Imagine a place you can go during your lunch hour to meet a friend for a delicious, low-fat lunch while you both get pampering pedicures. Or a place you can stop by on your way home for a steam, soak in mineral water whirlpool, and a massage to dissolve the stress of the day. If you're in Toronto, that place is The Elmwood Spa. This spa buzzes with local clients, but its location next to the Delta Chelsea Hotel makes it a good place for out-of-towners, too. 

Although the spa is busy, it runs like clockwork. I climbed the large sweeping staircase to check in at the reception desk on the 2nd floor. This floor also houses the retail area, hair salon, nail area, make-up stations, showers, a large whirlpool filled with mineral water, and a variety of treatment rooms. The receptionist verified my itinerary (Swedish massage, pedicure, lunch, facial) and had me take the elevator to the 3rd floor. The third floor receptionist gave me a printed schedule and asked me to select what I wanted for lunch. She gave me a tour of the women's locker room and water therapies area which includes a pool, whirlpool, dining area, sauna, steam room, and showers. This floor also houses treatment rooms and a nail area. 

I had some time before my treatments so I put on my bathing suit and the robe and disposable slippers the spa provided and enjoyed the large whirlpool on the second floor. I dried off and waited on the second floor for my massage with Edward. I was joined by two pregnant women who where also waiting for their massages. I wish I knew about massage when I was pregnant with my children! Edward gave an excellent massage. He took the time to explain what he was going to do (back, arms, legs - flip - arms shoulders neck. He requested that I let him know if pressure to hard or not enough. He used baby oil. He ended with vibration on my neck and head and told me to concentrate on my breathing for a few minutes before getting up.

Fully relaxed, I drifted to the 4th floor for my pedicure. Rosalee, who also does facials, wraps, and waxing, got busy on my feet. They were soaked in a warm water footbath, my nails were trimmed and filed, my feet exfoliated, cuticles pushed back, calluses rubbed down, feet massaged and moisturized with a lotion containing calendula and vitamin E, and polish was applied. During this, Rosalee shared some of her thoughts about pedicures (something you should do just for yourself to make you feel good) and spas (necessary to relax, relaxation is necessary to think clearly - spas separate you from your problems for a short period which allows better focus - good for self). The mani/pedi area fills the 4th floor and spills into the two floors below. It is VERY popular. In fact, I have never seen a spa with so many stations or so many manicures and pedicures taking place at one time. Many women were with friends. Many of them were having delicious looking and smelling lunches brought to them on large wicker trays. I looked forward to my lunch following the pedicure.

Lunch was prepared in the spa and served by water therapies on 3rd floor. Twelve others were also dining while others swam, used whirlpool, steam and sauna. I ordered the Grilled Vegetable Napoleon. It was beautifully presented, very flavorful with a nice texture (vegetables crisp but not raw), slightly spicy, and very filling.

My last treatment was a DNA facial with Rowena on the 2nd floor. It was very relaxing. I will probably miss a step or two since I was "in the zone" but here are what I think the steps of the facial were: cleanse, tone, exfoliate with pineapple, steam, massage, extractions, use of high frequency to create ozone to provide oxygen to cells, mask with collagen then layer with minerals and vitamins. While the mask was setting, Rowena massaged my hands.

It was a great day at a great spa. Too bad I don't live in Toronto. Too bad The Elmwood Spa isn't in my home town.

Current Features

• The historic building that houses the spa was originally built in 1890 and was the first YWCA in Canada. It was fully reconstructed and reopened by the present owner in 1982 as a women's fitness club with a small spa. The spa grew and eventually took over the entire space on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors (with no fitness facilities other than the pool!). 

• The Elmwood is within walking distance to Toronto's major theatres, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto's Chinatown and one block away from The Eaton Centre, the city's most popular stop to shop and Toronto's number one tourist attraction.

• The spa is open seven days a week with extended hours.

• The Water Therapies area is for women only except on Wednesdays when it is co-ed.

• Amenities include robes, towels, lockers and combination locks, shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, body lotion, antiperspirant, cotton swabs, razors, hair dryers, curling irons and disposable slippers.

• There are 10 massage rooms, 11 esthetics rooms, 2 "l'aroma rooms and 28 mani/pedi stations plus 4 hair stations and 3 make-up stations. 

• There are 118 active employees in the spa not including various shared support staff like marketing, maintenance, accounting, etc.

• The Elmwood Spa only employs Registered Massage Therapists. This professional designation means the practitioner has completed a minimum of 2200 hours of intensive study, including anatomy and physiology, in addition to clinical instruction. All RMTs are members of the Ontario College of Massage Therapists and are licensed and registered under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA).

• The Elmwood Spa is the winner of the 2000 and 2001 Consumers’ Choice Gold Award for Best Skincare in the GTA

• The Elmwood Complex is affiliated with Elmcrest College (formerly the Zehava School of Esthetics & Massage) which includes a Faculty of Massage Therapy & Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Esthetics, and Faculty of Spa Management.

Future Plans

• In Spring 2002, the spa is scheduled to be have a major year-long retrofit with a top Toronto design firm. Feng Shui master, Dvan Grant-Francis of Victoria, B.C. and an ergonomics expert will also be consulted.

• The new design (subject to modest change) will have 20 massage rooms (17 single & 2 double - some will have in-room fireplaces), 16 esthetic rooms (11 standard plus 5 wet including 2 vichey's), 1 hydro-tub room, 1 large l'aroma room, up to 6 hair stations, 28 mani/pedi stations, and 5 make-up stations.

• Other features of the new design include (but are not limited to) a living wall - fully contained eco-system in the lobby, much larger men's locker room with in-room whirlpool & steam, much larger women's change facility, quiet waiting rooms, juice bar, full spa dining room, and lockers, lunch & rest areas for the staff.

• The Elmcrest College, through their association with The Elmwood Spa, will be bringing a Thai Massage Master directly to Thailand to train the trainers or will send trainers to Thailand so Thai Massage can be offered both at the school and at the spa.