It is late March in Toronto, and if you are like me, you\u2019re starting to feel like this winter is never-ending.<\/p>\n
Mother Nature loves to tease us with a few double-digit days only to plunge us back into a deep freeze 24 hours later. It takes a toll on the mental health, so I decided it was time for a \u201cDay with Dare\u201d dedicated entirely to self-care.<\/p>\n
While Toronto has become a bastion of spas<\/a>, hammams, and saunas<\/a>, I didn\u2019t want to run all over the city for individual appointments. I wanted a singular sanctuary where I could spend an entire day relaxing. After a \u201cdeep dive\u201d into local wellness centres left me feeling overwhelmed, I turned to my circle of friends for a recommendation. One suggested a hammock sound bath<\/a> (tempting!), but the consensus was clear: I had to check out Trove.<\/a><\/p>\n A haven for burnout<\/p>\n Located at 426 Adelaide St. W., Trove was founded in 2021 by Zo\u00eb Paliare and Tanya Kololian. Drawing from their personal experiences with burnout, the duo created a haven for holistic healing that combines convenience with comprehensive wellness solutions.<\/p>\n To keep things interesting, I logged onto their website<\/a> and played \u201ctreatment roulette,\u201d picking a random selection of services to try. After all, life \u2014 and self-care \u2014 should be an adventure.<\/p>\n The heat and the (very) cold<\/p>\n Upon arrival, the friendly staff handed over my itinerary. First up: the infrared sauna and the cold plunge. While the private infrared sauna felt divine on my tired muscles, the transition to the \u201ceeeek\u201d-inducing cold water was a challenge.<\/p>\n As a first timer, I\u2019ll be honest: I hated the cold plunge. I\u2019m sure it is \u201cgood\u201d for me, and Trove\u2019s setup is undeniably top-tier, but it just isn\u2019t my cup of tea. I like my tea hot. I retreated to the sauna for a second eight-minute cycle and happily skipped the second dip, although proud I finally took that plunge.<\/p>\n While I was solo in the room, you can have up to two friends with you.<\/p>\n Finding an escape on Adelaide<\/p>\n Thankfully, the day shifted gears with a 90-minute deep-tissue massage. The space was warm, dimly lit, and smelled divine; I felt immediately at ease. My therapist worked through months of stiff-neck tension and tight knots with incredible precision. If heaven exists, this room is a strong contender.<\/p>\n I rounded out my physical recovery with a session in the red-light therapy \u201ccocoon\u201d bed, followed by a full-body lymphatic drainage treatment in a body suit.<\/p>\n At this point, I melted away and forgot about everything beyond the space\u2019s walls.\u00a0<\/p>\n For those looking to visit, Trove\u2019s journeys are accessible through membership or a credit system,<\/a> which starts at $52 per credit.<\/p>\n Mind over matter, for next time<\/p>\n