Viva la Vida

It’s 10 a.m. and the first bleary-eyed clients of Vida Spa, at the Sheraton Wall Center location in downtown Vancouver, wander into the glass-enclosed lobby. The typical west-coast design in the foyer makes you feel like you are still outside - stone floors, pale natural wood, accents in various shades of green, big, leafy potted plants, and lots of natural light.

The sunlight and open-concept space quickly disappear as you are ushered into the cave-like lounge — completely opposite to the lobby in colour and light, the dimly lit space decorated in deep taupe, burnt orange, crimson red and chocolate brown is dark and cozy. A ceiling to floor waterfall and relaxing spa music set the tone, as you are offered a herbal tea from a selection produced exclusively for Vida Spas.

If you are receiving an Ayurvedic treatment, one of Vida Spa’s specialties, you will complete a short questionnaire to establish your dominant “dosha.” Vida Spa is one of a handful of spas to offer Ayurvedic treatments, which are based on a 5,000-year-old system of Indian medicine. The ancient philosophy maintains that everyone is typically dominant in one of three doshas,Vata, Pitta or Kapha. The treatments, which involve lots of hot oils and steam, are meant to work from the inside out, releasing toxins.

The spa also offers hydro therapies, and a multitude of massage options from hot-stone and aromatherapy massages to Swedish and Thai. For those more interested in esthetic treatments, the pedicures are not to be missed. In comfortable private rooms, the pedicures include a lovely exfoliating treatment, which leaves your legs silky smooth, and a long leg and foot massage that is bound rejuvenate the most tired feet.

—Ingrid Sly