Review: The Spa at the Hilton Suites Markham

Spa: The Spa at Hilton Suites Markham

Address: 8500 Warden Avenue
Markham, Ontario
L6G 1A5

Website: http://www.spaathiltonsuites.com/

E-mail: thespa@markhamsuites.com

Phone Number: (905) 470-8522
Toll Free:  1 866 470-8488

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday 10am - 9pm
Saturday    9am - 6pm
Sunday   10am - 5pm

Parking: The Spa is located in the busy Hilton Suites Markham. There is paid parking at the hotel, however, if you have booked an appointment with the Spa they will take down your licence plate upon checking in - parking is FREE :)

Service Received: Thai Yoga Massage (T) and Swedish Massage (C)

Price of Service: Thai Yoga Massage: 115$ Swedish Massage: $100 (both prices do not include tax & tip)

Cleanliness: The actual spa was super clean! However, the spa is in the middle of re-branding/construction. This was not so pleasing to the eye.

Fun and Free Extras:

• pool
• hot tub
• sauna
• gym
• tea, coffee, and Mrs. Fields cookies 
• • 

For a little more LOL:

• Markville Mall
• Restaurants
• First Markham Place Movie Theatre

Review:
C’s treatment was a normal Swedish massage. So instead of spending the blog discussing what was a fantastically normal Swedish massage, C will briefly discuss the awesome amenities at the spa and T will write about the ‘Thai Yoga’ massage.

Amenities:
The Spa at the Hilton Suites share many of the same amenities as the larger spas. However, it is important to remember that the Spa at the Hilton Suites is located in Markham (not downtown Toronto), so the amenities are scaled down.

The spa is connected to ‘Club Markham’ (the gym). This gym has aerobic studios, squash courts, treadmills, ellipticals, pool, hot tub, sauna, child care, and a chiropractic/physiotherapy clinic.

The gym has two aerobic studios with schedules for the various classes posted outside. We decided that we would try to schedule a quick workout in before the massage. I mean, what could be better than working hard - and getting a relaxing treatment after, right? After giving the schedule a quick look, we found a bootcamp class that fit perfectly into the short time frame we had.


When we walked in, the class had already started. There weren’t a lot of people, which was perfect - however, it felt hardly difficult enough to be boast the title ‘bootcamp’. In fact, I don’t think either of us broke a sweat once. On top of it, the ‘bootcamp’ instructor was quiet and didn’t really try to push any of us to our limits. It was a little underwhelming overall.

However, the gyms selection of equipment was fantastic! Bosu balls, heavy bars, weights, steps, and mats lined the walls. There is GREAT potential for awesome-ness to occur within those studio walls!

Immediately following our massage, we walked back over to Club Markham to take a dip in the hot tub. Their pool and hot tub are simple, but still amazing. Hot tubs are always fantastic.

Though the amenities added to the experience, we might not say that the amenities were the highlight of the experience. So instead of taking time discussing these - here is T’s take on her unique ‘Thai Yoga’ massage

.

So, a ‘Thai Yoga’ massage. What does that mean, exactly? Here’s the description from their website:

“A deep massage performed on a futon mattress that involves a lot of stretching, the Thai Yoga massage is ideal for those with lower back or leg pain and will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated”.

Price: $115 plus tax & tip for 50 minutes (Expensive, but at least you also get access to the Markham Club?)

Okay…not that much info. It’s on a futon on the floor, and it involves stretching. The lady on the phone wasn’t especially helpful and referred me to the website for this description when I asked for more details.

Something that would have been nice to know? You wear CLOTHES in this massage! Fortunately C and I worked out in the Markham Club prior to our massages, so I had a sports bra and shorts to wear. The RMT suggested I also wear a T-Shirt so that I didn’t get cold. This is something that the receptionist should ABSOLUTELY be telling people when they book!!

My RMT was very nice, and when I asked she told me that this particular Thai Yoga massage is specific to their spa only! One of their RMTs studied Thai Yoga massage in Thailand for 2 years, then came back to Canada, re-designed the massage to focus less on specific breathing techniques and more on the massage/stretching parts, and taught the rest of the staff! Very cool.

She began the massage by telling me that she had just washed her hands and feet. Her feet? Uh…okay…sure. Good to know…I guess?! This seemed like a random bit of information at the time, but soon became very relevant!

We started with me sitting, and began by stretching out my shoulders (I had asked for some specific attention to my shoulders). When she brought the shoulder to the end of its range of motion in each direction, she would then proceed to massage the tight muscles with her hands while holding the stretch in place. Feels pretty nice! At this point I’m thinking alright…this feels pretty nice, I could get on board with this!

