Strøm Magazine – Spring / Summer 2025

ISSUE TWENTY

SPRING–SUMMER 2025

LONGEVITY

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

ART OF LIVING SOCIETY

HOLISTIC HEALTH

In this issue

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

14 — 17

INSPIRATION

18 — 21

WORLD 22 — 27

SOCIETY 30 — 37

HOLISTIC HEALTH

44 — 63

WELL-BEING AT WORK

66 — 67

CULTURE

68 — 69

À TABLE

72 — 75

Guillaume Lemoine

President

Emilie Lefebvre-Morasse

Vice-President of Marketing and Sales, Editor in Chief

Arianne Filion

Assistant Editor in Chief

Caroline Croteau

Senior Director, Brand and Content

Sarah-Maude Dalcourt

Production and Brand Director

Rosalie Nadeau

Project Manager, Production and Brand

Marie-Ève Trudel

Media Creativity and Brand Content Strategist

Inhabiting Our Old Age: Rethinking Collective Living Spaces

An interview with Erick Rivard and François Grisé

Inheritance: An interview with Léane Labrèche-Dor

The Intoxication of Travel, by Franck Laboue, Voyageurs du Monde

Eternally Young: A Conversation with Jeanne-Mance Houle

What Is Life Worth if It Has No Meaning?: An interview with Alain Crevier

The Ingredients of Thriving Physical Health, by Jérôme Perreault, Kinesiologist

Reversing the Visible Effects of Time: Remarks Collected from Ariane Archambault, Cosmetic Lead

Five Longevity Retreats Around the World

Sleep: 10 Common Questions Answered, Excerpt from an interview with Véronique Latreille, PhD, neuropsychologist

Divided Attention: A Critical Issue in Aging, by Dr. Maxime Lussier, Psy. D., Ph. D. in Neuropsychology

Work After Retirement: To Live Longer, by Alexandra Lecours, Professor and Occupational Therapist

Immortality in Art(s), by Nicolas Gendron, Cultural Journalist

Intermittent Fasting, Longevity, and Wellness — Between Myths and Realities: An interview with Professor Benoit Arsenault

Sarah Lamarche

Artistic Director

Bianca Des Jardins Photographer

Catherine Gaudet

Linguistic Revisor

Gaëlle Meslin

Linguistic Revisor

Pierrette Brousseau

Linguistic Revisor

SLRR Translation Firm Translation

Cover page credits

Swimsuits: Strøm Collection

Printing Imprimerie Solisco Inc.

Advertising sales Christine Mailloux magazine@stromspa.com

To collaborate on content Arianne Filion afilion@stromspa.com

Publisher Strøm Nordic Spa 1001, boul. de la Forêt Nuns’ Island, Quebec H3E 1X9

Legal deposit — ISSN 2369-5897 Library of Canada and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. The opinions expressed in the articles of Strøm Magazine are the sole responsibility of the authors. The availabilities, vintages, and prices mentioned in the magazine are subject to change without notice. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is prohibited without the permission of Strøm Nordic Spa. All rights reserved. Publication mail — 42293512

Strøm Magazine is printed in Quebec on Sustana Opaque paper containing 30% sustainable recycled fibres.

Photo: Bianca Des Jardins (Yan Yankat)

Makeup and styling: Raphaël Gagnon (Brigitte Lacoste)

Sanitas per aquam: the longevity of an industry, the continuity of a mission.

When it comes to longevity, we instinctively think of health, the body, life. We seek to understand how to live longer, better. But beyond the human element, certain ideas, practices and even companies have stood the test of time. They become pillars, landmarks, refuges in our constantly changing societies.

Thermotherapy and Strøm are two such examples.

Over 2,000 years ago, the Romans built public baths throughout their empire. I was fortunate enough to visit some in Europe, and what struck me was how similar their layout was to that of modern Nordic spas: Warm rooms such as the caldarium, heated by the hypocaust, an ingenious underfloor radiant heating system; the laconicum, an early form of the dry sauna; the cold baths of the frigidarium, to tone the body; and the tepidariums, where people relaxed and socialized.

