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Duchesneau says wellness has an essential role to play in the COVID-19 era
At a time when frontline medical staff are under unimaginable stress, a former monastery in Québec, Canada boasts a cultural wellness retreat and spa which is offering them much-needed time out.
“Le Monastère des Augustines opened to the public five years ago and is driven by a social purpose to give back by offering respite to caregivers and healthcare professionals,” explains executive director Isabelle Duchesneau.
Le Monastère occupies the former Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery (1695-1755), one of North America’s first hospitals, and was founded by Augustinian sisters who devoted their lives to helping others. It features a five-treatment-room spa, which Duchesneau describes as a complete haven, where visitors are offered a plethora of massages, facials, holistic health consultations, daily mindful activities and private meditation and movement sessions.
In 2019, more than 100 healthcare workers and 275 health science students participated in various wellbeing activities and retreats at Le Monastère, while over 200 caregivers took advantage of a discounted stay that offered respite and fostered relaxation.
During June and July 2020, the Augustinian sisters – whose average age is over 80 – raised CA$140,000 (US$106,540, €90,126, £81,404) in public donations after hosting a 20-day compassion walk dedicated to helping fund more healthcare workers’ visits.
“The work accomplished by medical workers during this pandemic is unprecedented, so the sisters felt it was their duty to perpetuate these gestures of mutual aid,” says Duchesneau.
The money raised has enabled Le Monastère to create a discounted Solidarity Package costing CA$99 per person per night (US$75, €64, £58), with an actual value of CA$250 (US$190, €161, £145), to welcome more caregivers and healthcare workers.
Le Monastère, which is a member of Healing Hotels of the World, also offers one-day workshops and personalised two- to seven-day retreats focusing on a host of topics ranging from resilience, femininity and meditation, to mindfulness and compassion.
“We’re dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle, providing personalised guidance, tools and advice to help our guests achieve balance with the four pillars of holistic health – the body, mind, emotions and spirituality,” says Duchesneau.
In her opinion, wellness has an essential role to play in the COVID-19 era: “because mental wellness and physical wellness are key to maintaining our health especially in times of great stress”.
She adds: “Being able to serve caretakers who care for others is critically important and wellness destinations, like Le Monastère, have a responsibility to educate and share what we know to help as many people as possible find their path to healing and wellbeing."
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2020 issue 4
Editor's letter: Nurturing mental health
It’s time for spas re-evaluate their mental wellness approach to help governments and society to tackle the escalating mental health crisis says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Dr Narinthorn Surasinthon
RAKxa Jai, a cutting-edge medi-wellness spa, has opened in partnership with Bumrungrad International Hospital and Minor Hotels in Bangkok. Spa Business talks to its COO
Spa people: Isabelle Duchesneau
The executive director of Québec's Le Monastère Augustines explains why its priority of serving caretakers is more relevant today than ever
Spa people: Michael Banissy
The world's largest study on touch uncovers the role it plays in our health and wellbeing. Spa Business talks to the lead researcher
Interview: Krip Rojanastien
Chiva-Som’s CEO talks to Spa Business magazine about guiding the destination spa through COVID-19 and its first contract management project in Qatar
Ask an expert: Corridors of power
What will it take to make politicians realise the value of spas? Spa Business magazine asks those in government and others who’ve made inroads
Promotion: Artofcryo: Cold Calling
Artofcryo.com aims to offer the best whole-body cryotherapy chambers as well as a complete, reliable and effective solution for operators and results for guests
Promotion: ISPA: Lead, inform, inspire
Lead, Inform, Inspire. It’s been quite a year for ISPA, with its firm commitment to supporting members through the pandemic, as president, Lynne McNees explains
Interview: Mark Hennebry
Ensana’s chair tells Spa Business magazine about its landmark development, Buxton Crescent, one of the only genuine spa hotels in the UK
Promotion: Lemi: Creating the dream team
This year leading Italian supplier Lemi launched three new spa solutions, and ventured into the creation of signature treatments for the first time. General manager Matteo Brusaferri explains why he sees this as the way forward to help spas maximise their investment
Interview: Luisa Anderson
A Longevity Garden and inner healing room are just two of the extra special features at the new Healing Village Spa at Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali, says its regional spa director
Promotion: Biologique Recherche
Skincare specialist, Biologique Recherche, is using its knowledge of chronobiology to create new approaches to skincare which yield powerful results
Event review: Global Wellness Summit 2020
This year’s Global Wellness Summit saw two US surgeon generals, leading spa stakeholders and wellness professionals look towards the role they have to play following the global pandemic. Spa Business magazine gives its highlights
Research: Matter of minds
A new study is the first to define and put a value on the global mental wellness industry – estimating it to be worth US$121bn. But what does this mean for spas?
Sponsored briefing: Starpool: Cargo-tecture
During lockdown, Riccardo Turri, CEO of Starpool, was inspired to create a whole new category of product, based on recycled containers. The result is the new i.con spa brand, which fuses luxury, wellness, recycling and design
Software: All booked up
Spa software suppliers take a look at 'big data' to reveal the booking trends they’ve seen since spas have reopened
Promotion: Voya: supporting spa partners
Jessica Anhold, Voya’s head of global sales and marketing, talks community in a time of crisis and how the company is supporting its spa partners
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
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Duchesneau says wellness has an essential role to play in the COVID-19 era
At a time when frontline medical staff are under unimaginable stress, a former monastery in Québec, Canada boasts a cultural wellness retreat and spa which is offering them much-needed time out.
