Story and photography by Barbara Penny Angelakis

Holtz Health and Beauty Spa
45 Rideau Street
Ottawa ON KIN 5W8
www.holtzspa.com

Next to the Rideau Centre shopping Mall, between Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market, and across the street from the Weston Ottawa Hotel, the Holtz Spa has an unimposing street entrance easily missed on busy Rideau Street. But you know the old saying – you can’t tell a book by its cover – and so it is with the Holtz Health & Beauty Spa.

The elevator – or steps if you’re so inclined – opens on the second floor into a fragrant, welcoming environment. I was warmly greeted by the Business Development Manager, Christine O’Grady who discussed my treatment program and then sent me off to the clean, well equipped, beautifully appointed, changing-room.

Soft lighting, soothing music, comfortable seating, and light refreshments awaited me in the waiting lounge/lunch area. I sipped my green tea and gazed out at the view, relaxing until my esthetician, Buki Mahmuti arrived to collect me. Buki comes to Holtz with an extensive knowledge of cosmetic and medical procedures. And although my facial was more traditionally “beauty” it was clear that Buki, and the other cosmeticians, could provide intensive restorative work due to Holtz’s ongoing educational training program bringing technicians up to speed on new techniques and treatments. Holtz is a day spa but clearly has the capacity and technical know-how to function as a destination sanctuary right in the heart of Ottawa. Holtz Spa takes a holistic view of health and beauty combining Asian, Ayurvedic, Hawaiian, and the best of the Western protocols into individually designed treatments for body, mind and spirit.

Back to the lounge wrapped in a cozy robe and with a face feeling like silk, I awaited the light lunch I had ordered earlier. I selected fried calamari with yogurt dipping sauce from the Thai menu and it was a perfect choice. The calamari was fresh and ever so lightly cooked so that it was chewy but not rubbery and the dipping sauce was good to the last drop.

Content and deeply relaxed my revere was pleasantly interrupted by Lise Cobitz the masseuse selected to do a Hotlz Fusion detoxing deep massage. Lise’s method was a combination technique learned from various modalities practiced around the world such as deep tissue, neuromuscular, acupressure, polarity, lomi lomi and conscious touch, and while at times painful “your body can take a little pain, but if it reaches 8 on a scale from 1 to 10, let me know and I’ll ease up” in the end it was releasing and my body felt wonderful after the muscle stretching.

Slightly dazed from the intense work-out, I spent a few minutes debriefing with Lise who suggested I drink plenty of water and eat protein to rebuild stressed muscles and if there was any residual pain to calm the inflamed muscles with ice. She showed me stretching exercises that would be good for my tight, stressed body – and whose isn’t? – and offered suggestions on  diet and relaxation.

By now it was afternoon and the bright sun and blue sky beckoned to me. I quickly dressed and thanked all the staff for adding such a lovely experience to my trip to Ottawa.

© July 2010 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.