We then moved on to my legs with me lying on my back. To my surprise, she would stretch my legs in their different directions…and then use her feet to either massage them or hold them in place!! Don’t get me wrong, it felt great but was still a bit…different. If you have an issue with feet (even clean ones!) touching you, then this massage is not for you!

Now, (you’ll learn something new about us each time we write, I’m sure!) T is a bit of an anatomy geek - so for those of you out there like me, I was impressed that she stretched each muscle from insertion to origin, as well as origin to insertion. This means that for my hamstrings (for example) she did one stretch where she straightened my knee, then lifted my leg into an ‘L’ position as far as it would go, then held and massaged the muscles. On the next stretch, she bent my knee and flexed my hip bringing my knee as close to my chest as it would go. The next step was she kept my knee in place near my chest, straightened my leg as far as it would go, then held and massaged. She continued with me lying on my side for some of the other leg stretches, then had me lie on my stomach to stretch out my lower back. And man, were some of the lower back extension stretches intense!!

By the end I felt relaxed, loose and stretched out. Would I get this done over a typical Swedish massage? Not every time…Swedish massages have a special place in my heart. But I would definitely go again if I was feeling tight and wanted to get my joints moving better!

Also, I think this massage would be ideal for anyone involved in sports like dance, gymnastics, figure skating, competitive cheerleading, etc. Any sports where flexibility is an asset! This is definitely the massage for you!

Overall, I found the Thai Yoga massage a bit too expensive for me to go to regularly, but it definitely worked really well loosening up the muscles and joints and increasing range of motion! If that was my primary concern, I would absolutely get one again!

Rating: 3.5/4

Your Ladies of Leisure, 

Extra bonus...hilarious sign in the Club Markham locker room. Good to know!

Review: Go 4 Nails&Spa Markham

Spa: Go 4 Nails & Spa


Address: 150 New Delhi Dr.
Markham, Ont,
L3S 0B5

Website: http://www.go4nails.com/en/

E-mail: info@go4nails.com

Phone Number: (905) 201-1117

Hours of Operation:

Monday		09:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Tuesday		09:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Wednesday		09:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Thursday		09:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Friday		09:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Saturday		09:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Sunday		11:00 AM - 06:00 PM

Parking: Go 4 Nails & Spa is located in a busy plaza. There is always parking available within the plaza itself. It is also just off the Mount Joy/Markham Station Go Bus stop.

Service Received: Shellac manicure

Price of Service: $30

Cleanliness: Okay. Not the cleanest I’ve been to.

Fun and Free Extras: Usual arm massage. Flat screen TV where they play some sort of Chinese Soap Opera/Movie.

For a little more LOL:

·      Cora’s Breakfast (found in the plaza across the street)

·      Markville Mall (5 minutes away)

o   www.markville.ca

·      Historic Main St. Markham (1 minute down the street)

o   Loads of restaurants and little boutique shops are found here

o   www.mainstreetmarkham.com

Review:
I often pride myself in being extremely organized, however, I have realized over time that when it comes to making appointments…I SUCK! I am extremely last minute and will drive around until I find someone who has time to take me. This is how I happened upon Go 4 Nails&Spa, preparing myself, last minute, for a girlfriends engagement party.

I walked into 3 of my ‘old reliable’ nail joints, only to find them packed with absolutely no time for a manicure. “You should have booked an appointment” they all said. I get it – I know. I should have booked an appointment. But I didn’t – so who can take me!

Go 4 Nails & Spa was located on the way to my hair and make-up appointment (also booked last minute), so I stopped in there, fingers crossed. To my delight, they were dead – not ONE person sitting in a manicure or pedicure seat. SCORE!

Now, they receive 1 point for being completely dead. However, I would soon come to realize why. I requested a Shellac manicure, this should only take – at most 45 minutes. ESPECIALLY IF I AM THE ONLY ONE THERE. My Shellac manicure took almost 1.5 hours! I was late for my next appointment. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I HATE being late. 

The nail technician was meticulous with my nails, and the application of the Shellac polish. However, this meticulous application took forever. It’s not brain surgery – it shouldn’t take 1.5 hours. Further, she did not speak to me once – but she did answer her phone. Rude. The entire time spent within the ‘Spa’ was extremely awkward. I couldn’t even waste time watching their beautiful flat screen TV because they were showing Chinese Soap Opera’s and Movies. Ones which, for lack of knowledge in the Chinese language, I could not understand or get into.

