The Greenest Spas in Montreal

Friday, Jun. 26, 2009 | 09:27 AM AT

Image of the healing bath at Spa Dr Hauschka

Who doesn't love a good spa treatment, hey? I sure do. Yes, they're a luxury and not a necessity, but what's life without a little sip of bliss now and then? Especially when there's a way to partake of said bliss while caring similarly for the planet?
But aren't all spa treatments natural? Mine says "organic"!
I've noticed that too many of the spas out there offer treatments that use products that contain nasty synthetic chemicals (even though many of them come in bottles labelled "organic" or "natural"). You should know that there's no goverment standard for the word "natural". Technically, petroleum is natural. So is cyanide. But you wouldn't want someone slathering it onto your skin, would you? The word "organic" may have a little more weight (but you have to look for legitimate certification).
Worse, even if a few of the ingredients in your treatment ARE actually organic or natural, many companies use chemical preservatives and other toxins to improve smell, texture or shelf life. It's very caveat emptor.
And this isn't taking into account all the waste-- disposable products, lack of recycling , etc.
So how do you get a little guilt-free pampering? Step right up, ladies and germs, because I've got a list of the greenest spas in Montreal!

Spa Dr Hauschka
This is the spa where we shot the video portion of this segment. It is nothing short of divine!
Here's why I think Dr Hauschka products are among the most incredible, trustworthy and luxurious green treatments out there:
* Biodynamics: All of Dr Hauschka's products are actually natural and organic. In fact, they go one step further and are what is called "biodynamic". Biodynamics is the prevailing gold standard of sustainable agriculture. It dates back to the 1920's. It is practised taking iinto account everything from the cycles of the moon and stars to the soil, plants, animals and people, with the ultimate goal of making each garden or farm a healthy self-sustaining ecosystem. Holistic gardening, if you will! You can read more about the company's social and agricultural policies here.
* Fair trade I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be comfortable knowing that my 2 hours of bliss came at a huge cost to the environment or families living in developing countries. That's why I'm thrilled that Dr. Hauschka has these policies.
* Waste-free: Although no treatment can be completely waste-free (there's packaging and water involved), I was impressed with how little waste was created at the Spa Dr Hauschka. They don't use any disposable products that I could detect. Hard core greenies might have a problem with the fact that some treatments do include a bath (ergo water waste), I think if you live your life taking 5 minute showers, a bath once in a while is justified. I'd love to know what you think. Also, the flower petals used in your bath are then recycled and used in water- and candle-filled bowls as decoration. So nothing is really wasted.

Other reasons Dr Hauschka treatments are very different from any spa you've probably experienced:

* Their facials include foot, arm and shoulder massages! This apparently opens up the body and relaxes the mind so that the skin is more receptive to all the yummy-smelling lotions and potions.
* There is no squeezing, zit-popping, scrubbing or even rubbing of the facial skin! Enaam Takla (the owner of Spa Dr Hauschka) explains that their treatments aim to work with the skin and not against it. So they use gentle touches and silk brushes to stimulate lymphatic drainage and detoxification. Expect to leave with no redness or irritation, just plump, glowing skin that smells good enough to eat (and given the lack of harmful chemicals, probably is!)

Price:
Aah, but beauty that pampers the planet seldom comes cheap. Treatments at Dr Hauschka's start at $155 (for an hour and a half facial with all those massages thrown in ) and go up from there. I thought this was pretty steep (can you tell I'm not a regular spa-goer?) until I made some calls and find it's actually in the mid-range for comparable treatments. And it's actually natural, not greenwashed.

Image courtesy Espacenomad.ca

Is massage more your thing?
Try a treatment at Spa Vert. They actually have a particularly budget-friendly special on right now.
This spa is actually located within a yoga studio (Studio Breathe, 1313 Rue Shearer) and owned by Diane Carruthers. She's a certified massage therapist for both humans and animals! I kid you not! I used to think animal massage was a bunch of hokey, best left to blue-rinsed older ladies with large inheritances. But that was before I adopted my dog, Lucie. It was through massage that I finally convinced Lucie to give up her skittishness and barking and actually trust me. It was with massage that I helped nurse my beloved cat, Steenki to recovery post-surgery. It is how I'm communicating with our newest adopted member of the family, Oscar (the cat).
But I digress. I mention this because I think Diane has an incredible gift. She is, in many ways, the perfect massage therapist. Incredibly physically strong and capable, but with a profound inner gentleness, and, thanks to her animal massage background, an almost uncanny ability to pick up your body's subtlest cues without needing to speak.

Why Spa Vert is actually vert...
* Certified organic cotton or bamboo sheets
* Certified organic oils and lotions
* All paper is 100% post-consumer recycled
* They recycle and minimise waste as much as is humanly possible

Rates Not counting promotions, prices start at $50 for a 30 minute massage and run to about $120 for 90 minutes (taxes included). You can find more details here.

For the ultimate tree-hugging massage experience:
Located in the Plateau district, Espace Nomad has one of the most innovative sustainable massage programs in the city.
Book yourself a "Signature Massage" at EspaceNomad and they will plant a tree for you in the Boreal Forest through this program.!
Need a boost of good karma (or just want to help with a good cause)? Sign up for a Karma Massage on July 8. All proceeds will be donated to the Dr Gilles Julien foundation for social paediatrics.

And if that wasn't enough, here are a few more reasons why Espace Nomad is one of the greenest spas in town:
* They have heated floors designed to lower energy consumption
* They use non-VOC paint and NU-Board panels that give off no toxic emissions
* They use garbage bags, hand towels, recycling bags and other cleaning materials that are 100% biodegradable and compostable
* All their treatments are paraben-free
* Their massage oils are 100% organic and devoid of silicone and other harmful chemicals
* The spa also has a certified in-house herbalist who creates organic treatments on-site

Rates: Treatments start at $1 a minute for a chair massage, $69 for an hour of Swedish massage and go from there. They have so many options, you'd best see them for yourself.

So what I'd like to know is this: Would you be willing to pay a little more to get a treatment that's not just natural and organic but that also benefits the planet (or at least causes it no harm)? Do these things even factor into your decision when you dial your local studio of bliss? I'd love to know.


Here's what's in it for you:
One lucky viewer (who writes or calls before 12 noon on Monday, June 29) will win a travel pack of Dr Hauschka spa products. Very, very delicous!

I'll be in on Monday to upload your comments and do the draw for the winner. And I'll have one last blog post for you. But after that, it's sayonara for the summer. Be Green is going on hiatus. But I'm hoping you'll keep... you know... being green! And if you'd like some encouragement in that direction, come take a workshop with me. You can learn to make your own eco-friendly and economical laundry soap, dishwasher detergent, shampoo, hair treatments, vaniall velvet lip balm, natural toothpaste and mouthwash, moisturiser, toner, skin cream and more! All this in a convivial environment (with certified organic an fair trade tea). I'll provide all materials and printed notes and everyone goes home with samples of what we've made. Early birds get 10% off and a chance to win some delicious all-natural, homemade goodies (courtesy moi!). Just call (514) 510-3274 to make your reservation.

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