Every great girls’ weekend should include a trip to the spa, Iwa Spa is a MUST when visiting Blue Mountain or planning your next getaway with your tribe. Iwa Spa has something truly unique to experience, the Gan Ban Volcanic Rock Therapy (Ganban for short) . I was graciously invited to try the  restorative yoga class in the Gan Ban studio with my guests, some of them had never tried yoga before so they had no idea what to expect. Arriving at the spa, we were welcomed by the friendly staff at the reception desk, where they explained what we would be doing. Walking into to such a soothing environment put everyone at ease and allowed us to absorb the full spa experience.

 What is a Gan Ban? This is how Iwa Spa explains it for us.

Gan Ban

“Gan•ban (short for Ganbanyoku) provides the unique spa wellness experience you have been searching for. (Gan=rock, Ban=board, Yoku=Bath) is a rock sauna heated to 40-42°C. These  stone beds soothe muscles, accelerate metabolism, eliminate toxins from the body and allow for increased circulation while heating your inner core. Originating in Indonesia, in the last 10 years it has become popular in Japan and Australia with about a thousand gan•ban’s operating. At Iwa, we have three gan• ban suites, the first is our studio to accommodate up to 11 people and two private suites for couples or one on one private hot yoga instruction.”

Iwa Spa at Blue Mountain

How does it work?

  • The rock is heated up to 40-42c.These are heated by steam from the boiling water underneath the floor. It is only when the stone slabs are heated that they emit negative ions and far infrared rays.
  • Far infrared rays are waves of energy that are also emitted from the sun but are invisible to the naked eye. They penetrate the human body and are absorbed by cells causing a number of reactions such as dilation of blood vessels which improve blood circulation, speed up the metabolism and help  eliminate waste.
  • Negative ions are molecules in the air that we inhale without our knowledge and are naturally found in abundance at the beach, in the mountains, near waterfalls, and many other places that people like to go because of its soothing, feel-good effect these surroundings have upon us. Once in our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions; they break down toxins, increase levels of serotonin, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy.

The restorative yoga in the Gan Ban was one of the most relaxing yoga practises I have experienced. The enveloping  warmth and soothing blue light eases away your tension putting you in a meditative state that allows you to focus your senses and be present in the moment. We emerged from the Gan Ban feeling calm and refreshed, even the ladies that were new to yoga expressed how much they enjoyed the whole experience.

Iwa is a full service spa offering everything from massage to facials , mani and pedi as well as packages. This spa is also completely suitable to visit as a couple with the man in your life and share the experience of the Gan Ban together. The next time you book a getaway to Blue Mountain  be sure to add a visit to Iwa Spa to the top of the list.