Entering Le Nordik spa is like stepping into a secret world of tranquility and beauty, a refuge where peace of mind and relaxation are incubated and your troubles drift away.
Situated in picturesque Old Chelsea, on the border of Gatineau Park in Quebec, just a hop from Ottawa, Le Nordik has captured the natural beauty of the surrounding area and let it guide its design. The buildings are all designed with a brick and wood exterior, with post-and-beam roofs extending over them. The spa encompasses the majestic trees and rugged rocks of the landscape. The combination of rustic charm and modern lines creates a warm environment. Numerous fireplaces are onsite offering cozy little enclaves for relaxation and quietude.
“We can have up to 200 people onsite, but with the design of little pockets of areas to relax, our visitors can isolate themselves and fell wonderfully alone in their little bubble,” says Martin Paquette, owner and president, Le Nordik spa.
A unique aspect of Le Nordik is its exterior baths operate through the four seasons, allowing the vastly changing elements to influence spa-goers experiences. Paquette says in fact, many clients prefer the winter experience when it’s -20 degrees outside, making the cold plunge even colder, and the whole effect on the body more extreme. “Newcomers often look amazed when they see clients outside in their bathing suits as winter ravages on,” Paquette says. “But, once you try it, you discover you can withstand the cold and barely feel it.”
The very heart of the Le Nordik experience is thermotherapy, using hot and cold variations to encourage endorphin production.
“Our philosophy is that Le Nordik is a sanctuary for relaxation,” Paquette explains. “Water is our core business, and people come here to relax.”
Different pavilions are placed strategically, like a small village, offering protection from the elements such as winds. A custom-made Finnish sauna is housed in a square log timber-frame building, with a real wood stove built by an iron maker allowing employees to feed it from outside. Inside, the 4x4 heater is topped with volcano rock and visitors are encouraged to throw water on to increase temperatures and the scent. Clients typically stay in the sauna about 10 to 15 minutes before existing to the outdoor pool for a cold dip.
There’s also hot tubs onsite, and the steam room with Le Nordik’s specially made eucalyptus and mint scent.