Vancouver isn’t exactly short on ways to pursue wellness. You can hike. You can swim. You have yoga studios on every corner. Countless spas, saunas, and ice baths. And enough green juice served each day to launch a yacht in. Pronounced “calm” but meaning ‘three’ in Estonian (nodding to their three-part ethos of Relax, Recover, Reconnect), Kolm Kontrast does offer a notable contrast to other sauna and ice bath spaces – Through its dedication to “contrast therapy” and the optional social element. It’s less stuffy sweat lodge, more Scandi-inspired social club.
Vancouver’s largest sauna
Crowned Vancouver’s largest sauna, this temple of heat can house up to 50 souls at 82-90°C. It includes aromatherapy sessions, guides waving towels like Cleopatra’s servants, and even delightfully scented snowballs hitting the rocks.
Ice Baths
Then comes the polar opposite (literally). Four custom-designed ice baths await at a bracing 0-4°C. If you’re an ice bath newbie, you’ll be guided by the calm encouragement of the Kolm crew (sometimes armed with soothing sound bowls.) One to three dips are recommended, lasting for one to three minutes each.
Session Styles
Kolm smartly offers various ways to navigate this thermal rollercoaster. Opt for a Self Guided session to find your own rhythm, or dive into their Classes. These aren’t your average stretches; expect guided meditations, breathwork designed to build resilience, fascial maneuvers, and even gua sha self-massage, all within the 75-minute hot-cold cycle. They even have Silent Sessions for those who prefer their rejuvenation without the chatter.
Social Sweat
Unlike more traditional spas, Kolm leans into the shared experience. It’s designed for connection, albeit a respectfully distanced, swimsuit-clad one. The Tea Lounge offers a stylish space to warm up naturally post-plunge, sipping complimentary artisan teas or alkaline water amidst glowing salt-block tables and earthy tones. The amenities are top-notch too with private showers, Dyson hairdryers, and all the essentials to transition back to the real world.
Their After Hours sessions (Thursday to Saturday nights) turn down the lights, turn up the music, and offer a decidedly different kind of night out – swapping icy cocktails for icy plunges, perhaps?
What is Contrast Therapy?
Beyond the bragging rights of surviving, devotees swear by the benefits of mating high heat and icy cold: reduced inflammation (goodbye, puffiness), boosted circulation (get your glow on), improved mood (swap out that seasonal depression), enhanced physical recovering (your after-hike helper,) and many other benefits.
Kolm Kontrast is located on Cambie and 8th Ave, for more info visit kolmkontrast.com.