It feels as if a new temple of fitness, relaxation and body therapy is opening in Toronto every day. This city offers plenty of paths to wellness, from falling in love with the cold plunge trend to trying a mindful riff on classic workouts like Pilates. To beat the hustle and bustle, we’ve rounded up some of the most talked about and forward-thinking spaces to sweat it out, cool off, and everything in between.
Cult studio: Jaybird
jaybirdjaybird.com, 735 Queen St W 2nd Floor and 110 Bloor St W Lower Concourse
The first thing you notice when you walk up the stairs to Jaybird’s Brancusi-inspired Queen West store (they also have a location in Yorkville) is the scent. It’s a sophisticated, woody, floral scent that feels more like a five-star hotel lobby or a less sweaty gym. But don’t get me wrong. You’ll be sweating. That’s because all of Jaybird’s classes, from yoga to Pilates to bodyweight “burn” classes, are heated with infrared light. They claim this is to help release serotonin, the happy brain chemical.
There are other notable Jaybird-isms. All classes are mirrorless (to encourage you to focus on how you feel, not how you look) and dimly lit with flameless candles (to avoid focusing too much on others). Instructions are given verbally rather than visually. Burn classes begin with a “resting place,” slowly build to a crescendo (quads, etc.), and end with a visceral dance party after a thorough workout of muscles and inhibitions.
This is the kind of experience that can be met with skepticism (at least from people who prefer straightforward workouts and lean gyms). But by the end of that fun first class, you’ll be completely mesmerized (a two-class introductory pass is $30; then his one drop-in at Queen His West is his 32 dollars).
Out-of-this-world Pilates workout: Nice Day Pilates
nicedaypilates.ca, 398 King St E (new location coming soon)
Located on a quaint little stretch of King Street East in Corktown, Nice Day Pilates is Corktown’s first black-owned Pilates space. The bright, airy rooms are drenched in sunlight and decorated with dried flowers and delicate sculptural accents. The studio offers Reformer Pilates (starting at $99 for a 3-class introductory pack, then $31.50 per class when purchasing 12 packs per month) with an emphasis on form, function, and flow doing. Little Dragon plays quietly in the background during morning classes led by studio owner Jennifer Winter. Your breathing should become your true soundtrack. Winter guides the small group through a series of fluid movements and thought cues. Students are reminded to press the ball against their chest, imagining a pillow at the bottom of the machine to cushion and control each movement. The brain is as active as any other part of the body.
Nice Day classes are currently on a waiting list until the summer, and the studio plans to move to a larger space a few doors down in Corktown. In the meantime, we have Planet Nice Day, a digital hub. This on-demand Pilates platform offers guided, at-home workouts at an affordable price. Winter worked with his 3D designers to help create “a soothing space landscape where we could land quietly and dive a little deeper into practice.”
All-in-one with high status: Sweat and Tonic at the Well
Sweatandtonic.com, 486 Front Street W, Terrace Level
For the record, you don’t need a DJ to welcome you into your fitness studio or a touchscreen to pre-order your post-workout collagen or matcha smoothie. But these additions add up to make his newly opened Sweat and Tonic location at The Well a truly elevated fitness experience. A sparkling arched hallway leads to a marble-walled changing room with a separate Dyson his hairdryer and a vegan consonant his hand wash. The refrigerator is equipped with chilled face towels. From there, proceed to the fitness studio (for spin, HIIT, yoga, and Pilates). The Spin space looks like a nightclub, with matching lighting and a Britney Spears soundtrack. The bike is shiny and new, with an RPM display and digital tension adjustment. HIIT involves running circuits on the floor, weights, and treadmill portions that combine strength and cardio. No matter your vibe, you’ll find a workout that’s perfect for you. (Prices start at $20 for an introductory 3-pack, or try a 3-day all-access pass for $85.)
Additionally, there is a spa. We offer acupuncture, chiropractic care, shockwave athletic recovery treatments, and massages in a dark, luxurious, soundproof space. The Brazilian-style lymphatic drainage massage ($225) is a specialty here. The facial treatment version includes a cheek massage that massages the cheeks through the mouth to relieve tension in the jaw. There’s also a cryotherapy room ($69 for 15 minutes) and a red light therapy bed ($55 for 25 minutes), as well as cosmetic procedures like Hydrafacials ($150) and cosmetic injections (talk about a one-stop shop).
Best to end the day? A 50-foot-tall saltwater lap pool and sauna are the perfect way to end your day on a healthy note.
Restorative treatment oasis: Trove
trovewellbeing.com, 426 Adelaide St W
Adelaide Street West is an established wellness corridor with Othership, Nutbar and Impact Kitchen. And now Trove has joined the mix in a winding, dimly lit 5,000-foot space that smells like a heavenly mix of palo santo, sandalwood, and lime. please think about it. A one-stop shop for wellness services, from massage therapy to osteopathy to acupuncture. At the center of the space is an IV lounge, with comfy sofas surrounded by curtains surrounding a stylish central fireplace, where nurses administer the antioxidant glutathione ($235) and the cell-repairing NAD+ (Haley’s treatment). ) to relax or chat with friends. Bieber’s Favorite Anti-Aging Supplement, $350) is slowly injected into your veins.
But Goop-y tincture isn’t the only thing on offer. There are private cold plunge and sauna suits, salt caves and red light therapy beds. Additionally, our cozy studio hosts restorative yoga classes and sound baths. (If you purchase a package of 20, credits start at $28.) Then pour yourself a glass of complimentary on-tap his kombucha and jot down your feelings in the custom journaling nook.
Soho Wellness House: Altea Active
alteaactive.com, 25 Ordnance St.
Liberty Village often feels like your own little luxury club, but why should its wellness space be any different? Altea Active combines social club concepts with wellness, offering reformer Pilates and strength training. We offer a membership-based service (starting at $95 biweekly) that grants you training classes, personal training sessions and admission to the Catalyst Kitchen. The on-site restaurant combines virtues (edamame and quinoa bowls) with vices (local draft beers and a fairly extensive wine list).
Upgraded membership ($135 biweekly) includes monthly body composition scans, unlimited small group training sessions, and an accountability coach. You will also have access to the Somadrome, a technology-enabled meditation pod. It uses colored lights and sound therapy to help you shut out the outside world (unplugging is called plugging in) by simulating the feeling of infinite space and weightlessness. ).
Why stop there? All members have access to the Aquamoon Sensory Shower (combining light therapy and customizable water pressure), Himalayan Salt Wall, Ice Lounge, Hydrotherapy Pool, and KLAFS Sanarium (5 different thermal settings, from a Finnish sauna to a steam bath). We are proud of our experience.
Like any good social club, we also have guest passes.
