Thermal Spa in the Rainforest

THE FLOATING SAUNA

It’s a cool misty morning, the fog is tangling with the lush green trees before it’s burned off for the day when the sun comes out. I watch as a beautiful black boat glides up to meet me at the edge of the dock. The guide welcomes me on board for our short trip out to the floating sauna. The ride is calm and smooth, before any afternoon wind touches the glassy surface of the ocean.

It seems like we’re in the middle of nowhere, no people or other boats for miles and miles. When suddenly, we turn a corner and there’s a wooden structure, floating all by itself, tucked into a little cove. This is our final destination, one of Nimmo Bay’s floating saunas. I can see a trail of steam rising from the top of the sauna. Someone from the resort has already been there bright and early to heat up the cedar sauna ahead of my arrival.

A WELLNESS JOURNEY

Before the guides head off and leave me to this personal sanctuary, they make sure I’m settled. I’m left with a walkie-talkie, my own thoughts, and all the snacks and drinks I may need. With a call back to the lodge, it’s up to me when I choose to return to reality. I can read, I can meditate, search the horizon for wildlife, and indulge in the heat of the sauna. There’s also a booklet that helps describe how to move through their thermal spa journey. It’s not something I’d ever done before, and while it may seem intense, I felt called to give it a try. If not now, then when? This seems like the perfect setting to give it a try.

The thermal spa journey takes you through 15 minutes of heat, 30 seconds of cold, and 15 minutes of absolutely nothing. It’s a full body experience; it helps boost circulation, clears mental clutter, ultimately refreshing you from head to toe. The key here is to be mindful and remember to savour the little moments.

FEEL THE HEAT

As I mentioned before, the boat drops you off at the sauna dock. It’s set up away from everything else, secluded in your very own private inlet. As you step off the boat, there’s a cozy sofa area and the sauna has been preheated. The scent of cedar is in the air. The team disappears and you’re left to go on your own journey.

The sauna is step 1 of this thermal spa circuit.

I stepped into the thick heat of the sauna, and it instantly pulls me into its warm embrace. There’s an hourglass sitting inside and it’s set for 15 minutes, this is the challenge. I flipped it over, laid back into the cedar seat, and settled in for some relaxation. Each breath, I can feel the heat in the air fill my lungs. It feels nice at first, but as time ticks by, the heat starts to feel a little bit more suffocating. The sweat is real. But I’m trying to remember that this is the whole point.

As the heat of the sauna increases your body temperature, your blood vessels dilate. It promotes circulation, oxygenating your whole body.  Your immune system is stimulated, and your body starts to flush toxins. You can feel the tension leaving your body.

When the 15 minutes are up, the relief I feel when the ocean air greets me at the door is immediate. I take the deepest breath, savouring each sensation my body is feeling. Step 1, is done.

COLD PLUNGE

Now, for step 2 of the thermal spa circuit, you’ve got to prepare yourself for the cold plunge. The ocean is ready to welcome you.

After working up the courage, I ran off the end of the dock and jumped into it’s icy embrace. The shock is immediate. My body is telling me with all its might to get out! Seek warmth! I involuntarily gasp as I reach the surface of the water. But that fight or flight response does subside. I spent the next minute or so treading water, trying to regulate my breathing and embrace the cold.

Remember that the benefits are worth it! The cold water is an instant invigoration, releasing adrenaline into your body. It causes your pores to tighten up, locking in all the beautiful heat you just absorbed. Your blood pressure spikes, and these changes prime your body for toxin release, reducing inflammation, and prepares your muscles to relax. The mental benefits are also huge, as the happy hormones flood through your body.

FULL RELAXATION

Getting out of the water, wrapping up in the comfy robe left hanging on a hook for me was the absolute best feeling. I settled down on the couch for the last step of this thermal spa circuit: doing absolutely nothing. The rest feels good after the rollercoaster I just went through. Gazing out at the lush rainforest surrounding me, I’m trying to calm my mind and stay present in the moment. The suggestion in the thermal circuit booklet is to try a little meditation. So, I spent time focusing on my breathing, long inhale, hold, long exhale. Feeling the ocean fresh air pass through my body in a steady rhythm.

During this 15-minute repose, you’ll feel your body start to regular again and re-enter it’s natural rhythm. Your circulation and heart rate return to baseline.

AN IMPORTANT RESET

I left with a clear mind and felt truly present in the moment. We don’t often get the opportunity to shut off our minds completely. Focusing on intense heat and shocking cold really have a way of stopping all the other thoughts from infiltrating your mind. It’s a reminder to bring some of these insights home. Even just once a week, in whatever time is available, consciously pausing, resetting, and appreciating life’s simple pleasures.