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Nova Scotia stunned us in some ways throughout our week-long highway journey, however one of many greatest revelations got here in essentially the most unlikely of locations: a small, city Nordic spa tucked inside a repurposed metropolis corridor constructing on Dartmouth’s waterfront close to the capital of Halifax.
Nature Folks Wellness Collective, a Nordic Spa, could not have sprawling outside swimming pools or sweeping ocean views like a few of the different spas we visited, however what it affords is one thing equally particular: a peaceable, restorative city retreat the place you may recharge, reconnect, and step again into the town feeling fully renewed.
For us, Nature Folks Nordic Spa holds an additional layer of which means. It was the very first Nordic spa we ever tried — and the place the place I, a lifelong heat-lover, found a shocking new dependancy: the chilly plunge.
It was the primary Nordic spa out of 4 we had been experiencing on our week-long Nova Scotia highway journey in partnership with Tourism Nova Scotia.
Right here’s what we skilled…
Begin with Breakfast and Murals in Dartmouth
Earlier than we step into the city spa sanctuary, we determined to started our Halifax morning in the very best means — with breakfast at Café Goodluck, a comfortable spot simply across the nook. Whereas their breakfast sandwich could sound easy – an egg with tomato jam, picked onions, cheese mayo and greens, it was sturdy with taste and jogged my memory of residence – Australia residence – particularly when paired with their excellent flat whites. What an introduction to Nova Scotia!
Fueled up, we strolled down Portland Road towards the waterfront, passing just a few vibrant avenue murals, and soaking within the skyline views of Halifax waterfront! Now we had been prepared to show round, stroll just a few steps and steadiness that with rest at ivy coated Nature Folks.
Introducing Nature Folks in Dartmouth
Entering into Nature Folks, we had been instantly greeted by the spa’s pleasant supervisor, who handed me a refreshing, wholesome juice as she walked us by means of the area. From the very first moments, I felt the stress of journey logistics soften away. The design was minimalist and calming, with smooth impartial tones and mild lighting that inspired us to decelerate and breathe.
Nature Folks is Nova Scotia’s first indoor Nordic spa, designed as a group hub for wellness proper within the coronary heart of Dartmouth. The area combines a communal thermal circuit with personal therapy rooms, personal infrared sauna rooms, scorching tub, and a motion studio for yoga, Pilates, and breath work.
The thermal circuit—which provides you two hours of entry—is the guts of the expertise. Contained in the rotunda you’ll discover:
- Two massive Finnish saunas
- A chilly plunge pool
- A heat pool
- A tucked-away ritual nook with self-serve mud masks and salt scrubs
- Snug seating areas to loosen up between cycles
Every visitor receives a gown and towel on arrival, together with entry to lockers, showers, and fragrance-free facilities. The environment is calm and communal, encouraging company to unplug and settle into the straightforward rhythm of the spa cycle.
The Nordic Spa Remedy Ritual
At its core, the Nordic spa therapy course of is about transferring between scorching, chilly, and relaxation in repeated cycles. You start by heating the physique in a sauna or heat pool, then plunge into chilly water to activate circulation, and at last relaxation to permit your physique to combine the advantages. The method is repeated a number of occasions, leaving you feeling each invigorated and deeply relaxed.
Although the apply has roots in Scandinavian custom, it resonates universally: a reminder to pause, reset, and let the physique’s pure rhythms restore steadiness.
My first chilly plunge expertise
Nature Folks will ceaselessly maintain a spot in my coronary heart because the spa the place I confronted my first chilly plunge. As somebody who loves warmth—give me the Equator, a hammock, and countless sunshine and I’m blissfully glad—I arrived totally satisfied there was no means I’d survive greater than 10 seconds in a ten°C pool.
However right here’s the shocking half: I not solely survived, I thrived. On my first plunge, I stayed in for six minutes. On my second chilly plunge, I made it to 10 minutes.
The distinction? Years of meditation and my day by day breathwork apply. As an alternative of preventing the chilly, I let myself breathe deeply and permit the expertise to clean over me. Relatively than specializing in “Oh my goodness, that is freezing, I want to flee,” I discovered stillness. As soon as I finished resisting, the water grew to become manageable, even peaceable. And the way in which my physique felt afterward—alive, electrical, buzzing with power—was completely addictive.
It was right here at Nature Folks that I noticed chilly plunging wasn’t simply tolerable, it was transformative. By the point we left, I couldn’t wait to strive it once more on the subsequent spa on our highway journey. And all of the Nordic Spas in Nova Scotia we visited additional validated this was a apply I need to proceed – howdy to ending my day by day bathe with a burst of chilly!
The Thermal Circuit and Therapies
We spent the complete two hours having fun with the thermal circuit, alternating between the dry saunas, steam saunas, heat pool, chilly plunge, and the ritual nook. The design of the area is easy however considerate, making a pure move between warmth, chilly, and relaxation.
