I love when the universe hears you.
During a crazy stretch of unexpected family emergencies and life hiccups, my mind, body and spirit longed for a reset.
Not sure if the planets aligned for me or if it was pure fluke, but in the midst of a particularly hectic morning, I spied a Facebook post from Savasana Nordic Spa promoting availability at its property, located about 40 minutes from my home in Moncton, New Brunswick.
I love spas of any kind but especially the Nordic variety, which allows clients to rejuvenate by alternating between cycles of hot and cold water, a concept that has been popular in Scandinavian countries for generations. The hydrotherapy system is believed to provide numerous benefits, such as lowering inflammation, reducing stress, strengthening the immune system and alleviating pain.
Previous visits to Nordic spas in New Brunswick and Ontario had left me feeling refreshed and renewed so I jumped on the Savasana post and emailed the owners.
Two days later, I left Moncton heading north on Route 126 and later Route 465. It was a mild morning and a lovely fall drive in Kent County, with golden trees lining the way, an occasional group of horses or cows munching happily in the fields, Halloween decor brightening front porches.
Just when I began to wonder if I’d ever get there, it appeared: a black and white sign denoting Savasana Nordic Spa. (Incidentally, Savasana is the name for what is typically the final pose in a yoga session, the one in which you lie on your back in total relaxation. Bring it on!)
From the 465, I followed a short dirt road past the property sign to Gokotta, the geodesic dome where I’d be spending the next 24 hours with some gal pals who were joining me in another vehicle from Greater Moncton.
Officially opened in January 2022, Savasana Nordic Spa sits atop a hill overlooking a tributary of the Richibucto River, such a gorgeous and serene backdrop, especially at this leaf-peeping season.
My eyes popped when our unit, Gokotta, made its reveal on the landscape: a white, igloo-shaped structure with transparent window sections; a sprawling wood deck extending from the dome to the left with features we’d have all to ourselves, including a large hot tub, screened gazebo, seating area, outdoor clawfoot bathtub and hammock-style hanging chair. (There was also a meal prep area and propane barbecue, though we cooked inside.)
When my friends arrived, we toted our bags and coolers a short distance from our parking spots to the dome, a front door mat greeting us with the phrase, “Inhale love. Exhale gratitude.”
My shoulders seemed to drop an inch.
Opening the dome’s heavy front door, we were welcomed into a modern, white kitchen with stainless steel appliances, wood panelling and quaint touches, such as a ‘Namaste’ sign perched over the stove. We peeked into a full bathroom to the left of the entry, washed our hands with a heavenly foam hand soap from Saje Natural Wellness and took a moment to read a sign explaining that “gokotta” is a Swedish word that means, “The rejuvenating act of rising at dawn to listen to the birds sing; to immerse oneself in nature.”
My shoulders seemed to drop even more.
Our exploration continued into the main dining room-living area, with the forest and stream below in full view through a series of large, triangular windowpanes. As we poked around further, we noted a diffuser emitting the faint scent of a pleasant essential oil, a meditative instrumental softly playing on a sound machine, a Himalayan salt lamp glowing in the corner, a gratitude journal ready for input and a fire burning in the propane stove.
My breath slowed and my heart swelled. Had we arrived in paradise?
Within an hour of our arrival, we’d dumped our luggage and swapped jeans for swimsuits. Soon we were cycling through sessions in the hot tub and the clawfoot tub, which we filled with cold water. I could only handle going up to my knees in the frigid liquid; others braved a more full-body plunge. Body parts tingled when placed back in the bubbling hot tub. Achy muscles relaxed. My entire being felt restored.
We took breaks from the hydrotherapy circuit to appreciate the spectacular river views and unusually warm breeze, sip beverages, chat about everything from soup to nuts and just breathe. Time seemed to stand still.
Once we felt thoroughly refreshed, we headed back inside, changed into some comfy gear, rearranged furniture a bit and rolled out two yoga mats that had been tucked in a corner. I’d brought two others and we were all able to find a spot to stretch out. Using Wi-Fi, I pulled up an episode of Yoga with Adrienne on my laptop and we attempted to follow the 30-minute episode, with lots of laughs preventing the workout from becoming too serious.
Later, we heated up a potluck dinner brought from home, our foursome feasting on a salmon-rice-salad affair as daylight grew dim outside. We flicked on interior lights and brought the wood stove to life, its flames easing the evening chill. (A mini-split heater stood at the ready for more warmth.)
When the evening drew to a close, two of the gals snuggled into a pull-out double sofa bed in the main area of the dome, while another pal and I climbed a wooden ladder to the loft space just above, where we were greeted by a sumptuous, king-size bed. A good rest was had by all.
We awoke to dazzling rays of light streaming through the dome’s clear panes. The coffee maker was soon brewing and the kettle whistling with water for tea. Before long, the aroma of a full eggs-bacon-toast breakfast permeated the air as we lounged in our jammies. Bellies full (again), we took another soothing soak in the hot tub before showering and packing for our return to Moncton.
