Lately I’ve been really focusing on my own wellness. My whole life I’ve always been restless; there was a point in my life where I had 3 jobs at once. When I was doing my post-graduate degree, I would wake up at 5am to go to the gym and workout, immediately after would travel to school from 9-3pm, then would go to my first job from 4-8pm and finally would make it to my third job from 9pm – 1am and then would do it all over again the next day. Mind you I was in my early 20s when I was doing all of this but now in my (very) late 20s, I’m don’t think my body can handle that kind of exhaustion anymore. Although that doesn’t stop me from having a full-time demanding job and blogging on the side.
A couple of months ago I had a terrifying experience of my first anxiety attack – this was very scary! I always use to say when dealing with stressful situations “this is giving anxiety”, but I don’t think I knew what anxiety really was until my first episode. This was a wake up call and I know it was a sign that my mind and body was telling me to slow down. Dealing with anxiety is something fairly new to me and finding ways to cope with my anxiety has become an on-going journey. One thing I have realized is that you need to take time for yourself whether it’s having quiet time, catching up on a book you’ve been neglecting or disconnecting from social media.
When I was approached with opportunity for an overnight stay Ste. Anne’s spa, I couldn’t pass this up! Myself and three other Toronto influencers were invited to Ste. Anne’s spa for the ultimate mini-getaway. I mean a stay in a beautiful cottage, a 60 min Swedish massage and all meals included; how could you say no?!
Ste. Anne’s Spa is located in Grafton, ON which is about 1.5 hours away from Toronto. So it’s not too far but it’s far enough for a quick release from the hustle and bustle of the daily city grind.
We arrived to Ste. Anne’s at around 11am, just in time for our orientation and tour of the grounds. Set on 400 acres, this rural spa hotel occupies an 1858 stone farmhouse. The interior has cute country-style rooms that almost have a vintage vibe. Also, I must note that there is free Wi-Fi available all over. There’s a casual restaurant and a gluten-free bakery. Other amenities include a spa, a seasonal outdoor pool, an outdoor stone plunge pool and a hot tub, plus a fitness room and a steam room. Yoga and meditation classes are also available.
Our itinerary included a 3-course lunch, a 60min Swedish massage treatment, afternoon tea, 3-course dinner prepared by a personal chef and a tour of our cottage. We were situated in the Vista Lago cottage, it’s a 2 story cottage with 4 bedrooms, a full kitchen, a fireplace and a deck with a private hot tub (AH-MAZING!).
I must say that the hospitality provided by the Ste. Anne’s staff is impeccable! We were treated like royalty, their mission is to provide a stress free and relaxing experience and they definitely delivered – from our tour guides to our personal chef, everyone was incredible. My massage therapist did an amazing job on my tensed muscles and provided useful tips on how I can prevent future muscle strain.
I would recommend visiting Ste. Anne’s spa to anyone – yes it is a little pricey but it’s worth it! My experience at Ste. Anne’s Spa was like no other, their focus on wellness was apparent and I felt very refreshed and rejuvenated after my stay. From the grounds to the food to the spa treatments everything was perfect. I really needed this reset, thank you Ste. Anne’s Spa for this experience! I’ll be back!
*Please note Ste. Anne’s Spa provided meals, accommodations and spa treatment but all opinions are my own
