I tried Calgary’s newest Cedar & Steam spa and I finally understand the hot-cold wellness hype

Wellness culture in Calgary is evolving. Trends may come and go, but when experiences are worthwhile, they tend to stick around. It’s why Cedar & Steam has expanded to open a second location near Calgary Olympic Park. And after an unexpected interruption following last December’s soft launch, it’s officially open for guests.

I had the pleasure of being among the first, and what I learned was Cedar & Steam isn’t a regular spa – it’s a cool spa. Sometimes quite literally!

Since opening its first location in 2019, Cedar & Steam has reimagined what modern wellness can be, bringing together timeless practices with innovative healing experiences to create immersive spaces rooted in hot, cold, and mindful therapies.

If you aren’t familiar, a hot-cold-rest cycle is an intentional practice that activates circulation, calms the nervous system, and leaves you feeling grounded, clear, and restored. Cedar & Steam has several saunas, a steam room, a cold shower, and a cold pool, all of which guests can rotate through at their own pace.

The benefits of heat

After donning my swimsuit, I did a quick body wash in the rinse shower. From there, I chose to ease into things with the red light sauna.

The red light sauna uses infrared lights to create heat, allowing for deep tissue penetration at a lower temperature than standard saunas. Along with relaxation and muscle recovery, red light saunas stimulate cellular repair, boost collagen production, and improve circulation. Regular use can even help reduce visible signs of aging!

Next, I went to the steam room, which was infused with eucalyptus aromatherapy. Whereas saunas are dry-hot, steam rooms are humid. Moist heat improves blood flow and reduces blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, and all that sweating you’re bound to do opens the pores to flush out toxins.

I spent my time hitting all of the saunas and cold experiences in the hot-cold-rest-repeat cycle that’s recommended. Additional hot experiences include the cedar sauna, which is a Cedar & Steam classic known for improving circulation and promoting weight loss.

Meanwhile, the lava sauna is a Cedar & Steam West exclusive. The hottest sauna yet, this bad boy combines Brazilian slate, lava rock, and traditional cedarwood. Slate symbolizes harmony of the elements, and a reduction in anxiety (which I, for one, desperately need). It’s suggested that guests use their time in the lava sauna to meditate and manifest your full potential, and that’s exactly what I did.

A system reset

Now for the cold experiences. Of these, there are three: the rinse shower, the dump bucket, and the cold plunge pool. The shower is exactly what it sounds like and is a nice option if you want to ease into the cold since you control the temperature.

The dump bucket is a fun option – well, as fun as dousing yourself in cold water can be. You stand beneath the bucket and pull on the rope for a quick and easy refresh. It was a shock to the system, but I did feel pretty good after! They’re not kidding about the immediate rush of endorphins. Plus, I haven’t had a cold bucket of water dumped on me since the ALS ice bucket challenge back in 2015. What a time.

And finally, my biggest adversary: The cold plunge pool.

Okay, it wasn’t actually that bad. I’m just a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold water. In any case, I was determined to submerge my whole body in the pool before my Cedar & Steam experience was up, and I’m proud to report that I was successful. Instructions on the wall suggest staying in for 30 seconds to five minutes. I think 30 seconds is a pretty generous estimation of how long I lasted, but much like the dump bucket, I felt great after.

Cold plunges are often enjoyed by athletes to aid muscle recovery and reduce pain and soreness. Combine that with the hot-cold-rest-repeat cycle, and you’ve got a full system recalibration. Trust me, this feels really good when you’re stressed out. It’s hard to understand just how much tension you store in your body until it’s being shocked out.

A modern wellness journey on your schedule

The benefits from Cedar & Steam are more than just physical. Throughout the process, guests are encouraged to practice breathwork to help release stress, dissolve tension, and move stagnant energy in the body. If you’re unfamiliar with breathwork or want to strengthen an existing practice, Cedar & Steam offers three levels of guided classes which vary in temperature, intensity, and support. Best of all, these are skills you can take away from the experience and practice to reduce tension in day-to-day life.

And speaking of dissolving tension, Cedar & Steam also offers massages. Getting a massage right after doing some hot therapy is the best move – your muscles are already relaxed, so it’s basically a head start for your RMT. A personalized treatment shaped by your individual needs is a wonderful way to support your body through life’s demands.

Cedar & Steam’s new West location was well worth the wait. It’s a wellness experience that’s approachable, flexible, and integrated into everyday life. You can reserve a drop-in session online, but if your experience is anything like mine, you’ll probably walk away wanting to look into a membership option.

Visit the Cedar & Steam website to book your journey at the new West location and experience a slice of restoration.

Kendall Bistretzan

Branded Content Writer

Kendall Bistretzan is a Calgary-based writer, reporter, and coffee enthusiast. In her spare time, she loves to read, have dinner with friends, and sing in her car. She is currently querying her debut fiction novel. You can find her on Instagram @kendallbistwrites.

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