Going to the spa is about rejuvenating your body as much as your mind. A visit to the spa is an opportunity to do something that makes you feel good – to refresh yourself in a way that goes beyond your daily norms… most of the time. Many of us have built healthy routines such as yoga into our daily lives. As much mental as it is physical, yoga aids in balance, posture, relaxation and presence of mind, to name a few, and it’s becoming a practice that’s offered in spa packages across Toronto.
If you’re looking to pamper yourself without throwing off your daily yoga routine, check out some of these fantastic Toronto spas that also offer yoga along with your facial cleanse, infrared sauna or body scrub…
889 Yoga + Wellness Spa at the Thompson Hotel
Located on the 3rd floor of the Thompson Toronto, 889’s mission is to “inspire happy healthy lives” through their 20 flow-based yoga and Pilates classes and the accompaniment of the Wellness Spa. They offer a relaxing Zen-Zone, Ayuvedic tea and concierge service whether you’re a guest of the hotel or a local resident.
889 Yoga at Four Seasons Toronto
889 Yoga also has an outcrop of their business at the Four Seasons Toronto. All of their programs require pre-registration through the spa and private classes are also available. Their Specialty Sundays packages combine spa-like treatments and individual attention with your yoga practice for a unique and pampering yoga experience.
Laya Spa and Yoga
Not your typical day spa, Laya is a modern space that blends exotic Moroccan textiles and North African design with the urbanity of Queen West. With a large range of traditional treatments, guests also have access to a co-ed steam room, Wi-Fi enabled lounge, a selection of hot teas and juices and all treatment rooms are equipped with an iPod dock so you can listen to your own tunes during your treatment. Of course, there’s also several Ashtanga yoga options to choose from.
Tula Hot Yoga
With three Toronto locations to choose from, Tula Hot Yoga offers one of the widest ranges of yoga options along with a variety of spa packages and treatments. Their yoga classes include Hot Hatha/Hot Power, Power Flow Yoga, and Hot Pilates classes in their heated studio and Hatha/Vinyasa Flow Yoga and Pilates classes in their regular temperature studio. If you’re interested in developing the yogi within, they also have yoga and Pilates teacher training courses.
Spa My Blend at The Ritz Carlton
If you’re seeking a more personal approach to your yoga experience, Spa My Blend at The Ritz Carlton offers private yoga instruction for individuals, couples or groups through Yogagurl (Alex Leikermoser). Yogagurl also offers individualized monthly life coaching options that could include stretching, breathing techniques and superfood and juicing recommendations.
Iyashi Bedrock Spa
One of the most unique yoga and spa experiences in Toronto, at Iyashi their Hot Rock/Hot Yin Yoga session (also known as “Ganban-Yoga”) are held on imported Japanese black silica bedrocks. Rather than having the heat come from the room itself, it comes from the floor below. Yin Yoga focuses on slow, deep stretching of the connective tissues such as the hips and spine rather than the muscles themselves. Each session includes 30 minutes of Rock Bathing and 60 minutes of Hot Yin Yoga.
Yogaspace
With 8-10 different classes offered each day, Yogaspace is an excellent spot for a drop-in class or for a variety of membership options. Yogaspace has massage therapists on site who can take you through everything from Thai Yoga Massage to Shiatsu, Hot Stone and Reflexology. They also have pre/post natal programs for individuals and couples to prepare mentally, physically and emotionally for their journey into parenthood.
Chopra Yoga Centre
With 16 different yoga practices to choose from, Chopra’s classes span four categories: strength building/core based, relax and restore, foundational, and heated practices. Along with their wide range of yoga offerings, they also have a variety of interesting wellness options. They have on-site naturopathic doctors who can perform acupuncture and Chinese medicine, registered massage therapists, holistic nutritionists and Ayurveda, an ancient Indian practice still widely used throughout the world today.
Ste. Anne’s Spa
If you’re looking to get away from the city for the day or the weekend, Ste. Anne’s Spa is a short enough distance from Toronto to indulge in a custom tailored spa package and enjoy their complimentary daily yoga classes. On offer: beginner yoga, stretch classes, meditation and Yoga Nidra or “yogic sleep”. Yoga Nidra is a form of yoga without movement that incorporates techniques of relaxation, affirmation, breathing and visualization as you’re led to a place somewhere between sleeping and walking.
Ajilila Gardens
Yoga retreats are also gaining in popularity – escaping the bustle of the city in exchange for the tranquility of the forest. With massage therapy and infrared sauna on site (additional charge) Ajilila Gardens offers a structured yoga retreat from one to three days. The prices do however include meals, accommodations and other interesting activities.