We liked the DIY mud masks and energizing salt scrubs within the showers, which added a playful, restorative factor to the expertise. After finishing the circuit, we booked a 30-minute infrared sauna session – a therapy we additionally get pleasure from at residence and lengthy to have in our personal home in the future. It was the proper method to wind down, combining deep warmth with chroma-therapy lighting to depart us feeling grounded and balanced.
Along with the circuit, Nature Folks affords bodywork classes (therapeutic massage, osteopathy, naturopathy) in personal therapy rooms, in addition to group workshops and retreats of their motion studio.
As we arrived for our thermal therapy at opening hour, we nearly had the therapy room to ourselves. Over the last hour one different individual arrived. There may be loads of area to share the facilites with different wellness seeeking company. It’s a quiet area so bear in mind to silence your voices, shut your eyes, and sink into the serenity.
Assembly the House owners
As we had been leaving, we had the pleasure of assembly Justin, who co-owns Nature Folks together with his spouse Kristen. Heat, pleasant, and enthusiastic about wellness, he chatted with us about browsing in Nova Scotia (an entire completely different form of chilly plunge!), the imaginative and prescient for Nature Folks, and even gave us just a few nice ideas for the remainder of our Nova Scotia highway journey.
Their mission is evident: to create an inclusive, city sanctuary the place each locals and guests can develop constant wellness habits. It’s not nearly taking a spa day; it’s about cultivating a way of life of presence, steadiness, and self-care.
A Area with Historical past and Coronary heart
Nature Folks is situated within the former Dartmouth Metropolis Corridor, a constructing with deep historic significance. The Sixties Brutalist construction was deserted for years earlier than being reworked into this calming refuge. As we speak, the rotunda the place councilors as soon as debated insurance policies now hosts a bathhouse the place company collect for a really completely different form of ritual: collective therapeutic.
The redesign introduces softness to the area with oak, impartial tones, and curved traces, making a sanctuary that feels fashionable but rooted in historical past. There’s one thing profoundly stunning a few area as soon as dedicated to civic responsibility now serving as a spot of group therapeutic.
Why go to Nature Folks?
Nature Folks could not have the sprawling outside area, swimming pools, or forest settings of some Nordic spas, however that’s what makes it particular. It’s intimate, city, and extremely accessible, a spot the place you may escape the bustle of downtown Halifax or Dartmouth for just a few hours, recharge, after which head again out for a night of exploring.
It’s good for:
- Vacationers in search of a mid-day reset earlier than sightseeing or dinner
- Locals seeking to construct common wellness practices
- First-timers curious in regards to the Nordic spa expertise in a smaller, approachable setting
- Anybody who desires to expertise the unbelievable rush of a chilly plunge in a supportive, welcoming surroundings
Suggestions on your Nordic Spa expertise
To be sure to have a beautiful expertise at Nature Folks, listed below are some ideas…
- Deliver a showering swimsuit, sandals, and a water bottle (robes and towels are offered).
- Lockers are secured with a fob bracelet, so no have to carry your personal lock.
- The area is fragrance-free, so preserve private merchandise impartial.
- Plan for at least two hours for the thermal circuit and contemplate reserving a further therapy or sauna session.
- Cease at Café Goodluck across the nook for a pre- or post-spa chunk, you gained’t remorse it. Portland Road Creperie seemed scrumptious, too, however opened a bit later that day for us to suit it in earlier than our spa appointment. Justin additionally advised us that The Canteen on Portland (a few steps away) is an unmissable place to eat in Halifax, particularly for brunch. We couldn’t match it into our plans, however you may! There are additionally a number of cool murals alongside Portland St to have a photograph with!
- Catch the ferry over from Halifax Harbor – it’s low cost at solely and takes about quarter-hour letting you off proper in entrance of Nature Folks. You’ll have stunning views on the journey. As we had a jam packed Halifax itinerary, we drove pondering it will save us time. Seems the bridge was closed due to a strolling race and it took us an additional quarter-hour. The ferry would have been means higher!
Closing reflections
After we suppose again on our Nova Scotia journey, Nature Folks stands out not only for its amenities, however for the way it made us really feel. It was the primary spa to introduce us to the Nordic ritual, the place the place I found the enjoyment of chilly plunges, and a reminder that peace could be discovered even in the midst of a metropolis.
Nature Folks could also be small, however it’s mighty. It’s an area that invitations you to decelerate, tune in, and reconnect—with your self, with others, and with the timeless apply of therapeutic by means of water retention.
If Halifax is in your itinerary, take the time to cross the harbour to Dartmouth and present your self this expertise. You’ll emerge not simply refreshed however re-energized for every thing this vibrant metropolis and delightful province has to supply.
For extra of our Nordic spa nova scotia highway journey, learn the next posts