Everything was already there.

This ritual, which dates back thousands of years, is based on simple yet powerful principles: thermal shock, relaxation, reconnection with the body, and slowing down. These practices promote human longevity, not just biologically, but also emotionally and psychologically. And that’s exactly what we want to offer day after day at Strøm, in our five establishments across Quebec: Old Quebec, Nuns’ Island, Saint-Sauveur, Mont-Saint-Hilaire and Sherbrooke.

Over the last 15 years, we’ve taken on the challenge of democratizing this age-old practice in Quebec. We’ve opened spas near urban centres, created accessible havens to recharge your batteries. Today, we’re proud to support thousands of customers across the province. To provide them with a sense of stability in their sometimes hectic daily lives.

And this mission resonates beyond our borders. In an unstable geopolitical and social context, we are receiving more and more interest from the rest of Canada, the United States and elsewhere in the world. People in search of balance, simplicity and humanity.

That’s our ambition for the future: to continue to build sustainable, meaningful places rooted in nature. To serve millions of customers. To offer real experiences that feel good. And to contribute, in our own way, to a calmer, more connected, more resilient society.

The longevity of Strøm, like that of thermotherapy, is based on an ancient but still relevant truth: stopping to refocus is not a fad, it’s a vital need.

And we’ll be here to remind you of it for a very long time.

Guillaume Lemoine President

Beyond the years

In our relentless quest for longevity, today’s obsession with controlling the uncontrollable is becoming increasingly predominant: regenerative medicine, genetics, biohacking, anti-aging diets, and cellular therapy are just some of the trends that are invading the wellness sphere, giving us the impression that we’re able to unravel more and more of life’s mysteries… At the other end of the spectrum, concepts such as reverse aging and body positivity are gaining notoriety, reflecting the struggle between the quest for youth and self-acceptance. Two contrasting visions that redefine beauty and health standards.

The magazine has chosen to explore longevity in order to gain a better understanding of this fascination, past and present, and to draw out its most enriching lessons. While this desire to suspend time is prevalent, it can also obscure essential aspects of human life—less biometric and more holistic—such as wisdom, community ties and inner peace.

In this issue, we wanted to go beyond trends by exploring topics that directly impact the lives of older people, including the topic of adapted housing, the challenges of physical and mental health, and the place of work after retirement.

We also invite you to discover fascinating subjects such as transformative travel, longevity retreats around the world, intermittent fasting, the quest for meaning through the ages, and eternity as a muse for artistic creation.

On a personal note, it’s thanks to my grandmother JeanneMance that I’m discovering what it truly means to age gracefully. That’s why I wanted to offer you an interview with her, in which she shares fragments of her story and her thoughts. Through her choices and her ability to reinvent herself, without ever trying to stop time, she embodies the vision of a life fully lived, where each step is taken with sincerity.

So many ways to discuss the passage of time, as we explore the full measure of this topic in this special issue which marks the 10 th anniversary of Strøm Magazine . A milestone that also tells a story of longevity.

Happy reading,

Emilie Lefebvre-Morasse and the editorial team

For this 10 th anniversary issue, we’re pleased to offer you 20% off the thermal experience at all times with promotional code NUMERO20 One use per customer. Cannot be combined with any other promotional offer or discount. Valid online only until October 19, 2025.

BENOIT ARSENAULT A professor at the Department of Medicine at the Université Laval and a researcher at the Research Centre of the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Benoit hosts the YouTube channel and podcast Les voies métaboliques.

FRANCK LABOUE A native of Brittany, Franck is eternally curious. A specialist advisor at Voyageurs du Monde, he ended up settling down in Quebec. He has written for the magazine for more than six years.

MAXIME LUSSIER Maxime completed a doctorate in neuropsychology and a post-doctorate in Rehabilitation Science at the Université de Montréal. His main research interests are related to cognitive aging, autonomy, and gerontechnology.

