyptus and orange peel, a dry sauna, a hot tub, a pool, a waterfall, a relaxation centre, and even a sandy “beach” area complete with hammocks and birds singing songs from the trees.
Think of it as a playground for adults, except that it’s specifically for relaxing. Bound in nordic roots, Thermea spa has three different levels of enjoyment. First, you relax in one of the hot areas (sauna, steam room, hot tub) and then you go into the cold pool, which is just 10 degrees. After this shocking (but incredible) jolt to the senses, you go into the body temperature pool and do it all over again. Doing this helps create an immediate sensation of relaxation and helps eliminate toxins, relax muscles, and increase body oxygenation. You can read more about the treatment on their website. I can tell you that it’s incredible!
In between sessions, you can head into the relaxation lounge, which has heated seats or cushy beds combined with headphones and soothing music. If you’d rather be outside with the cool breeze, jump in one of the hammocks under the spruce trees and let the birds sing you to sleep. Then again, you could opt for a 60-minute Swedish massage and take your relaxation to an all-new level. If you get hungry, Thermëa has you covered with their delicious epicurean restaurant, which serves gourmet meals ranging from arctic char to braised spring lamb shank. You can finish it off with a mouth-watering Callebaut milk chocolate mousse flute.
Whether it was sipping back on their mint and cucumber-infused water, dunking myself with cold water after a eucalyptus-infused steam bath, or getting my muscles rubbed down from a massage therapist, this really is as close to paradise as you can get without having to leave the city.
The Live Limitless Circuit
For those who don’t know me, I like to Live Limitless. I like to experience things to the fullest. This is how I roll when at Thermëa. Start with a 15-minute session in the dry sauna and then immediately walk under the cold waterfall and back through the deeper cold pool below the waterfall. After your senses have been heightened, bring yourself back down to Earth in the body temperature pool. When ready, head into the eucalyptus-infused steam room for 15-minutes of deep relaxation. Afterward, proceed to the neighbouring body scrub room and exfoliate your skin. Rinse off and head into the orange-peel-infused steam room for another 10-minute session. When you’re finished, walk outside and pull the rope for a dunk of cold water. This will invigorate your senses and make you feel like you’re on top of the world. Head back into the body temperature pool and follow that with a dip in the hot tub. Then take some time to relax in a hammock. You’ll feel like a million bucks.
Where is Thermëa?
Thermëa spa is located at 775 Crescent Drive next to Crescent Drive Park in Winnipeg. You can reach them at 204-284-9595 or by visiting www.thermea.ca.
You can easily spend an entire day here but I would allow at least three hours, not including body treatments. Factor in more time if you want to experience their gourmet restaurant as well.
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I have been to the Spa Nordik in Wakefield – a sister spa so I know exactly how great this place would be. I’m hoping to visit on my next trip to Winnipeg.
Now they just need one in Banff!
I love everything about this except the cold water – I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to go for the dunk! But I do related to how beat up you feel after you travel and how badly you need some TLC after a grueling trip.
haha yes, it didn’t look appealing after a hot sauna but it feels invigorating after. And then you can always run into the hot tub – though you should go into the body temperature first.
The exfoliation room sounds interesting. I’ve been to a similar spa in Whistler – the cold water dunk shower is a shock to the system but it really does help kick start your heart and nervous system. Nice article, I’ll try to go if I’m ever in Winnipeg.
That must be a beautiful spot in Whistler! I loved everything about this place. I need a home with all of these things 🙂
Everything is very open with a precise description of the challenges.
It was definitely informative. Your site is extremely helpful.
Thanks for sharing!