Five stress-relieving spa treatments to calm you before the holidays

1. Get out there

Embrace the cold with a spa system created in Northern Europe. Quebec’s award-winning Nordik Spa has enough baths and saunas to get lost in, both outdoors and inside. The heat rids your body of toxins and opens pores. The cold closes them and gets your adrenaline going. The final step is to rest, creating a sense of deep relaxation as your body releases endorphins. Can you say ommmmm? 

Nordik Spa, 16 Chemin Nordik, Chelsea, Quebec

2. Room with a view

For scenic de-stressing, The Fairmont Spa in Jasper is unbeatable. Relax with their Stress Relief treatment ($170), a massage that uses arnica oil and targets tension points. Then gaze out and let the mountain views wash over you.  

Fairmont Spa, 1 Old Lodge Rd., Jasper, Alberta 

3. Steam scene

Warm up and chill out in Toronto’s Hammam’s steam room ($55), which is infused with eucalyptus oil to calm you down and ease muscle aches. The traditional treatment, which is popular in Turkey, Spain and Morocco, is thousands of years old. Follow up with an argan oil massage ($155) and you’ll be totally zenned out by the time you leave.   

Hammam Spa, 602 King St. W., Toronto, Ontario 

4. Spot treatment

Where do you feel the most tension? Vancouver’s Vida Spa has three De-Stress Express treatments ($60) to target the points that are bothering you most. The spa, which specializes in traditional Indian Ayurvedic treatments, also offers restorative yoga to get your mind and body back on track. 

Vida Spas, 1601 Bayshore Dr., Vancouver

5. Rock on

This tourist favourite is complete with a water wall and an array of specialized treatments. Try the Hydrating Aromatherapy Hot Stone Massage with coconut oil ($165) – the hot rocks help release knots deep in muscles while relaxing you. 

Riverstone Spa, 75 Forks Market Rd., Winnipeg 

Can't make it to the spa? Try one of these five at-home treatments instead.