Wellness in The County

After a l-o-n-g lockdown, home schooling, working from home, separation from loved ones, and whatever else the pandemic could throw at us, we all deserve a little pampering. Here are 16+ ways to take some “me time,” whether at the spa, in nature or on a yoga mat.

Please note that public health travel advisories and orders are changing frequently during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please consult our COVID-19 Essential Info page for the latest updates.

Spa

Developing a hunch from working at the kitchen table? Hitting the “hide self” button on Zoom more and more? Maybe it’s time for a little self-care at the spa. Personal care services where masks can be worn at all time – such as haircuts and massage – are part of Step 2 of the province’s Roadmap for Re-opening. The County’s spas are ready to welcome you back.

Bloomfield Beauty Co & Cafe offers a range of medical aesthetic services, registered massage therapy, manicures and pedicures, hair removal and cosmetic treatments. Try the aptly-named Unwind Massage, a two-hour treatment sure to work out the kinks.

iFloat Spa specializes in Flotation Therapy, REST Therapy (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) or Sensory Deprivation. Float in your very own pod, in a salt-water solution in a specially designed tank for relaxation. A perfect way to tune out the worries of the world.

Guests of The Manse Boutique Inn & Spa can enjoy the pool and hot tub in the B&B’s beautiful garden, as well as registered massage therapy from in-house massage therapists.

Natural Beauty Mini Spa is an oasis of calm off Main Street Picton, offering the classic spa favourites, including manicures and pedicures. Reservations a must!

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Wellness, beauty and natural products

Featured in House and Home magazine, Field Made Goods is a must-shop for locally-made, nature-derived products, including beeswax candles, wood turned candlesticks and ceramics. The shop also carries Sunday’s Company, a line of skin care products made in small batches, using only natural ingredients.

Love of Lavender offers County-grown lavender products, including sachets, bath and body products, along with some Ontario-made beauty products online or in-store. Or go to the source: spend some time in the lavender fields of Millefleurs.

Savon du Bois carries an extensive offering of essential oils, natural skin care products and zero-waste alternatives, available from their charming Main Street Picton store or online.

Nourish the Soul has tea blends and essential oils, one-on-one aromatherapy and crystal healing sessions, as well as ‘Soul Nourishing’ sessions available by booking. Shop for the mystical, metaphysical, and magical products you have been looking for. 

Scandiskin carries Nordic-inspired, small batch skin care products and a growing line of products gathered from across Scandinavia. Her shop on Main Street Bloomfield will appeal to those seeking clean, natural products. Handmade products are also available now on her website, itself an oasis of Zen.

Connect with Nature

Artist Susan Wallis has teamed up with registered herbalist Tamara Segal and artist/herbalist Bay Woodyard for PAUSE, an experience that starts with forest bathing and foraging before heading to Wallis’ new Loch Sloy studio/gallery to work with wax, pigments and found objects to make an encaustic painting.

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Yoga with a twist 

A summer hit in 2020, Goat Yoga with Mikenze is coming back for another season. Starting in late May, you will be able to take a fun yoga class along with 8-10 Nigerian Dwarf goats and kids on Saturday mornings. Hosted at OnceUponA Farm in Picton, pre-registration begins in late April. Classes are capped at 12, so be sure to mark your calendar.

Looking for more workouts with furry friends? Yoga with Alpacas at Chetwyn Farms is back for the third year. Beginning in June, join yoga instructor Alison Kelly and the Chetwyn Farms alpacas in the riding ring for yoga sessions surrounded by idyllic scenery, as the alpacas quietly watch you practice your poses. 

On Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings, start off with Yoga in the (Vine)Yard at Karlo Estates. Reservations are essential to manage COVID protocols. Find more details here. Or spend Tuesday evenings or Sunday mornings on the mat among the vines – and reward yourself with a glass of wine – at Waupoos Winery. Or spend Saturday at noon stretching out at Casa Dea Estates Winery. More details here.

If yoga from the comfort and safety of home sounds more appealing, Viniyoga Connection classes with Kelly Cade have moved online, with semi-private or private lessons also available. 

On Saturdays in July and August, take part in Backyard Yoga at Sand and Pearl Oyster Bar and then grab a vegan poke bowl lunch.

Health and specialty food

Penny’s Pantry in Picton is a great local resource for healthy bulk, local and specialty diet foods. Penny will send interested customers an email listing her bulk food offerings (mostly organic) as well as a menu listing prepared food and baking to purchase. 

Looking for some specialty, organic and whole food options you can’t get in a regular grocery store? Stop by The Good Place in Wellington or The Green Root in Rossmore for specialty foods that cater to many different dietary and nutrition needs. Staff will walk you through the store to introduce you to foods for lifestyle changes or if you are new to food restrictions.

Looking for more health and wellness offerings in Prince Edward County? See our listings of Health and Wellness services in PEC.

By Amy White. (Updated July 2021)