A Finnish Tradition in the Middle of Montréal?

It seems as if it is impossible to get away from stress in a big city, but in the old port of Montréal, the Scandinavian Baths provide a relaxing atmosphere that also has positive effects on your health. A zen experience that comes with a price.

Last Christmas I got many gift certificates. Amongst them, there was one for the Scandinavian baths in the old port of Montréal which allowed me to access the baths once from Monday to Friday. I had no idea there was such a place in the city until I heard about it at my job but was delighted to have the chance to relax for a while. The Montréal branch is actually well situated (71 de la Commune, West) and is easily accessible with bus 55 or from the metro Place d’Armes (about a 10 minutes walk from the station). It wasn’t my first time with this kind of spa, as I’ve been to one here in Québec a few years ago and went about five times to hot springs in Japan.

On a Tuesday, after work, I waited for the bus for 30 minutes until my frozen butt told me to take another type of public transportation. Needless to say I was very eager to enter the hot water and unfreeze my muscles. The whole public transportation trouble(oh, STM) made me kind of angry so I needed those baths even more!

The entrance is impeccable. The decoration is sober and the little new age music already puts you in the mood. The employees will welcome you with courtesy and will take the time to explain everything to you if it is your first time. They even have a little map of the place and a miniature locker to show you how to use your key. Plus, you are provided with a bath robe and two towels. All those little details are what make a difference at the end of the day.

Then you enter the locker rooms. Again, spotless. You have blow dryers on the counter, shampoo in the showers and inside the lockers there is a little basket where you can put your jewellery. After taking a quick shower, I entered the bath area, with my bathing suit on of course…this is not Japan!

To benefit from the baths, here is what you are supposed to do: first, choose between the hot bath, the eucalyptus steam bath or the Finnish sauna. Stay there for 10 to 15 minutes. Second, rinse yourself with cold, ice cold water. You can either immerse yourself in the cold bath or go under the cold shower. Third, rest for about 15 minutes. Repeat as many times as you want.

Of course I tried them all, and here is what I thought of it:

Hot and cold bath

Hot bath: I thought it was okay. It is a bit like a big jacuzzi and the waterfall makes a relaxing noise. The bath is big enough and quite deep. Personally though, I thought it wasn’t hot enough. Maybe you shouldn’t take my word for it because I really like hot hot baths. Still, when comparing with Japanese hot springs this felt just okay. Since I am not here to bathe but to sweat, I think the water should be hotter. Also, I always feel weird being in hot water with my bathing suit on. I’m ready to let go of this part because this is a mixed bath and even between people of the same gender, people in North America aren’t really comfortable with being naked with others. I also think that a bath like this is more enjoyable when it is outside, but since it’s in the city, I understand why they had no choice but to keep it inside. Even if they had space on the rooftop or elsewhere outside, in the summer the old port gets so busy the noise would disturb the tranquility of the bath. In the end, I only went to the bath once.

Eucalyptus Steam Bath: This one was my favourite. It is round and made of tiles with three levels on which you can sit or lie down. When you first go in, you feel like you’ll suffocate but that is only temporary. The best thing is to relax and take deep breath. The smell of eucalyptus is very soothing and the warmth becomes so comfortable that all your muscles relax. I also felt all this sweat coming out of my pores, not in a disgusting way of course, it was just refreshing. In the end of the night, I went there the most.

Finnish Sauna

Finnish Sauna: This is the more traditional type of sauna. It is dry, 90C…basically it’s just hot. I always have a hard time staying in these types of saunas for more than 5 minutes. Maybe if I went more often I would get used to it but right now it is a bit too much for me. I get dizzy quickly. Still, the feeling and the smell of the warm wood is different from the other sauna and brings you back to nature.

Cold bath or shower: This step is painful to go through, although apparently it becomes very addictive. The first time I did it I just quickly stepped out of the shower, so it didn’t have much effect on my body. I also tried to go into the cold bath, but as it felt like a hundred needles going through my skin, I just stuck to the showers. I became more used to the shock of the cold water and started slowly counting to 5 every time I got under the water. After that, you really feel the difference in your muscles. Even if it is painful, try to go through it!

Relaxation Zone

Relaxation zone: There are two spaces made for you to rest after the hot/cold therapy. There is a common area where you are allowed to chit chat, in a low voice of course, with whoever you came with. You can also buy fresh juice at the juice bar. I didn’t like the fact that the prices weren’t posted for the juices and that you get to know the price when you pay at the end, so I didn’t order any. My guess was: if it’s not written, it MUST be expensive. There is water and tea for free on the juice bar. It is important to stay hydrated during the whole process by drinking a lot of water or tea. You can also go to the zero stress room, which is supposed to be a complete silent room…but of course there is always someone to talk loud and not respect the rules! I think the light for this room could even be lower. I went there most of the time and sat down in the big beanie bags/chairs, closing my eyes, relaxing. At some point I almost felt asleep.

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The fees are not cheap. For the access to the baths only, it is 54$+tax, but it is pretty common for a place like this in Canada. Plus, since it is in the middle of the city, you pay for the rareness and the appeal of the old port. I also talked to my friend about it and I came to the conclusion that if it was cheaper, then more people would come and it wouldn’t be peaceful. So you’re also paying for peace and quiet. You can also get a massage, but then the price goes over 100$ (you get a massage and full access to the baths). I think it can make a great gift for a friend or for yourself, but make sure you have a lot of time, because if you spend only one hour, you’ll regret spending all that money.

I noticed from the website that Scandinavian Baths are also located in Mont Tremblant in Québec, but also in Blue Mountain in Ontario and Whistler in BC. These three other spas are in the mountains so they look extremely gorgeous and some of them are even cheaper than the one in Montréal (but of course you have to drive all the way there!). I would love to try one of these one days, because I just love taking a hot bath surrounded by snow.

All pictures belong to www.scandinave.com