Waking up on a Sunday morning with nothing on your to-do list is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Or even better, cancelling plans you had and instead giving yourself a well-deserved self-care day. High Street in Armadale has almost everything you need to spend a day resetting and recharging, and we’ve done the legwork for you – here’s our curated guide to a day of wellness on the main strip.
If exercise isn’t necessarily what you have in mind for a day off, you’ll be glad to know Joyful Pilates has options for all levels. The studio has Pilates aficionados covered with more advanced options like HIIT or jump boards, while newbies or those wanting to take it slow are well taken care of with slower sessions. There are also zen classes that combine Pilates with yoga and meditation for a blissful reset.
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SIGN UPThe timetable runs throughout most of the morning and afternoon, so you can slot the class in at any time between your other wellness activities. On a Sunday, classes start at 8am and the last class is at 5.30pm.
Once you’re thoroughly warmed up, reward your hard work with a post-workout treat at Green Cup. The health-focused cafe is the go-to spot for acai bowls, smoothies and other wholesome treats. There are plenty of bowl combinations available, or you can DIY your own toppings; options include strawberries, bananas, coconut yoghurt, Nutella, granola, coconut flakes, cacao nibs, chocolate-coated goji berries and more. Our pick: anything with the house-made peanut butter, which you can thankfully buy a jar of to take home.
There are plenty of savoury options, too, from green smoothies and toasties to smashed avo and a rotating list of monthly specials.
Now that you’re properly nourished, it’s time to really unwind. And there are few better ways to do that than with a spa treatment. At Willow Urban Retreat, you’ll find a long menu of facials, massages and packages, including its top treatment, The Grounding. Running for three hours, it includes a detox body scrub, aromatherapy steam, Willow’s signature massage and a 24-carat gold infusion facial.
You can also choose between 60- and 90-minute facials and massages, with add-ons and express remedies available. Plus, the in-house cafe has a rotating seasonal menu of healthy treats, so you can caffeinate and grab a bite before or after your spa time.
Just across the road from Willow is Moby, a cafe with an Ottolenghi-style Middle Eastern influence and a huge open rooftop. It’s the ideal place to take stock as you come back to earth after your spa indulgence, particularly on a sunny afternoon. There’s an all-day breakfast menu with all the classics, as well as a lunch menu that changes seasonally. It’s hard to go past the southern fried chicken bao or the calamari salad, and both make for ideal afternoon fuel.
The drinks menu includes cocktails, with a range of spritzes on offer. Choose between the Bondi (guava, strawberry and rosé), the Noosa (double grapefruit and rosé) or the Brighton (pear, fig and pinot grigio) – nothing screams “day off” quite like an afternoon tipple.
Water Temple Floatation and Holistic Health
If the spa treatment at Willow wasn’t enough, you can spend the afternoon floating in a tank at Water Temple Floatation and Holistic Health. The water-filled pods are designed to place you in deep relaxation mode. There’s no light or sound to distract you, and the water is heated to skin temperature which is designed to make you feel like you’re in a gravity-free environment. Water Temple Floatation and Holistic Health offers a range of prices and different packs, so you’re best to head in and chat to the team about what till suit your needs.
If water floating isn’t for you, Water Temple Floatation and Holistic Health offers a range of other treatments as well, including acupuncture and gua sha.
The final stop is at Missy Lui, which’ll serve as a lasting reminder of the day. Stop in at the nail salon for a manicure or pedicure (or both – why not?), with options for all budgets. The express manicure starts at $40 and will take just 15 minutes, or you can opt for the Japanese manicure which takes an hour and sets you back $105.
The pedicure offering is similar, starting with the 15-minute express pedicure at $45 and going all the way up to the Japanese pedicure, a 60-minute treatment costing $120. There are plenty of options in between both price ranges, as well as a combo menu that lets you mix and match different treatments. Bonus: there’s a $25 mani or pedi option for kids, too.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with High Street Armadale Business Association and City of Stonnington.
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