THE FAI RMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER, 4599 Chateau Boulevard,
Whistler, British Columbia VON 1B4, Canada.
Tel. 604/938-2010,
Fax 604/938-2099,
Toll-free reservations 800/441-1414,
Web: www.fairmont.com
Spa packages for two start at $629 Canadian per night. Accepts major credit cards. Whistler is 75 miles north of Vancouver, along Highway 99 - the ‘Sea to Sky’ Highway.
In few places can you rub shoulders with snow boarders and golfers, wind surfers and rock climbers, fly fisherman and mountain bikers, snow shoers and hikers, all on the same day. In fewer places yet will you crawl over the snow boarders to make your way to such outstanding culinary experiences at the local Bearfoot Bistro. But here atThe Fairmont Chateau Whistler in British Columbia, on a warm sunny day with plenty of snow still packed on the high peaks, you can experience all of that as well as some of the most expert administration of Ayurvedic therapy to be found in all of North America.
An erudite practitioner of the ancient tradition, Colleen Wight nurtures an impressive staff of diversified therapists, all held to the highest of standards. General massage therapists come to the facility with 2,600 hours of training, with specialists such as Shiatsu therapists adding 1 ,000 hours to that figure. Each has fine-tuned their skills with post-graduate courses and workshops. By the time they get their dexterous hands on you, they’ve had ample opportunity to refine all of the above training with countless hours of practical service.
While a variety of disciplines are practiced at Whistler, Ayurvedic traditions dominate the overall complexion of the spa menu. The body therapy called Swedana represents the 5,000-year-old approach to health and healing nicely. Asyourtherapist makesthe initial preparations for this treatment, you’ll relax in the spa lobby, recording responses to a lengthy, sometimes probing questionnaire. Reflecting on your inner self, you’ll notice natural light as it’s refracted by the lead crystal windows, warming the rich hickory and pecan trim, and warming your soul.
Visiting with the therapist, you begin to understand the purpose of these questions. She’ll have a word for your inner constitution: she’ll call it your Dosha; in turn, she’ll have a remedy for any imbalance that she may perceive in this Dosha of yours. Remedial measures begin with her selection of oils to be used during an initial phase of massage therapy, and then herbs for a later phase of steam therapy.
During the bodywork, an adjacent steam cabinet warms to the requisite temperature. In a drawer of the cabinet’s lower interior, cheesecloth suspends the herbal prescription to all that may burden your Dosha. You may be reluctant to leave the massage table, but an herbal infusion awaitsin the steam cabinet; with it, an ethereal time to detoxify.
Later, the handcrafted cedar cabinet is opened and the former table is ready for the third and final phase. Here, a skin brushing of chickpea flower exfoliates and cleanses. You begin to look back on all the questions, the oil, the herbs and steam, and you begin to appreciate the therapeuticvalue of such expert attention. In all, the experience has lasted 90 minutes. As the flower is washed away, one thing is clear: the folks up here at Whistler, they know their profession. And they know your Dosha.
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Services and Options |
