HydeAway Boutique Spa
-travel the world without leaving the city
by Leila Wills
Opened in December 2004, HydeAway Boutique Spa is not your average spa. Even though it is located in the heart of Mississauga, this intimate spa feels like a secluded retreat. Set back from the road and tucked in amidst flowering trees, HydeAway is the perfect place to escape from the stresses of everyday life.
Owner Gabriela Nowak-Szelazek designed HydeAway to feel like a resort. “You relax when you’re on vacation, and that’s what I wanted HydeAway to feel like: a little piece of paradise.” After honeymooning in Bali, Gabriela came home and designed her spa to reflect the natural beauty of those surroundings. A large aquarium filled with tropical fish sits behind the reception desk. Beautifully carved teak furniture imported from Indonesia decorates the rooms. Exotic plants fill every corner, and drapes made from raw silk in shades of rich gold and crimson hang in the corridors. Gabriela believes the décor is an integral part of the spa experience, letting her clients know this is a place to unwind and relax.
HydeAway offers a range of spa services, including massage, manicures, pedicures and body treatments, but their specialty is customized facials. Since many clients don’t know what their skin needs, HydeAway’s estheticians will suggest and create a facial treatment specifically beneficial for each client’s skin.
Unique to Mississauga is HydeAway’s infrared sauna. The infrared heat helps people with conditions including asthma, psoriasis, and fibromyalgia. The sauna increases circulation and helps the body eliminate toxins, plus it can burn up to 600 calories per session. Many people are surprised that the temperature is very comfortable and not the claustrophobic heat often associated with saunas.
HydeAway offers spa parties that can accommodate up to 10 people. Clients enjoy food and drinks as well as spa services of their choice. The spa is often booked for “girls’ night out” pampering and wedding parties, but HydeAway isn’t only a place for women. With two side-by-side treatment rooms, two manicure stations and two pedicure stations, the space was designed to be an inviting space for men as well. “Men like to go to spas, but the really big ones can be intimidating,” says Gabriela. “Our cozy, intimate environment makes them feel comfortable.”
HydeAway is a place to relax, refocus, and reboot. Devote some time to yourself with a visit to this remarkable spa.\