BY JOANNE SASVARI
These days, it seems like we’re all on a wellness journey, and often that journey takes us to a spa. Here are the spas and trends making a splash right now.

If you’ve been trying to find me lately and not having much luck, that might be because I’ve been soaking, steaming and sweating my cares away. At least, I’ve been trying to, and Vancouver Island’s spas have been doing their best to help me.
They say that “spa” is an acronym for “sanitas par aquam,” though it’s entirely possible that’s a myth and Spa is just the name of a Belgian town famed for its healing thermal waters. Whatever the case, there is nothing like slipping into warm mineral water and feeling your aches, pains and stresses float away.
Of course, not all spas are the same. There are day spas where you go for a few hours of pampering, destination spas where you book in for a longer stint of relaxation, medical spas that offer lasers, injectables, peels and other treatments that may require a doctor’s care, Ayurvedic spas that follow an ancient Hindu healing system that aims to create a balance between mind, body and soul, or Nordic spas where the treatments are based on heat and cold.
But if we’re talking about classic spas, we’re talking water, whether it be from the sea or a hot mineral spring. Think historic European spa towns like Bath, Baden-Baden, Spa or Montecatini Terme or, in Canada, Harrison Hot Springs or Banff Hot Springs. Their names reflect the idea that you’re in for a good, long, sultry soak. Often the water has other healing properties, too, like salts that soothe discomfort, minerals that repair skin and ligaments or, in the case of Hungary’s renowned Lake Héviz, the tiniest trace of radioactivity, which is said to be especially beneficial for sports injuries, inflammation, neurological conditions and lady problems.
Whatever the case, the idea is to leave feeling — and usually looking — better than you went in.
Here on Vancouver Island, we have a wealth of terrific spas of all varieties. But if you’re craving the healing properties of water, here are three to check out.

Mineral Pools | Oak Bay Beach Hotel

There is something uniquely invigorating about floating in a hot mineral pool at the edge of the ocean while nature hurls wind and rain your way. Of course, it’s also a lovely experience when the sun is shining and the breeze is gentle and warm. In any case, the three adults-only outdoor pools at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel offer stunning views across the Salish Sea and healing waters that soothe your body and wash your cares away.
While you’re here, you can also take advantage of the water and towel service, assigned lounge chairs and the eucalyptus-infused sauna, and order tasty sips and bites from the Boathouse Kitchen & Bar.
The only catch? The pools and sauna are only available to registered overnight hotel guests or guests of the Boathouse Spa who have upgraded their treatments to include pool use. That said, the hotel does occasionally offer seasonal pool passes for purchase, so keep an eye out for those deals and be prepared to make a splash.

The Healing Caves | Kingfisher Pacific Resort & Spa
It’s generally a good idea to come in from the storm — unless you’re in the Storm Cave at the Kingfisher’s Pacific Mist Spa, where you lounge in a pool while wind, waves and rain rage around you and virtual lightning rips across a thunderous sky. It’s the most dramatic of the six brand-new Healing Caves at the resort, each offering a different experience and therapy; it is also unique in North America. (There is, however, a similar cave at Milan’s QC Termemilano Spa.)

Ten long years in the making, the caves are snugged up next to the 25-year-old Pacific Mist Hydropath that winds through eight stations, each offering unique therapy inspired by the ocean. But The Healing Caves offer a whole new immersive journey designed to relieve stress and tension, boost the immune system, improve sleep and energy, relieve inflammation and more.
Over 70 minutes or so, while high-definition screens display natural landscapes from around the world, up to four guests at a time can experience: thermotherapy in the Desert Cave; aromatherapy in the Mystic Cave; cryotherapy in the Ice Cave; red-light therapy in the Astral Cave; halotherapy in the Salt Cave; and immersive hydrotherapy in the Storm Cave, where dramatic weather patterns are simulated within an infinity pool surrounded by a giant screen.
Opening date for the caves hadn’t been announced at press time, but YAM managed to get a sneak peek behind the scenes. We can safely say this is going to be a thoroughly thrilling experience at a resort that has seriously stepped up its game in recent years.

The Grotto | Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre
The spa at Tigh-Na-Mara regularly wins buckets of awards, and for good reason: This is always an exceptional spa experience. Even so, a couple of years ago they made some changes to focus on wellness and, based on a recent visit, it’s been all for the better.

The warm indoor mineral pool known as the Grotto has become the centrepiece of a two-hour, adults-only, indoor-outdoor wellness experience. Surrounded by boulders designed to simulate a natural stone grotto complete with waterfalls and whirlpools, the pool is rich with natural minerals and trace elements that soothe aching muscles and joints, detoxify the body, remineralize the skin and stimulate the metabolism.
Meanwhile, outdoors they’ve installed four cedar-barrel saunas, which offer benefits that include improved circulation, relaxation, mobility and connection to others. There are also two outdoor showers and a garden patio where you can soak up the sun or warm up next to a fire table. Guests meander happily back and forth from sauna to pool, order beverages from the attentive staff and chat with each other in a thoroughly chill way. (And yes, the delightful Treetop Tapas are still a thing here.)