NOTE: I assume they were Chinese because they clearly state on their website that they speak both English and Chinese…I don’t see why they would be playing television in a language other than the ones they speak – no offense meant by my assumption.

By the end of the manicure, I was pleased with the job. However, I assumed with 1.5 hours needed for application – my nails were going to shoot lasers or fireworks. I was disappointed to find out that this was not the case, and they were just as normal as all the other Shellac manicures I have received. (They didn’t even last longer)

I wish I could recommend Go 4 Nails&Spa as a low budget gem for a quick fix – however they weren’t even quick! If you are in Markham and need somewhere to get your nails did – go somewhere else…unless you have 2 hours to spare.

Rating: 1.5/4



Your Ladies of Leisure;


T & C

Valentine's Day Blog Part 2: Top 10 Valentine's Day gifts!

Hey there everyone!

As you all know, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching…and let’s be honest, sometimes your significant other (SO) – or you yourself! - could use a little help in the gift idea department! There are always such huge expectations for V-Day…when really, it doesn’t have to be a big deal J. What us girls want more than anything is really just the gift of our SO’s time spent with us!

That said, we’ve come up with a list of the top 10 – both classic and creative – gift ideas that most girls would LOVE to receive (I know I would!!).

Here we go!

10) Classic: Her favourite flowers! A never-fail go-to, the traditional gift of a bouquet of her favourite flowers is always a winner!

9) Creative: Give her chocolates…BUT design a chocolate bar created especially for her! At Chocomize you can pick her favourite flavor of chocolate (milk, dark, white) and then you can add her favourite nuts, seeds, candy, fruit etc that she loves most! You can even decorate it with Valentine’s hearts, sprinkles, an 'I love you' chocolate plaque…the choice is yours! Chocolates PLUS designed especially for her? Guaranteed win.

8) Classic: Make her a romantic dinner at your place (her favourite meal, with wine, of course), light some candles, turn on some music…you get the idea. We always feel special when you take time to do something just for us!

7) Creative: Scour the various Groupon/Teambuy sites for a daily deal for cooking classes you can do together! Not only will you both pick up some new skills, but the time spent together is priceless. Sign up at Dealradar to get all of the various daily deals from different sites sent to you in ONE email each day!

6) Classic: Jewelry. Need I say more?

5) Creative: Specifically, Pandora jewelry. For anyone who doesn’t know, Pandora is a company that makes adult-version charm bracelets…and you can pick out charms especially for her! They vary from different cute animals (what’s her favourite?) to Valentine’s Day hearts and flower charms, to specific charms like a die that you can only buy in Las Vegas! Pick one out that suits her personality and she will be sure to love it!

4) Classic: Lingerie…a gift for her AND for you! Satin or lace, pink, black, red or white…doesn’t matter as long as it’s sexy! (Hint…try to get a peek at her exact bra and panty size!) Bonus points if you also get her a set of the comfiest, cutest PJs you can find…these ones are JUST for her, so sexy isn’t a requirement. Her favourite baby animals printed on them, super-soft materials…these are the kinds of things you’re looking for. We recommend Lasenza or Victoria's Secret for both of these options, and both stores are located in most Canadian malls!

3) Creative: A romantic (and sexy!) games night! We recommend the official 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Party Game with the Red Room expansion pack, of course!

2) Classic: A beautiful framed photo of the two of you – bonus points if you decorate the frame yourself!

1) Classic AND Creative: A spa day just for her (What kind of Ladies of Leisure would we be if we didn't recommend this as #1?!?). We recommend one of the Valentine’s packages at her favourite spa. (Here are links to the specials at Elmwood Spa, and The Spa at the Hilton Suites, for some examples!)

Remember, the best gift your girl could possibly get is time spent with YOU! Here's hoping that this Valentine's Day is a special one for all of you out there!

Lots of love from your coupled-up Lady of Leisure,

T

Valentine's Day Blog Part 1: For the Single, Sexy & Free!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, here we are: rapidly approaching the pinkest day of the year. Even before Christmas was over, your local dollar store was changing their sea of green and red to an ocean of white, red, and pink.

I remember walking into the dollar store on New Years Eve to grab some last minute party hats, and not ONE was left on the shelf. The ladies at the store had replaced everything with teddies, chocolates, hearts, and an excessive amount of love. You guessed it!!! It is time for Valentine's Day.

