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Spas in the city >> Downtown, uptown, all around, the new breed of urban spa aims to relax and soothe your stressed-out body and mind by MATTHEW HAYS, SIOBHÀN O'CONNOR and GENEVIEVE PAIEMENT
Out of the Blue New spa on the block sits pretty in Old-Montreal At first glance, Blue Urban Spa may appear to be just another cutting-edge salon with an up-to-the-minute decor and cute employees running around with great hair. But upon closer inspection, you'll find some inner sanctums within which a whole lotta rubbin' goes on. Besides the haircutting and makeup application, there is all manner of massotherapy to partake in as well as the prissy mani/pedicure, waxing and facial services. Blue, which opened its doors just three months ago, is the brainchild of co-founders Marie-Josée Bolduc and Sonya Audrey Bonin, two local hairdressing lasses who started out at Tonic and went on to help form Funky Toque. With Blue, they've created a fast-paced beauty haven, not a place to spend the entire day lolly-gagging about, covered in mud and sipping tisane (though they do offer you a beverage from their fully-stocked espresso bar before your treatment). My treatment happened to be a Chinese Tuina massage at the capable hands of Ann-Marie, who used to tend bar at the old Purple Haze. As I filled out my health questionnaire, she grilled me about where I held the tension in my body and how I liked to be touched (rough or gentle). She then let me choose one of the aromatic blended oils she makes herself, popped a waterfall, wind and harp tape into the boombox and left me to undress. Although I can't tell my Tuina from my Swedish or Californian, what followed was a thorough and personalized manual manipulation of pesky tension spots with a more general full body massage. Ann-Marie explained that each masseuse there has her specialty, whether it's shiatsu or reflexology, and that no two people are massaged the same way. Apparently those tension knots in people's shoulders are calcium deposits that need to be dissolved and reabsorbed by the body--visualizing their dissolution can help the process, says Ann-Marie. Massages go for $30, $50 and $75 (half hour, hour and hour-and-a-half), manicures are $25, pedicures $45 and facial treatments start at $25 (eye contour). (GP) Blue Salon spa urbain, 120 McGill, #101, 866-2222 
Sense and sensuality
Terra Spa wants you to relax and take a deep breath Hidden behind an unassuming door on a busy strip of the Main, just down from Warsaw's, sits the second-floor bastion of health and relaxation that is Terra Spa. All the trimmings of a mondo-relaxation environment are here in the waiting room: the delicate scent of incense, soft white curtains, a burbling rock fountain, a glass bowl of water with floating flowers and tinkling smooth jazz on the hi-fi. I'm greeted by the pretty and serene Sarah Hopper dressed in white, who helped found the spa with partner Claude Bonhomme, a kinesitherapist with over 15 years' experience. Hopper's specialties are the body wraps, pedicures and oxygen facials. First up: a mineral crystal and hot aromatherapy oil body exfoliation ($45). Sensitive skin types will want to steer clear of this thorough scrub-a-dub, but I rather enjoyed being divinely scrubbed like a precious tub. Then it was into the tub room for some balneotherapy action ($25) to remove the mineral clumps and oil and to detox in some hot seaweed water. With the jets activated, the steam began to rise like early morning mist off a fjord, creating a dramatic effect by candle light. Then, slipping into a monk-like terry bathrobe with a giant Gregorian hood, I was beckoned back into the massage chambre. There I was slathered from head to toe (hair too) in pulverized seaweed gel, wrapped snugly in plastic and covered in three layers of towels. "I always say it's like three weeks of sleep in an hour," Hopper said of the restorative seaweed wrap ($80), as she placed an oxygen mask over my nose and mouth once my transformation into human sushi roll was complete. As I shut my eyes and breathed in the pure oxygen, I tried not to think about my slight tendency toward claustrophobia as I developed a terrible itch in one knee and was relieved when my friendly spa guide returned to peel off the plastic and usher me into a hot, de-gooping shower. The final treat, in keeping with Terra Spa's love affair with oxygen, was a mini oxygen facial ($60-95). An assortment of creams and gels were massaged into my face, followed by a plastic gun spraying serum-infused pure oxygen into my pores. As their list of services proclaims, "Breathing is the foundation of relaxation," second only to their other motto that "being touched is vital for every human being." Hence the oxygen cocktails ($15-30), Oxygen Botanicals skincare products and the constant reminders to draw your breath down into your belly during your treatments. Feeling like a million bucks, my knees wobbling from my extreme state of relaxation and a goofy smile stuck to my lips like a tattoo, I literally floated back to the office. Terra Spa also offers kinesitherapy (a targeted massage for muscle and joint pain, $50-100), lymphatic drainage ($85), gift certificates for their own "Terra Mix" home spa sea salt and weed, essential oil bath soak ($40-54), and many other services. Their Pilates conditioning studio will also be open soon. (GP) Terra Spa, 3841 St-Laurent, 288-0152 Primping for princesses Spa Diva delivers decadent indulgences for the body There is no better place than the shwank Cours Mont-Royal--which is flanked with gold-encrusted mouldings, spiral staircases, impressive chandeliers and a ball room--for Spa Diva, a new addition to Montreal's urban spa compendium. On the third floor of the mall, an escalator opens into the very modern open-concept space. From the island reception desk to the plush white couches to the soft white lighting, this is a place for all-out luxury and détente. Upon arrival, I was told I'd be enjoying a Dead Sea Mud Wrap and was escorted to "my room": a private place to change into the puffy white bathrobe and slippers they provide, put my "valuables" in a safe and psych myself up before heading to the lounge. The dimly-lit lounge has stacks of women's magazines, confirming my suspicion that this is really a ladies' joint. Men are welcome, obviously, but there is something quite viscerally female about the place. The Wrap ($99) is a 55-minute-long treatment consisting of a full-body exfoliation with sea salt, followed by a massage with suprisingly thin and silky warm mud, supposedly procured from the Dead Sea. Once I was covered from head to toe in mud, my attendant wrapped me in a plastic sheet, two towels, and strapped me to a table with a heated blanket. I was asked if I was claustrophobic and said "No, not really," something I regretted halfway through when I had a minor anxiety attack. This treatment comes highly recommended for anyone except those with even minor claustrophobia like myself. That said, the benefits were pleasant and immediate: my skin was softer than the day I was born, I was relaxed (sort of) and felt like a princess. Which seems to be, more than anything, the goal at Spa Diva. The Spa offers a very wide variety of bizarre and intriguing care like non-surgical cellulite treatment ($89.95); skin polishing ($69); facials ($39-99); Cleopatra bath with milk and honey ($39); Vichy underwater massage ($79.95); and much more. Full-days range between $499-599, half-days at half the price. (SO) Spa Diva, 1455 Peel (third floor of Les Cours Mont-Royal), 985-9859 Tonic, take me away! St-Laurent salon/spa fixture smooths this city's skin Having been a customer at Tonic for years, I can attest to the general excellence of their hairdressers. But I've also been drawn back to the place for those amazing scalp massages that really help to relieve stress prior to the clipping. In the past couple of years, Tonic has expanded beyond simple haircut preludes to entire days of spa treatments. Perhaps the most esoteric in its approach to offering spa-related services, Tonic's style could best be described as New Agey. There are Eastern religious icons about, candles everywhere, projections of space constellations on the walls and music played during treatment that's specially geared to your astrological sign. Yes, it all seems a bit flakey, but Tonic does offer some of the most cutting-edge spa therapies in the city, including stress-relief hydro-pedicures and Himalayan rejuvenation treatments ("a seven-step sensory journey"). I went for an aqua therapy treatment. This begins with exfoliation, which is a nice word for taking some of your skin cells off. First, the therapist rubs your entire body with their hands while they're wearing little gloves that feel like they're made of steel wool. Then they rub sea salt and hot oils