Good things always seem to come in threes; chances, wishes, phrases like “I love you,” and best of all, the three little letters: S, P and A. Separately they don’t do much, but put them together in that order and they can bring longing thoughts to any man or woman.

Appropriately, Vida Wellness Spa has three locations in B.C.: two in Vancouver and one in Whistler. “Our entire company is built around an ayurvedic philosophy, and that’s in treatment, in the philosophy of how we treat our staff, and how we operate as a company,” says president Allison Hegedus. “Having said that, although it is our signature treatment... we do offer traditional therapies as well.”

The base ayurvedic philosophy works from the inside out to restore the internal sense of energy and wellbeing through diet, massage and lifestyle. The first step is establishing your dosha (body type). There are three types: vata, pitta or kapha, and each relates to different earth elements. Once you have it figured out, the fun begins!

Some of the best values at Vida are the packages, and the Ayurvedic Journey is sublime. It involves a 90-minute swedana — an oil-laden ayurvedic massage — followed by being “cocooned” in a West-Coast cedar steam cabinet, where the aroma is enhanced by herbs, customized to your dosha, to cleanse and detoxify your system. You are then treated to a 60-minute shirodhara head massage, and a 60-minute, sole-revival foot massage. “Since all the nerve endings in your body end at the feet, you are working and treating all the different organs in the body,” says Hegedus.

The spa also offers all sorts of goodies for couples, like side-by-side massages and private Jacuzzis for two. And while most of the treatments are gender neutral, there are a few just for the guys, like the gentleman’s hot-towel facial. “Men are a big part of our clientele,” says Hegedus. “Ladies will introduce their husbands or boyfriends to the spa and once they come in they end up being our best clients.”

Get Wellness
Vida isn’t the only spa catering to a male clientele. “We have a fair number of men clients, especially in Whistler, because a lot of people want a massage after skiing,” says Dr. Lisa Skerritt, co-owner of Solarice Wellness Spa (formerly Spa Ethos). “And we have a whole menu of services just for men.”

Skerritt, a doctor of Chinese medicine and her partner Amy Rein, a psychologist, own three spas, two in Whistler and one in Vancouver.

“We are a bit of an unusual spa in that we are very wellness based,” says Skerritt. “We have acupuncturists, naturopaths, and doctors of Chinese medicine. We have our own teas, and we even have psychotherapists that work with us. We also have a yoga studio in Whistler.” Solarice uses all-natural and organic products, because as Skerritt puts it, “I am a doctor of Chinese medicine, so we really believe that what you put on your body is as important as what you put in your body.” One of the popular treatments is the carrot-vitamin body wrap. “We use facial products on the body, so it’s a very strong body wrap. You get covered in a wonderful carrot-vitamin facial, they wrap you in thermal blankets and then you have a steam and a massage after. It’s brilliant,” says Skerritt.

To a Tea
For something a little smaller, but unique in its practices, Silk Road tea spa in Victoria is an ideal choice. It really is all about tea. Once you walk into the century-old building you are met with a complimentary cup, just as your nostrils are greeted by essential oils and your eyes feast upon beautiful teapots, unusual tea ware, and specialty brews.

Owners Daniela Cubelic and Nancy Larose are both trained tea masters, and every treatment in the spa uses tea in some form. “We view tea in a very holistic way, and that’s how we incorporate it into our spa,” says Cubelic. “Tea is considered very good for your skin, so it really made sens to use it in these ways.”

One of the signature treatments at Silk Road is the green-tea facial. It uses hot, tea-infused towels to steam the face, and then a combination of a mask and exfoliant. Cubelic and Larose have established a clientele that is looking for a strictly natural experience. “All of our skin-care products and body products are made fresh here in Victoria and they are organic,” says Cubelic. “If we can’t make something naturally we just don’t do it. We have a very, very high standard for what natural means and what organic means, so we really follow that philosophy.” •