Mount Royal College Aj Robertson

Calgary | Spa Therapy: Get the Most Out of Your Time at Calgary ...

These days, it seems that whenever you ask someone how things are going, the standard answer is “busy.” Information gathered by the Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being at Guelph University in 2001 stated that 58 per cent of Canadians felt “overloaded” with work, their personal lives, and issues relating to health. Also, The Conference Board of Canada found that workers experiencing high levels of stress miss over a week of work a year—twice the amount of their chilled out colleagues.

A.J. Robertson, an instructor with Mount Royal University’s Centre for Complementary Health Education and the school’s new Spa Therapy program, (due to start this fall), says that it’s vital to take some “you” time—time dedicated to forgetting about work deadlines, responsibilities at home and other daily stress producers in your life. “In a day and age where stress is not only one of the leading factors contributing to disease but also reported by a growing number of the population, stress management is incredibly important in overall health and well-being,” she says.

Robertson, who’s studied energy-based and therapeutic treatments like Reiki, reflexology, meditation and Tai Chi since the mid-1990s, says that while making smart nutritional choices and exercise can help with stress management, a trip to the spa can also do wonders. “Therapeutic treatments are an excellent method of achieving [a relaxed] state and [can] assist our bodies in the process of relaxation, detoxification, and wellness.”

We’ve combed the city for some of the best spa treatments around to help you unwind, revive and feel nourished.

By Laura Pellerine, Allison Onyett, and Dan Leahul