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| Women’s Lounge Area at Iyashi Bedrock Spa with entrance to black silica rockbeds through door on the right |
On a crisp November evening, with an occasional snowflake landing on my nose, Iyashi Bedrock Spa felt like an oasis of warmth and comfort. This serene second floor space welcomes chilly, stressed out people and and releases them at the end of the evening in a haze of blissed out calm.
Iyashi Bedrock Spa is the first Japanese Ganbanyoku Spa in North America. This new spa welcomes celebrities and stressed out urbanites alike to lie down on imported black silica rockbeds (that emit far infrared heat) and sweat out calories, toxins and tension.
The benefits of Ganbanyoku include pain relief, a better mood (less anxiety, depression, anger), enhanced immunity for less sickness, detoxification plus weight loss due to calories burned and increased metabolism.
I spoke to a couple of fellow participants and one woman mentioned that her chronic neck and shoulder pain had disappeared (just from lying on the hot stones) after a number of sessions!
There are two rooms for rock bathing, one large space for up to 17 people and a smaller, private room with only 4 spaces. Registered Massage
Therapy is also available before or after your rock bathing experience. For a unique party idea, private events can be arranged (whether a bridal shower or a corporate shindig) including sushi!
For those people who would like to enhance the therapeutic effect of the rock treatment, the spa offers hot
Yin Yoga classes for further muscle relaxation. Yin Yoga participants (who provide their own clothes for the class) are provided with a locker containing a pair of disposable thongs, a towel and a paper water cup. Green tea is available to sip on as well. Clients who choose to simply lie prone for the rock bathing are given a comfortable cotton wrap top and long shorts to wear if they like. There are showers available, but the spa recommends not bathing for at least two hours to enhance the benefits of the experience.
Iyashi Bedrock Spa is located at 2662 Yonge Street in uptown Toronto, just across from Sporting Life. The hours are 10-9 daily, except Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, when the spa opens at 9:30 a.m.
We are in for a long, cold winter this year, so make sure to warm up and experience all the benefits at Iyashi Bedrock Spa!