Some spa experiences are about pampering. Some of them are about healing. And sometimes – when the stars are lined up, when the bodies and minds are open, they are about something even deeper. That was my experience Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Spa with Guide “Peak Nick” hiking via Jasper Food Tour Through the beautiful, unforgettable “burns” left behind by a wildfire the previous summer.
The hike itself was powerful. Still life and prominent landscapes tell the story of destruction, but also rebirth. The charred tree trunks, in contrast to new growth, bravely pushed the grey earth. It reminded me of my own body, my own story. I got burned like a baby, and although a lot of time has passed, I still have that scar. Hiking through that forest was like walking a reflection of yourself.
By the time I arrived at the spa, I was physically exhausted and emotionally wide open.
And the moment I stepped in, I found something simple but deeply influential. I was offered a fitted robe.
How Robes Make and Break Spa Visits
It wasn’t the robe I had to squeeze. I’m not a robe that I had to ask for hesitation. Robes that welcomed me, just like me. And not only that, the staff told me they were also increasing the size if I liked it. Set the tone using only that gesture. It felt like I saw it. He is respected. Deserves comfort.
My massage therapist Morgan welcomed me with her kind presence and deeply touching me. Baskets prepared just for me, all the products I plan to use during my treatment. It contained organic ginger bath and body oils, natural rehydrated neroli water, fab balm and organic mild balm. My name was on the massage table. That little detail – my name feels like a quiet assertion that this space, this moment was mine.
The massage itself was everything my body needed. The pressure was magical, intentional and intuitive. Morgan worked with deep care and felt his tired muscles relax slowly. The room was calm and the music was a soft and soothing soundtrack of the unfolding release. I didn’t feel rushed or like the numbers in the system. I was honored. He is respected. Restore.
After that I visited the spa lounge. The spa lounge overlooks the lake so it doesn’t look surprisingly blue. I curled up in my robe – comfortable, feeling my body still welcome – and then I let myself sink into the thoughts. Something about the calm waters, the mountains beyond, the emotional release of hiking and massage unlocked the deeper reflection.
I realized I had just hiked through a literal burn scar. Most people may avoid it. Still, it was beautiful in its life. I thought about my own physical and emotional wounds. About what we are conditioned to hide them. But at that moment, wrapped in a fitted robe with the body that was being cared for, I felt the land of the lesson: You can walk through your wounds, walk directly through your wounded areas, and come out from the other side with more understanding. More wholeness. More peace.
At that time, a rune was floating across the lake. I later learned that it was one of the signs that it would return to where it made sense: a transition. I took it as a quiet invitation from space: I’ll be back.
Before I left, I stepped into the eucalyptus steam bath. The fog opened my lungs and cleaned my head. We then headed to the outdoor heated pool. I slipped into the warm water and the jagged silhouettes of the Canadian Rockies rose around me like a protective circle. The sun was soaked low. I was surrounded by dignity.
The moment is completely, completely safe within my body, surrounded by the grandeur of nature, but it feels like the peace that we spend our whole life chasing.
And here’s what I keep thinking: This would not have been possible if they hadn’t had a fitted robe.
Comfort is access. Hospitality is more than just an atmosphere, so it’s inclusive. That robe meant I could actually do it Become There, completely. It’s not self-consciousness, it’s not adjustments or covering. It just exists. And I was comfortable so I had access to the mountains, the massages, the moment, all the beauty that was being offered.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Spa wasn’t just providing treatment for me. They gave me a space to heal, reflect and reunite with myself. They showed me that fitted robes are key to unleashing something deeper.
And it’s really the magic of spa done right.
Kara Richardson Whitely is the author of Gorge: My Journey up Kilimanjaro at £300, CEO. Gorgeous agenthelps your brand connect with a plus-size audience.
Source: The Curvy Fashionista – thecurvyfashionista.com
