Overview
Life became wildly unpredictable and messy for a moment there, but Collingwood's newly opened bathhouse and spa might be just what you need to give stress the flick and start the year off strong. In the bottom levels of a converted Easey Street warehouse, Mary Minas and Freya Berwick have opened the final stage of their wellness hub Sense of Self, with its massage and mindfulness studio opening in the warehouse's top levels in early February.
The duo is out to flip the script on the usual wellness concept, with an unpretentious offering that's focused on connection, inclusivity and restoration. As Minas says: "Our vision is to strip the spa experience back to its roots, giving people a place to cultivate a better relationship with their bodies and themselves. Wellness without the BS, essentially." So, put the phone away, get off the 'Gram and give yourself some much-needed attention.
Minas spent five months visiting the bathhouses of Europe, Africa and Japan, while botanist-turned-hotelier Berwick spent plenty of time sweating in Scandinavian saunas during her three years in Norway. So, expect influences pulled from all four locations at Sense of Self — and plenty of plants.
Jess Tremp
The facilities at the bathhouse include a Finnish-style sauna at a hot 80 degrees, a large 39-degree mineral bath and a cold plunge pool. Passes give you access to all the facilities, and start at $49 for two hours. Bathing on the weekend will set you back $59 for two hours, or you can get discounted multi-packs from $140 for three.
At the not-quite-as-new massage and mindfulness studio, you'll find a menu of body treatments for relaxation, remediation and pregnancy, backed by a soothing lounge area where naps are not just welcomed, but encouraged.
Designed by an all-female collective from Set Square Studio, Chamberlain Architects and Hearth Studio, the space is filled with natural timbers, creamy hues, brass highlights, striking taps from Sussex Taps and foliage from the Plant Charmer.
Find Sense of Self at 30–32 Easey Street, Collingwood. The bathhouse is open from 7am–9pm Tuesday–Friday and 9am–7pm Saturday–Sunday. The massage studio is open from 11am–8pm Tuesday–Friday and 10am–6pm Saturday–Sunday.
Images: Jess Tremp