Spas for Guys

Your girlfriend, it turns out, is onto something. The spa is indeed a heck of a place to spend some time, and as growing numbers of men opt for the spa treatment, local spas are tailoring their offerings to the gruffer, hairier sex. Here, some of the finest man-friendly treatments in town.

Scandinave Les Bains
Does the Viking Package ($118) live up to its hyper-manly moniker? After an hour of deep-tissue massage and a stint in the profoundly relaxing, monastery-like silence of these high-design Scandinavian baths, you likely won’t care. (Pictured above.) 71 De la Commune St. W., 514-288-2009.

Mann
Let the locker room talk flow at this men-only grooming destination. Mann offers everything from sports massages to nail buffing to manscaping. We recommend the Blade Runner ($30): a good old-fashioned straight-blade shave, with mini facial and hot-towel treatments thrown in. 449 Viger St. W., 514-395-0707.

Balnea
This one’s a 50-minute drive from Montreal, but Balnea’s 90-minute Abenaki Ritual ($225) involves trippy oils, an awesome smoke ceremony and the busy hands of three massage therapists. (That’s right, three.)  Get thee to that sweat lodge. 319 Lac Gale, Bromont, 450-534-0604.

Spa Espace Nomade
The ultimate male wilderness experience goes all La-Z-Boy at Montreal’s new all-organic spot. The Field and Stream Spa and Massage Package ($195) entails a powerful Swedish massage, skin-softening cedar-and-spruce exfoliation and a skin-tingling sandalwood, lime and cucumber facial. Your girlfriend will prefer how you smell anyway after this expedition. 4650 Saint Laurent Blvd., 514-842-7279.

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Spas for Guys

The notion of the spa as the domain of women is a distinctly modern phenomenon; men have been frequenting spas for thousands of years. Granted, ancient Roman warriors weren’t getting facials in Yaletown – but it doesn’t mean you can’t. Herewith, Vancouver’s most man-friendly spa treatments.

Man-cial
This personalized man-cial, offered by Skoah at their industrial-chic Yaletown spa, starts with a “skinskription” and includes a cleanse and exfoliation, and a simultaneous foot detox. $70. 1011 Hamilton St., 604-642-0200.

Back Wax
Don’t reprise The 40-Year-Old Virgin; visit Le Petit Spa, where lavender oil-infused beeswax reduces the pain. Also, get your unibrow threaded; the ancient Indian technique is easy on the skin. Back wax, $50; eyebrow threading, $14. 4-3701 West Broadway, 604-224-4314.

Foot Love
At Hotel Vancouver’s Absolute Spa don’t get a pedicure; get the “sports foot care,” which includes callus removal, nail shaping and a foot and leg exfoliation. Relax in a massaging armchair and play Xbox on the big screen. $75. 900 West Georgia St., 604-648-2909.

Bodywork
Decompress in Miraj’s hammam before reclining on Jerusalem marble for a gommage exfoliation with black Moroccan soap. Your happy ending is a full-body massage. $135 with 30-minute massage. 1495 West Sixth Ave., 604-733-5151.

Detox
Talk about hair of the dog: At Nefér, take a dip in a red wine-filled marble bath – and top it off with a seaweed body wrap. It’ll improve blood circulation, renew cells and maybe even stop the spins. $175. 571 Cardero St., 604-696-0222.

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