into your skin. This may sound like something akin to medieval torture, but afterwards, once you've rinsed off, your skin does feel very soft indeed. This is a newer therapy that may not please those with more sensitive skin. I am surprised that Tonic doesn't yet offer La Stone therapy, the latest New York/L.A. craze that hasn't hit Canada yet, except for one or two therapists in T.O. The therapy involves heated, very smooth stones being rubbed into your back, arms and legs in combination with traditional Swedish massage techniques. I've had it done and it's amazing. Tonic, please bring this new therapy to Montreal! Tonic treatments range from $45-325. (MH) Tonic Salon & Spa, 3613 St-Laurent, 499-9494 All about Atmosphère The Delta Hotel is not just for out-of-towners The Delta's spa is called Atmosphère, and it's a straightforward health and fitness centre. The name isn't entirely appropriate, simply because the decor is rather straightforward and hardly steeped in a specific spa-like aura. This, however, may please those of us who prefer no-nonsense, frill-less spa-going. While located in the hotel, you don't have to be a guest to attend. In fact, 70 per cent of Atmosphère's clientele are not guests at the hotel. Located downtown, it's a convenient place to stop in if you work in the 'hood. The hotel has an excellent gym facility which is rarely crowded. Adjacent to that is a pool, whirlpool and sauna. After that, you can wind down with a range of more traditional massage therapies, from Swedish to shiatsu to jin shin do. I indulged in a Swedish massage which included a steam bath just prior to it. The massage therapist I had was excellent, obviously well-versed in removing knots of tension. After about an hour and a half, I almost fell asleep on the massage table--a very good sign. For the ludicrously busy businessperson, I can't think of a better way to manage stress than to work this into your regimen. And for cold sufferers, the steam baths include Eucalyptus aromasteam, which help to fend off the worst elements of your ailment. Atmosphere also offers algae body packs, pressotherapy, manicures and pedicures. Prices range from $77-449 (the latter price being for the "Odyssey," an 11-and-a-half-hour therapy which includes two 60-minute massages, an algae body pack, seven body treatments and a three-course meal). (MH) Atmosphère Santé-Détente in the Delta Hotel, 475 President-Kennedy, 284-4357 Posh spa Non-New-Age Westmount Spa clinically relaxes There's something unmistakably clean and clinical about the Westmount Spa. It's location in the posh Westmount Square-- sandwiched between a fancy hosiery boutique and a decadent market--is a far cry from the New-Agey vibe many spas seem to have these days: no trickling-water sounds, no candles, no men in sarongs. The spa is a full-out body pleasure palace housing hairdressers, aestheticians, masseuses and a gym with personal trainers trouncing about in spandex. Upon my arrival I was escorted to the locker room where, lock and key in hand, I experienced serious high-school flashbacks. The locker room, clean and wide open, has a few showers. The steam bath and a sauna, available to all who partake in the spa's services, set it apart from the standard change room. The few times I've been treated to the pleasure of a paid massage, I've wondered what it takes these days to become a certified masseuse--not much, it sometimes seems. I am pleased to say, however, that the Westmount Spa boasts very, very qualified practitioners. I had an hour-long Swedish massage ($60) by the hands of a true pro. The setting: a heated table, padded and covered in a soft towel. The oil: an enjoyably light cream as opposed to the super slippery essential oils most places use. Clients also get to enjoy a brief deep-relaxation wrap in a warm blanket at the end of the massage "to relax the muscles," I was told. The lauded benefits of the massage include increased circulation and relaxation. Personally I just felt the benefits of a trip to the chiropractor or a good, long bubble bath. This place comes highly recommended, though its services are definitely high-end. Not the place for budgeteers. Also on the Spa's roster of treatments are deep muscle treatment ($60), waxing and hair-care treatment ($8-125), facials ($60-80) and full- and half-day packages ($95-285). (SO) Westmount Spa, 1 Westmount Square, 933-9966
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