Time was that a trip to the spa meant a massage, a pedi, a dip in a hot pool, maybe a mud wrap. That was then; now, modern spas offer a whole lot more than that. Here are some of the top trends in spas near and far.

1. Aging Better
If there is one overarching trend for 2025, it’s the quest for longevity — and not just living longer, but living better. To do so, we are embracing everything from cellular health supplements like NAD+ boosters to lifestyle practices such as intermittent fasting, cold exposure and circadian rhythm optimization. Spas, meanwhile, are delivering longevity-focused retreats and innovative therapies. They are also helping women manage menopause symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings and sleep disruption. Given that there are some 10 million women over the age of 40 in Canada, it’s about time.

2. Personalization
We all want to be seen, right? Well, with the help of artificial intelligence, spas can tailor their treatments to your unique needs by analyzing skin, body and health data to customize everything from skin-care regimens to meditation routines.

3. Mental Wellness
Spas are also leaning into not just the physical benefits of their treatments, but the mental and emotional ones. Expect to see more programs emphasizing stress management, mindfulness and emotional resilience through activities such as breathwork, cognitive therapy, aromatherapy, sound therapy and meditation.

4. Tech Enhancements
Tech has entered the spa world in a variety of ways — consider it a fusion of mind, body and machine. Expect to see more use of virtual reality to create serene environments during meditation or massage, as well as wearable health tech such as biofeedback devices that can monitor response to a treatment in real time. Next up? Robotics. The world’s first robotic massage therapy system, Aescape, uses AI-powered robot arms to deliver personalized massages without human touch, perfect for those with lingering post-pandemic ick issues regarding personal space.

5. Digital Detox Retreats
Put down the smartphone! On the flip side of all this tech-assisted wellness, more and more spas will encourage their clients to disconnect from technology, not just by leaving their mobiles in their lockers, but by focusing on mental clarity and establishing a healthy work-life balance. These retreats often include mindfulness activities, nature walks and creative workshops.

6. Integrative Healing Therapies
Ancient, east-meets-west, spiritual-meets-sensory practices like Reiki, acupuncture and crystal healing are on the rise; so are Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine (herbal medicine, cupping, Qigong), as well as experiences that combine sound baths, aromatherapy and chromotherapy with other treatments.

7. Immunity-Boosting Therapies
The pandemic has left many of us concerned about our immunity to disease and seeking to boost our resilience. That’s the idea behind many traditional Nordic spa experiences, as well as more modern ones like infrared sauna rooms, vitamin infusions and lymphatic drainage massages. At the same time, we’re hyper-focused on gut health, and can expect to see more treatments incorporating nutrition guidance and probiotics.

8. Restorative Sleep Experiences
Is anyone getting enough sleep these days? It seems not, according to the wealth of sleep-focused treatments, travel and therapy out there. Sleep is the best thing you can do for both your physical and mental well-being, and a growing number of spas are offering programs, products and services designed to help you get enough Zzzzz’s. Among them: guided sleep meditation, cognitive behaviooral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), sleep-enhancing wearable devices, sleep retreats, sleep-enhancing massages and dedicated sleep suites complete with smart mattresses, circadian lighting and relaxing aromatherapy.

9. Wellness Travel
Not so long ago, we travelled to see the sights, ticking things off a bucket list of attractions. These days, we’re more likely to seek spiritual growth and personal transformation. That could mean a special pilgrimage such as a multi-day trek along the Camino de Santiago or an immersive retreat at an ashram in India. It could also mean travelling in search of a sense of wellness — starting with the journey itself. More and more cruise ships, for instance, are adding state-of-the-art spas, wellness suites and mindfulness programs, while even airports are offering wellness features like the yoga rooms at San Francisco International Airport or oxygen lounges at Tokyo’s Narita Airport.

10. Inclusive Wellness
Everyone deserves access to better wellness, and the spa industry is making strides by offering tailored fitness classes, sensory-friendly spa treatments and other programs for underserved populations including neurodivergent individuals, people with disabilities and older adults. Notably, we’re seeing an increase in spa treatments for cancer patients and survivors, as well as for expectant and new mothers. These treatments offer gentle and thoughtful care at a time when people need it the most.

11. Regenerative Skin Care
You can’t turn back time, but you can look like you did with the new biotech beauty treatments. These use ingredients such as stem cells, CRISPR gene editing, bioengineered peptides and the like to target skin concerns at a cellular level. Also expect to see regenerative treatments like microneedling, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) facials and light therapies to keep growing in popularity.

12. Communal Wellness
The last few years have seen us hanging out in urban saunas where we can enjoy a restorative experience in a communal setting. Expect that trend to continue, especially as studies keep highlighting the health benefits of sauna use, such as helping sore muscles recover or improving cardiovascular health. More than that, communal saunas are a place to unwind and connect with others. Related: The rise of social wellness clubs that offer wellness services, such as fitness classes and therapeutic treatments, while fostering meaningful connections in a social setting. They might just prove an antidote to our overly connected yet increasingly lonely world.