by Darya Maeki and Jennifer Seligman
In hopes of taking a time-out from our busy schedules, we decided to kick back, relax and indulge in a spa retreat weekend. Our chosen destination was the Cosmopolitan Hotel, one of Toronto’s hottest hotels, and home to Shizen Spa and Doku 15.
Saturday:
6:30 p.m.
Express check-in upon arrival at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. We handed our keys to the Valet and headed up to our stunning suite. Our room had a very Zen-like feel to it. Much to our surprise, the room was equipped with a full kitchenette, minimalist furniture, soothing music and a fabulous view. (Our favourite part was the delicious plate of gourmet chocolate chip muffins waiting for us upon arrival!)
6:45 p.m.
We congregated with fellow media personnel and representatives of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in the designer penthouse for a cocktail party and an introduction to the spa retreat weekend.
8:00 p.m.
Several of us gathered together in the Chi room for a relaxing meditation session with Alex Jones, a Stress Management Instructor at the Dorothy Madgett Stress Management Clinic in downtown Toronto.
9:10 p.m.
We headed back up to the room to unpack our things and watch some ‘relaxing’ television à la Ugly Betty. We searched for some comfy slippers to warm our feet against the cold hardwood floor, but could not ind any. We settled for propping our feet up on the leather atamans and gazing out at the gorgeous 26th floor view while sipping some fine Japanese green tea.
12:00 a.m.
We decided to order a late night snack off the In-Room Dining Menu.
1:10 a.m.
We received our luke-warm “trans-Asian” food. The wild mushroom crostini, a garlic-rubbed appetizer with sautéed porcini and wild mushrooms finished with truffle oil, was deliciously incredible. However we also ordered the supposed “jumbo” tiger coconut shrimp, and much to our disappointment, each shrimp measured a mere 1.5 inches long! (Perhaps these jumbo-shrimp were vertically challenged?)
Sunday:
9:30 a.m.
We were welcomed by Shizen Spa staff and directed to the change rooms where we traded in our clothing for cozy bathrobes and (not so cozy, but pedicure-friendly) straw slippers. Graciela, in charge of the Body Refresher Treatment, guided me into a room with diffused lights and candles burning on the floor of the fresh-smelling room. Graciela laid a towel on my eyes and proceeded to massage sea salts into my body which removed all of my dry skin. Then she left the room and I went to go shower off in order to remove the sea salt. I returned to a warm bed with fresh sheets. Graciela then massaged cream all over my body leaving me relaxed completely stress-free.
Body Refresher Treatment (retail $95).
9:30 a.m.
I entered another room, removed my robe and got comfortable on the warm table. Gilberte, my massage therapist, asked where my problem areas were and told me to relax as she rubbed oils deeply into my legs. After thoroughly massaging both of my legs, she proceeded to my back where she spent most of her time massaging all of my problem areas, specifically my shoulders. She finished off the massage by rubbing my arms and massaging my neck and scalp. (Tip: I would recommend Gilberte to anyone who enjoys a deep tissue massage as she was very thorough and aggressive in her massage techniques.)
Swedish Massage Treatment (retail $110).
10:30 a.m.
We sat side by side as we soaked our feet in luxurious, sweet smelling water sprinkled with fresh rose petals. Our pedicurists Nicole and Sanya administered a rose exfoliation on our feet and then proceeded to massage our legs. Our pedicurists were incredible – it was truly one of the best French pedicures I have ever received (and as we all know, a quality French pedicure is often difficult to find).
Rose Signature Pedicure (retail $85) and Rose Signature Pedicure with French Polish application (retail $100).
12:05 p.m.
Brunch buffet at Doku 15. The food was even better than anticipated, from the custom-made omelets and delicious banana bread to the bocconcini salad and baked salmon with hollandaise sauce. Even the desert table was delicious, full of banana tartlets, chocolate layer cake and fresh fruit to dip in the chocolate fountain.
1:00 p.m.
Check out.
For more information on Shizen Spa or the Cosmopolitan Hotel, go to www.cosmotoronto.com.