Don’t get me wrong...I actually LOVE Valentine’s Day. I always have. It has been something I have annually celebrated with, or without, a significant other. This year just so happens to be the first time in over 10 years I am (currently) celebrating it without. And I am okay with that, but I know a lot of people struggle with their “single-ness” on this particular day.

NOTE: For a laugh, check out Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother) explaining Here why he consideres Feb. 13th to be “Desperation Day”.

So here I am - deciding to write a blog post suggesting a few ideas on how to L.O.L. as a single individual over Valentine’s Day. Again, these are in no particular order (except for #1 - that will always be first):

1. Change your mentality
You are not “forever alone”. You aren’t even “alone” on Valentine’s Day. Just because you don’t have a significant other, does not mean you need to be depressed, drink bottles of wine, and watch the Notebook on repeat. Okay, well you absolutely can do those things if you want. Basically... DO whatever you want. Make it YOUR day! Just don’t be depressed about it. Get over it - you are S.S.F. (Single, Sexy, and Free). Own it people! ;)

2. Rent an entire series of something and watch it with friends
Have a ladies night, make fondue (chocolate is a personal favourite of mine), grab a bottle of wine, light some candles, and watch your favourite show...I always suggest Sex and the City.

First, this series is freaking amazing. I have never seen a show that celebrates being single and loving life with your girls the way that Sex and the City does. I love, love, love it. 

Second, Valentine’s falls on a THURSDAY, so move on. It’s just another day of the week. Have your Sex and the City celebration on the weekend.  All your non-SSF friends will have had their day of love during the week, freeing their weekends up for some L.O.L!

Third, Valentine’s is about love - so spend it with people you love! Friends included.

3. Go to the gym
Go burn off some of the “frustration”. But if you followed step 1 - you won’t have any. Working out creates endorphins, endorphins make you happy. (And happy people just don’t shoot their husbands....2 points if you get this reference!). So after an hour at the gym, you’re both happy and healthy - win/win. Full stop.

4. GO OUT
Get to the nearest bar, dress nice, go for a drink with a friend. You HAVE to have some other single friends out there somewhere and if you don’t, try planning a group get together. Being with just your significant other is overrated. Either way, just get the heck outta your house - and look H.O.T...always.

NOTE: Refer back to point 2, and reflect on the fact that Valentine's is on a Thursday. If you don’t have single friends, or available friends, move the plans to Friday or Saturday.  

5. Curl up with a nice book
Go to chapters and find yourself a nice Nora Roberts book, or for something a bit more risky - The 50 Shades of Grey trilogy or the Gabriel’s Inferno Duo. These books, read by the fire, with a nice glass of wine or tea....pure bliss!

6. Book yourself a “ME” day
Take a quick look at your local spa deals. Or, check out our Deal of the Week page! Yes, some are created for couples, but a lot aren’t. Go treat yourself. Just as it was stated in point 2, V-day is about spending it with the ones you LOVE...and being an L.O.L. is all about finding a moment for yourself. Go get your nails done (mani AND pedi), get a massage, a facial, and a full body wrap. Grab a latte before AND after the appointment. Be excited to just be you.

7. Hand out cheesy Valentine’s Day cards
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. I have always done this. Maybe because I am probably the cheesiest person ever!

So you can get an idea of the level of my fromage, I often draw or create crafts (ones that you may have completed in elementary school) and hand them out to people I love. This is not just for Valentine’s Day, this is on the regular. I send cheesy e-mails that are, most likely, not funny to anyone other than myself. I like to sing along to songs loudly and shamelessly. I dance randomly in the streets. I embarrass myself...CONSTANTLY. And I won’t apologize for any of it...I love it. And you are lucky if you get to, or have, experienced any of these things. It means I love you.

Show your friends, family, and/or your crush, how much you love them and go to your local Dollar Store, Wal-Mart, Loblaws etc. grab a batch of the cheesiest cards and get writing. (I am looking for mine this weekend!)

Make sure to decorate the envelopes with lots of heart stickers!!! People may call you a loser, but they secretly love it!! 

So, what are my plans on this wonderful day? Honestly, I don’t know yet. It’s a Thursday, and I’m not too concerned about it generally. The actual day of? I will most likely make a wonderful dinner with my parents (also a tradition), and enjoy some amazing family time, with the people I love.

The weekend? Well, that is yet to be determined. :)

Happy Love Day All!!!

Your L.O.L.,

C

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our Valentine’s blog coming this Monday from T... a list of the top 10 things (both classic and creative!) that every girl wants to receive from their significant other on Valentine’s Day! Feel free to re-post that one as a little hint, hint for someone to read! ;)

Your Ladies of Leisure,