Boating and cottage life have always been a huge part of my life. In fact, I drove a boat before I drove a car. As a child I used to daydream while flipping through the pages of my dad’s boating magazines. I would pick out the boat that I wanted one day and I even put myself in those pictures of the families and couples, happily zipping along in their boats.

Years later, when I was in school studying to be a natural health practitioner (learning relaxing massage treatments), I remember brainstorming on what kind of practice I wanted to run and what it was going to look like. I thought how amazing it would be if I treated clients outside in the summer time. I dreamt about seeing clients on the water…thinking instead of driving my car to them, how cool it would be to travel by boat! I remember laughing to myself at the time…thinking it was unrealistic.

When I graduated, I ended up massaging friends and family on my dock up in Muskoka. It wasn’t long until people were driving by in their boats, noticing how relaxing the scene looked and yelling, “Sign me up!”. Before I knew it I was driving my boat to other cottages to massage clients. I couldn’t believe that my dream was coming true!

Now, let me tell you that my office space is beautiful and it changes all the time. I massage clients on their docks, in their boats, on top of boathouses, by the pool, beachside,  fireside and under the shade of trees. The best part is that my clients aren’t rushing to get to their appointments, so they can just simply walk out their cottage door for a relaxing treatment. Most clients are already relaxed being at the cottage, so they are able to achieve a deeper relaxation through my treatments.

I’ll see you on the river!

Dockside Spa will open again for the season June 2011.

 Here are some pictures from my past weekend..

I was watching the Dr. Oz  Show last week and he talked about putting pumpkin on your face for a facial…so I had to try it!  It was nice and tasty…Try it out with your family and friends this Thanksgiving weekend!

When I first started working at the athletes village in Whistler is when I heard that the staff in the blue jackets (me included) were referred to by the public as “the smurfs”. I thought that was really cute!  The ironic thing about that is I just so happened to have a smurf with me.  When I travel, I bring along a little 1 inch toy smurf . I photograph him with all the people and places I encounter on my adventures. Then I create story books for my 5 year old niece who is back home in Ontario. 

My smurf got so popular in the athletes village everyone wanted a picture taken with him and he even made the athletes village newsletter!!

Here is the link to my Fan Page on Facebook.

Check out what the traveling smurf did during the Olympics. Click on the photo album Adventures of the Traveling smurf at the 2010 Olympics.

Here are some tips to stay warm when working outside:

• Keep moving, jump up and down
• Shake your legs, stamp your feet
• Wear proper boots and thermal wool socks
• Wear little hotties or hand warmers in your feet and hands…try putting one behind your neck!
• Layer up on clothes and keep dry
• Deep breath and visualize the sun shinning down and warming your whole body
• Take breaks inside to stay warm, eat light snacks and drink water.

You can hire me to entertain you and your guests at your backyard parties, beach parties and celebrations!!

Join me for Apres at Garibaldi Lift Company…aka GLC.  Located in Whistler Village overlooking the base of Whistler mountain, the GLC provides relaxed apres excitement.  I get to walk around and introduce myself, chat to guests and offer people relaxing massage treatments for 1$ per minute…as their hanging with friends and relaxing from their day on the mountain.   GLC is voted the best Apre ski bar in Whistler and has the coolest staff! I love being a part of it!  I enjoy working there…I get to meet people from all over the globe and get to hear their life stories on how they ended up in Whistler. 

Besides working with the amazing, friendliest staff I also get to massage with kick-ass live DJ beats that always make me move or listen to live music from the local band The Hairfarmers.  So come on in for a drink, get your groove on, eat some fantastic food, have some laughs, smiles and massages.  Join GLC fan page on Facebook!

I am at GLC Fri, Sat and Sun from 3:00-7:00pm

I have tried out some yoga studios around Vancouver and just fell in love with YYoga.  They are fabulous studios with great vibes, amazing teachers and all have a wonderful sense of community. 

I have exciting news for those who are living or visiting Vancouver and Whistler!!  YYoga and lululemon has paired up and have a gift for you!!  Enjoy complimentary classes available at YYoga studios in Vancouver/Whistler from February 12-28.  So join me in Whistler for some yoga classes at Neoalpine and pick up your Gift of Yoga pass from participating lululemon locations. For more information, visit http://www.lululemon.com/giftofyoga

  Neoalpine Located in beautiful Whistler

I can’t wait to share some exciting news about the new opening of one of my favorite spas that I go to and relax, recharge and boost my immune system.  I am soooooo excited to hear that there is a new location opening up in Whistler, BC!!!!! 

I frequently visit the Le Scandinave Spa at the Blue Mountain location in Collingwood, Ontario.   Scandinavian spas have a picturesque Canadian setting tucked in the forest with Nordic style water therapy.   Scandinave offers hot and cold plunging pools, a eucalyptus steam room, sauna and they also offer massage and relaxing treatments. My favorite is going there at night in the winter… jumping in a cold plunge pool and then sitting by a wood burning fire to warm up and gazing up at the stars.  Check out the opening specials!!!

I drove  across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver…It was a long one!  It is very difficult to find healthy food choices on the road.  So I recommend packing a cooler with delicious whole foods. 

My Food list: 2 lb bag of carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, bananas, bag of apples, big bag of mixed dried fruit, seeds and nuts, teas and a tin of my mother’s famous homemade muffins.

It’s important to set goals for your trip…Here are some of my goals I would like to share with you:

My goals on my trip

• Eat no packaged food/ junk food/fast food
• Eat at no restaurants
• Have no car trouble 
• Arrive safely to my destination
• Hit no animals 
• No speeding tickets. 
• Make 100 people smile 

I ended up exceeding all of my goals and with a bonus I made 103 people smile and I got a high five.

Things to do on long car drives to wake up

• Sing loud and dance in the car
• When you’re stopped at a gas station don’t forget to stretch your body, jump up and down, get the blood flowing
•  Listen to audio books and music 
• Massage your neck, scalp, face and legs.
• Get out of the car and go for a hike
• I always have golf balls and tennis balls in my car, what I do is to put two balls behind my back on each side of my spine and lean into the seat. 
• I also have a car diffuser in my car where I put in awakening  essential oils-Peppermint, Grapefruit and Rosemary
• You can also make a wakeup face spray: H2O, glycerine, Rosemary-Orange-Grapefruit essential oils. Yummy!!

**Dockside Spa will open in May 2011

Melanie has created FIRESIDE SPA and is currently working in Toronto and GTA  providing in-person healing treatments at clients homes, cabins and hospitals.  She is also taking bodywork/health workshops and courses to expand her knowledge in healing.

FIRESIDE SPA- mobile spa services