Featuring an innovative approach to wellness, Recess, a new spa in Montreal, is changing the game by promoting a sociable atmosphere over the traditional quiet ambiance. “No silence here: Montreal’s Recess spa welcomes socializing and music.” Instead of hushed whispers and silent treatments, guests are encouraged to engage in lively conversations, sing along to tunes, and participate in communal rituals, all while enjoying a range of wellness treatments.

Recess: A New Social Wellness Experience

Located in Montreal’s trendy Griffintown neighbourhood, Recess offers a unique wellness experience. The spa features a gender-neutral locker room, individual changing stalls, and a waiting room filled with marble benches and bean bag chairs. Adding to the lively atmosphere, music from artists like R&B singer Leon Bridges and pop group TLC fills the air, encouraging guests to chat and socialize.

In the circular sauna, guests can enjoy the aufguss method – an aromatherapy experience where hot and cooler air is moved around participants. Attendees participate in this experience in the 50-person coliseum sauna, where they can enjoy the warmth while engaging in conversations. The sauna session is then followed by a cold plunge, a contrast meant to invigorate the senses.

Bringing People Together Through Wellness

Recess co-founders Adam Simms and Marilyne Gagné believe that wellness should be a communal experience. “Modern wellness has become an individual pursuit – headphones in, eyes down, disconnected. With Recess, we’re bringing people back to something deeply human: shared rituals,” says Simms. By promoting social interactions and shared experiences, Recess aims to transform wellness into a collective activity rather than an isolated endeavor.

A Changing Wellness Landscape in Montreal

Recess’s social wellness approach is part of a broader shift in Montreal’s wellness industry. Other upcoming establishments like Joy Spa are also planning to incorporate social elements into their wellness offerings. Traditional outdoor spas, like Bota Bota, are also recognizing the need for change and are incorporating elements like audiovisual experiences to their services.

Unique Classes and Experiences at Recess

Recess offers a variety of classes, from stretch-focused Restore class that uses massage balls and gua sha, to the 90-minute Bad Stu, which includes a unique combination of smoke and essential oils. There is even a comedy night and themed music nights taking place inside the sauna, adding to the spa’s vibrant and sociable atmosphere.

Recess: Reinventing Wellness

“For me, true wellness has always been as much about connection as it is about recovery. Recess reinvents an ancestral tradition – the sauna as a gathering place – for a generation that’s craving belonging,” says Gagné. By promoting social interactions and shared experiences, Recess is redefining the wellness experience and providing a refreshing alternative to the traditional, solitary spa experience.

Note: The writer was a guest of Tourisme Montreal. The tourism board did not review or approve the story before publication.

Ethan Radcliffe

Ethan Radcliffe is a senior reporter and digital editor at The Toronto Insider, specializing in Canadian federal policy, GTA urban development, and national economic trends. With over a decade of experience in North American journalism, Ethan focuses on translating complex legislative and economic developments into clear, accessible reporting for Canadian readers. Ethan’s work emphasizes policy analysis, government accountability, and data-driven reporting, with a strong focus on how federal and provincial decisions impact communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. He has covered infrastructure planning, housing policy, fiscal strategy, and regulatory changes affecting Canadian households and businesses. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Ethan brings expertise in investigative reporting, long-form analysis, editorial standards, and digital publishing best practices. His reporting is guided by verifiable sources, public records, and transparent sourcing. In addition to reporting, Ethan has experience in newsroom editing, fact-checking workflows, SEO-informed journalism, and audience analytics, ensuring stories meet both editorial integrity standards and modern digital discoverability requirements. Ethan is committed to objective, fact-driven journalism and adheres to established ethical guidelines, prioritizing accuracy, clarity, and public trust in all reporting.

See Full Bio