Elmwood Spa has been easing knots in muscles and helping Torontonians exhale deeply since it opened in 1982. But, like the rest of the wellness game, the iconic spa has grown up. The next time you visit the facility on Elm Street, there's more than saunas, hot tubs and massage tables to tempt you.
Resonance, the spa’s new science-backed approach to mind-and-body wellness, offers guests an entirely new floor to explore. Descend one level to the basement and you’ll immediately feel the difference. Unlike the regular water therapies, where visitors rotate among the pool, hot tub, steam room and quiet chill-out zone, this lair is all about high-tech treatments, ranging from sound and light to flotation therapy.
Before heading to my first treatment, I stop for a Skincare Analysis. I stick my head into a machine that looks a little like something you’d find at the optometrist’s, only instead of testing my eyesight, it produces mildly terrifying scans revealing sun damage, pigmentation and what’s happening beneath the surface of my skin. The results are emailed afterward, along with recommendations to guide both your facial treatments and at-home routine. It’s complimentary for spa guests and also available as a standalone service for a fee.
As soon as I exit the elevator at Resonance, I know this isn’t your average spa experience. I’m greeted by the friendly staff and a Bevi machine, which lets guests customize their hydration with different levels of fizz and a choice of citrus additions.
First, I head to the Contrast Therapy suite, designed to be booked by groups of up to four. My love-hate relationship with cold plunges has been documented, but I’m relieved to have the private space to myself, where I can take things at my own pace and leave the towel-waving to the pros.
The room comprises a cold-plunge bath, set between 8 and 10 C, an infrared sauna, a shower and a seating area. The idea is to rotate between the two extremes, ideally three times, with plenty of rest in between, to boost circulation, reduce inflammation and set yourself up for a great night’s sleep.
Next up is the Mental Fitness Lounger, which sounds far more challenging than it actually is. Colloquially referred to as a “Power Nap,” the experience is designed to help your brain reach its deepest level of rest — particularly beneficial if, like me, yours never seems to switch off. The 20-minute program uses a series of frequencies to promote better sleep and rejuvenation.
I lie back on a lounger, swaddled in a weighted blanket and immersed in darkness with the help of an eye mask. Headphones are placed over my ears, and a series of sounds and vibrations begins, lulling me into a deeply relaxed state. It’s bliss — I only wish it lasted another hour or two.
Though I don’t get to try them firsthand, I take a tour of the other treatments in the Resonance space. Flotation Therapy lets guests float weightlessly in a private cabin filled with warm, Epsom salt-infused water while stars twinkle overhead.
The Biohacking treatment combines gentle “aqua-haptic” vibrations with full-body LED light therapy. Guests lie on a massage bed beneath a specialized pad designed to help reduce pain, support cellular repair and leave them feeling brand new. The 50-minute session can also be upgraded to include an RMT massage to soothe aches and pains even further.
I’ve already experienced so much and feel completely invigorated, but my visit isn’t over yet. Elmwood Spa recently introduced a new dining experience that lets guests pair a spa visit and full access to the Water Therapies with a gourmet three-course prix fixe meal. Every Friday, dinner can be added to any spa visit for $65, including a glass of house wine, while lunch is available for $55.
Robe on and makeup-free, I head to the dining room and choose a seat on the sunny patio. I start with a fresh, tasty panzanella salad that feels like I’m putting even more goodness into my body. For my main, I opt for the ragu, ravenous after all that intense wellness-ing, before wrapping things up with a blackberry tart.
"I always first look at what might be available locally and seasonally," explains Paul Celestini, head chef at Terrace Restaurant. "I also check for any products or techniques that might be trending at the moment — we also try to incorporate fusion into the menu."
For those looking to make a day of it, Elmwood’s seasonal Spa & Savour packages bundle treatments, Resonance therapies, Water Therapies and a three-course lunch or dinner into one very indulgent escape.
It’s a fabulous way to kick-start the weekend — and a serious glow-up from the standard hot-tub-and-sauna circuit. With Resonance's innovation and science-backed treatments, my visit has scratched an itch. I'm ready to go all-in on my self-care era, and I leave feeling rested, recharged and thoroughly levelled up. I’ll be back.
