WHO: Erit Bochnik, manager of Shizen Spa (8 Colborne, 4th fl., 416-350-2424). Originally from Israel, Bochnik believes deeply in the connection between relaxation and overall health. Drawing on her background not only as an aesthetician, but on her studies of acupuncture, reflexology, reiki and Ayurvedic massage, Bochnik has created a soothing atmosphere in the Zen-themed spa inside downtown boutique hotel The Cosmopolitan.
WHAT: Shirodhara massage, a therapeutic treatment that has been practised for over 5,000 years in India, consists of a steady stream of warmed aromatic oil poured over the forehead or “third eye.” (In Sanskrit, “shiro” means “head” and “dhara” means “flow.”) It is believed that regular shirodhara helps with mood disorders like insomnia and stress, improves memory and nourishes the hair and scalp. While Bochnik says it’s not for people who are looking for a clinical, deep-tissue massage, she believes the benefits are tremendous for those open to the experience. “If you let yourself go, it will take you to a completely different place,” she says. A 60-minute shirodhara session at Shizen Spa costs $110.
WHERE: Bochnik encourages clients to arrive a bit early so that they can begin to unwind before their appointment begins, rather than race in at the last minute and waste a portion of your treatment just winding down. It’s definitely a worthwhile indulgence, especially considering that Shizen’s waiting room is an open solarium with cushioned seating areas and a large, co-ed Jacuzzi. Bring a suit to take advantage of the warm jets as you nibble at a pastry or a small dish of dried fruit and nuts and sip a hot cup of sweet, detoxifying Ayruvedic tea while you wait. There are glossy magazines and books on Zen to flip through. Leave your cellphone in your locker.
THE TREATMENT: When I went, I got myself good and mellow beforehand in the hot tub (though I should have maybe gone easier on the tea; several cups of fluid before an hour-long massage is not the wisest move). To begin, Gilberte, my masseuse, gently released tension in my legs and arms by using slow and steady pressure in one region at a time. The warm sesame oil dripping onto my forehead felt fantastic, as did the head, neck and shoulder massage that accompanied it. I relaxed to the degree that I felt like I entered a trance — it took me several minutes to come back to the ground when Gilberte quietly let me know the treatment was finished.
THE AFTERGLOW: There’s no question that I was considerably calmer for hours after, even after hopping on my bike and entering King Street traffic at rush hour. I kept my head wrapped in a cotton scarf for the rest of the night to allow the oil to condition my hair and scalp. It took a couple of washes in the morning to get the residue out, but the next day my hair was undeniably softer and shinier. As for my state of mind, I felt both stimulated and relaxed, a combination I am learning to pursue — it’s certainly preferable to the stress-induced pairing of manic and sluggish. Wanting to take a bit of the spa home with me, I left with hand-dipped sticks of lavender incense (50 cents each) and a tin of the Ayurvedic tea ($17).