A trio of locals have opened a new spa in Kelowna and it’s unlike any other wellness facility we’ve seen in the city.
On Nov. 10, Aly Tinevez, Mitch MacDonald and Edward Schlagintweit officially opened the doors of the Tality Forest Spa.
But there are no doors, at least not in the way you might expect, as the whole operation is outside in nature, surrounded by pine trees and mountain views.
It’s also less than a 10-minute drive from downtown Kelowna at 370 Clifton Rd.
Tinevez tells KelownaNow that the spa provides a traditional and abundant sauna experience that centres around a hot-cold cycle.
There’s a large sauna that stays between 105-110°C and four ice baths for cold plunges, with two between 1-4°C and two between 7-8°C.
Robes, flip flops and towels are all provided, as is unlimited tea, kombucha and water. You can also relax around fire pits if you need a break from the sauna or ice baths.
People are encouraged to come on their own or in a small group and potentially share the space with others, although private group bookings for up to 14 are also available.
“A big part of the experience is social wellness, so we really encourage people to just come and join a community session and connect with people,” Tinevez explained.
“That's why there is only one sauna, because we want people to connect and we want people to have those good conversations and create a community in a city that can sometimes feel very alone during the winter months.”
There will always be a sauna host on site to guide people through the hot-cold cycle process if needed, but people are also welcome to go at their own pace.
As Tality Forest Spa grows and expands, they hope to add more guided sessions and Tinevez noted one area in particular they are looking into.
They hope to collaborate with more breathwork specialists and are looking to connect with some of the leaders of that local industry in the weeks and months ahead.
As for how this unique spa became a reality in Kelowna, Tinevez credits a bit of serendipitous timing for it all coming to fruition.
Tinevez and MacDonald had long-wanted to create something around a hot-cold cycle in Kelowna and eventually reached out to Tality Wellness.
It turned out that Tality, which has two unique spas and a kombucha production business based out of North Vancouver, was already eyeing a potential expansion to the Okanagan.
That’s when Schlagintweit was brought on board and the trio was able to create Tality’s third spa location in Kelowna.
Tality’s brand mission is to “heal the world through intentional suffering,” and Tinevez says they really resonated with that.
“We wanted to bring it to life here in Kelowna in a setting that is so close to downtown but feels like you are so far away in the woods, deep in the forest,” she said.
So far, it appears as though there are many others who were needing such a retreat within Kelowna city limits, as the feedback has reportedly been fantastic.
“We have been so blown away and so grateful as to how all of Kelowna has reacted to our space,” Tinevez added.
She finished by saying she believes Kelowna really needed a space like this and they're immensely grateful of the reception so far.
You can learn more about the Tality Forest Spa, including rates and how to book a session, by visiting their website. Check out their great Instagram page here as well.
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