Before we left Gokotta, we strolled by other domes on the property, Lagom and Hygge, which have similar amenities. Each sleeps one to four, with consistent layouts–an upper loft with a king-size bed and a living room sofa bed. Rates for single nights are $295+HST. Rates for a two-night stay in low season start at $275+HST per night, up to $295+HST in high season per night
The next day, I contacted one of Savasana’s owners, Raphael Lajoie, to rave about our getaway and to ask about how the spa came to be:
Q: What inspired you to create Savasana?
A: I used to be really stressed a lot. Sometimes we don’t know that we’re stressed until we go to a place where we can actually relax. Christine had given me a pass for my birthday for the USVA Spa Nordik (in Moncton). I was skeptical but I went with her and was open-minded. After a cycle or two of the thermal experience, we knew this was the type of thing we could see ourselves developing. By the time we left, I could barely walk. I didn’t realize how much the weight of stress was affecting me. When I left, I felt heavy because even though the weight had been lifted off with the relaxation, my body became really grounded because I slowed down. Since not everyone is comfortable relaxing around other people, we wanted to give the option of a private, luxury Nordic spa to relax and recharge.
Q: How did you acquire the property?
A: It was fate, honestly. My parents live five minutes down the road, on the other side of the river, from where we found the property for Savasana. It was November two years ago and we were going to my parents for lunch. As we were driving there, I passed in front of the lot we’re at now. You could tell someone had already made an entryway. You could see a trail going down but not much else. I stopped the truck by the side of the road and got out. Soon I was waist-deep in the ditch in the snow. For some reason, I felt like I absolutely had to go see what was there. Christine started following me. I don’t know how to explain it, but I felt like there was going to be a beautiful view somewhere. We kept walking and walking. There were a lot more trees than there are now. All of sudden, we could see treetops on the other side, almost equal to where we were standing on this big hill. Then we saw the water–it wasn’t totally covered with ice. I said, “This is it!”
Q: Do you and Christine have backgrounds in the spa industry?
A: We are both entrepreneurs by nature. My main business is Royalty Cabinets, a cabinet installation company in Moncton, and now Savasana. Christine has a lot of experience in the hospitality industry. She graduated from Oulton college in the Travel & Hospitality field. She is also a dog trainer (K-9 Kardio) and an explosive detection dog handler with her work dog, Jack. We met after I got my dog. He’s a good boy but I wanted to get her feedback on a few things. She used to live in Saint Antoine where I grew up and where I was living at the time. Things with us just went from there. We’re getting married next September.
Q: Your dad, Guy Lajoie, is involved in the business as well? And your mom?
A: Yes, dad owned Guy’s Welding in Saint Antoine and a construction company, but he is also a partner in Savasana. He and his construction company helped out a lot with the building phase. I drew my vision on a piece of paper and showed him. We bought the domes and hot tubs—the rest was built from the ground up. Dad is now co-owner, groundskeeper and our maintenance/repair man. My mom, Marie-Therese, does housekeeping, checks the hot tubs and makes our charcuterie boards.
Q: Who created the décor inside the domes?
A: Christine did that and it’s the main reason the business is thriving. You can build a business, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to be successful. Christine has a great approach with décor and worked hard to make it visually pleasing. Every little detail matters. As soon as you open the door, you have so much to help you relax: the diffuser with essential oils, the relaxing sounds from the sound machine, the décor. It all helps your body slow down and connect with all of your senses. Christine also handles our bookings, marketing, social media, the gift baskets and items you can purchase on site, and she coordinates everyone else involved in the business. It truly takes a village.
Q: Do most people bring their own food to Savasana or can you also purchase items on site?
A: If you don’t want to haul your food, you can order ahead food items for an additional cost, like charcuterie boards, barbeque boxes or breakfast boxes. Some people find it makes the experience even more relaxing.
Q: Are there any services available on site other than hydrotherapy?
A: When available, we can book deep tissue massages, hot stone massages, couples’ massages and yoga sessions from secondary service providers. It works well for us because it means fewer overhead costs. At a maximum, there are 12 guests on the entire property at any time. To have someone there full-time to potentially do a massage would not be cost-efficient so it’s on a case-by-case basis. One provider is an RMT (Registered Massage Therapist), and that (cost) can be put through insurance if you are covered. We also have an esthetician to join our team for spa or girls’ nights. And we’re planning to introduce reiki healing and sound healing.
Q: Are you pleased with how things are going so far? Any plans for the future?
A: We are really happy. The bookings have surpassed where we thought they would be. We have guests coming from across the province, even PEI, Nova Scotia, the Magdalen Islands. There are things we’re thinking about doing in the future, but we don’t want to give any secrets away yet!