“Le Monastère des Augustines opened to the public five years ago and is driven by a social purpose to give back by offering respite to caregivers and healthcare professionals,” explains executive director Isabelle Duchesneau.
Le Monastère occupies the former Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery (1695-1755), one of North America’s first hospitals, and was founded by Augustinian sisters who devoted their lives to helping others. It features a five-treatment-room spa, which Duchesneau describes as a complete haven, where visitors are offered a plethora of massages, facials, holistic health consultations, daily mindful activities and private meditation and movement sessions.
In 2019, more than 100 healthcare workers and 275 health science students participated in various wellbeing activities and retreats at Le Monastère, while over 200 caregivers took advantage of a discounted stay that offered respite and fostered relaxation.
During June and July 2020, the Augustinian sisters – whose average age is over 80 – raised CA$140,000 (US$106,540, €90,126, £81,404) in public donations after hosting a 20-day compassion walk dedicated to helping fund more healthcare workers’ visits.
“The work accomplished by medical workers during this pandemic is unprecedented, so the sisters felt it was their duty to perpetuate these gestures of mutual aid,” says Duchesneau.
The money raised has enabled Le Monastère to create a discounted Solidarity Package costing CA$99 per person per night (US$75, €64, £58), with an actual value of CA$250 (US$190, €161, £145), to welcome more caregivers and healthcare workers.
Le Monastère, which is a member of Healing Hotels of the World, also offers one-day workshops and personalised two- to seven-day retreats focusing on a host of topics ranging from resilience, femininity and meditation, to mindfulness and compassion.
“We’re dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle, providing personalised guidance, tools and advice to help our guests achieve balance with the four pillars of holistic health – the body, mind, emotions and spirituality,” says Duchesneau.
In her opinion, wellness has an essential role to play in the COVID-19 era: “because mental wellness and physical wellness are key to maintaining our health especially in times of great stress”.
She adds: “Being able to serve caretakers who care for others is critically important and wellness destinations, like Le Monastère, have a responsibility to educate and share what we know to help as many people as possible find their path to healing and wellbeing."
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2020 issue 4
Editor's letter: Nurturing mental health
It’s time for spas re-evaluate their mental wellness approach to help governments and society to tackle the escalating mental health crisis says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Dr Narinthorn Surasinthon
RAKxa Jai, a cutting-edge medi-wellness spa, has opened in partnership with Bumrungrad International Hospital and Minor Hotels in Bangkok. Spa Business talks to its COO
Spa people: Isabelle Duchesneau
The executive director of Québec's Le Monastère Augustines explains why its priority of serving caretakers is more relevant today than ever
Spa people: Michael Banissy
The world's largest study on touch uncovers the role it plays in our health and wellbeing. Spa Business talks to the lead researcher
Interview: Krip Rojanastien
Chiva-Som’s CEO talks to Spa Business magazine about guiding the destination spa through COVID-19 and its first contract management project in Qatar
Ask an expert: Corridors of power
What will it take to make politicians realise the value of spas? Spa Business magazine asks those in government and others who’ve made inroads
Promotion: Artofcryo: Cold Calling
Artofcryo.com aims to offer the best whole-body cryotherapy chambers as well as a complete, reliable and effective solution for operators and results for guests
Promotion: ISPA: Lead, inform, inspire
Lead, Inform, Inspire. It’s been quite a year for ISPA, with its firm commitment to supporting members through the pandemic, as president, Lynne McNees explains
Interview: Mark Hennebry
Ensana’s chair tells Spa Business magazine about its landmark development, Buxton Crescent, one of the only genuine spa hotels in the UK
Promotion: Lemi: Creating the dream team
This year leading Italian supplier Lemi launched three new spa solutions, and ventured into the creation of signature treatments for the first time. General manager Matteo Brusaferri explains why he sees this as the way forward to help spas maximise their investment
Interview: Luisa Anderson
A Longevity Garden and inner healing room are just two of the extra special features at the new Healing Village Spa at Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali, says its regional spa director
Promotion: Biologique Recherche
Skincare specialist, Biologique Recherche, is using its knowledge of chronobiology to create new approaches to skincare which yield powerful results
Event review: Global Wellness Summit 2020
This year’s Global Wellness Summit saw two US surgeon generals, leading spa stakeholders and wellness professionals look towards the role they have to play following the global pandemic. Spa Business magazine gives its highlights
Research: Matter of minds
A new study is the first to define and put a value on the global mental wellness industry – estimating it to be worth US$121bn. But what does this mean for spas?
Sponsored briefing: Starpool: Cargo-tecture
During lockdown, Riccardo Turri, CEO of Starpool, was inspired to create a whole new category of product, based on recycled containers. The result is the new i.con spa brand, which fuses luxury, wellness, recycling and design
Software: All booked up
Spa software suppliers take a look at 'big data' to reveal the booking trends they’ve seen since spas have reopened
Promotion: Voya: supporting spa partners
Jessica Anhold, Voya’s head of global sales and marketing, talks community in a time of crisis and how the company is supporting its spa partners
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
TechnoAlpin Indoor TechnoAlpin is the world leader for snowmaking systems. With the Indoor snow division, TechnoAlpin c [more...]