NICOLAS GENDRON A cultural journalist for Ciné-Bulles magazine, among other publications, Nicolas has written for Strøm Magazine since 2015. He is also— and above all—an actor, director, author, and artistic director.

ALEXANDRA LECOURS A professor at the Department of Occupational Therapy at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Alexandra is passionate about occupational health. Her work is aimed at promoting healthy and inclusive environments for aging workers.

JÉRÔME PERREAULT A certified kinesiologist and kinesiotherapist, Jérôme works to improve the well-being of his patients using a holistic approach to physical health.

Strøm Magazine celebrates its tenth anniversary

In 2015, the very first Strøm Magazine was published, born out of a deep desire to extend Strøm Nordic Spa’s mission: to contribute to the balance of people and their communities. While the thermal experience is central to our offer, our vision of well-being extends much further. We believe in a holistic approach to health, where every aspect of daily life contributes to balance.

The magazine has thus become a natural extension of our commitment, a publication in which we share practical tools and in-depth reflections to help our readers achieve a harmonious lifestyle.

More than just a collection of articles, Strøm Magazine is a resource—a gift that our customers can take home, leave on a table to be displayed like a beautiful book, and leaf through as they wish to learn, be inspired, and refocus. Each edition is an invitation to slow down, explore new ideas, and adopt habits that sustainably nurture well-being.

Since its inception, the magazine has been adorned with inspiring images and words written by contributors who are experts in their fields. Together, we’ve explored the notion of balance in all its forms, deciphered wellness trends, and lifted the veil on practices that are sometimes overlooked or controversial. Echoing a fast-growing industry, we have been supporting a population that is increasingly aware of the importance of well-being and looking for solutions that fit their lifestyle.

The magazine also plays a key role in Strøm’s history. With each page and issue, it bears witness to our evolution: the opening of new spas and the development of innovative services and products designed to extend the experience at home. It also provides a behind-the-scenes look at the design of Strøm establishments, telling the story of the places that inspire our architecture and explaining the choices that give each spa its unique identity. It allows our community to follow our evolution and share this wonderful adventure with us.

We are proud to produce a magazine on this scale with our talented teams, thanks to the skill and passion of our loyal contributors, who have become an integral part of the large Strøm family. We are grateful to our partners, who share our values and our commitment to well-being.

While the magazine has evolved over the past 10 years, its mission remains unchanged: to inspire, inform, and guide our community towards a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. This anniversary issue is an opportunity to look back, celebrate the highlights of our journey, and look forward to the future.

Enjoy this retrospective and happy reading!

Rediscover the highlights from every issue.

ISSUE 1: THE LAUNCH OF THE VERY FIRST STRØM MAGAZINE

Five Beauty and Wellness Retreats

Massages for Children

ISSUE 3: STRØM’S SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

Ten Ideas to Stimulate Creativity

Eight Unique Places to Meditate

ISSUE 5: BALANCE AND NORDICITY

Tourism in Nordic Countries

Hot Yoga to Face Winter

ISSUE 2: THERMOTHERAPY

Scandinavian Architecture and Critical Regionalism: Strøm Nordic Spa and its Inspirations from Around the World

Lessons from International Wellness Experts

ISSUE 4: ODE TO SLOWNESS AND CONTEMPLATION

Experimental Tourism

Five Escapes to Suit Every Need

ISSUE 6: RENEWAL

Immersion at Ananda, a Wellness Sanctuary in the Himalayas

In Search of Balance: Interview with Ricardo Larrivée

ISSUE 7: THE NORTH

Innovative Collaborative Workspaces

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

ISSUE 9: SLOW LIVING

Cittaslow: The Cities That Take It Easy

Interview with Rebecca Makonnen on Caregiving

ISSUE 8: CREATIVE REAPPROPRIATION

Copenhagen: A Healthy, Green City Where Life is Good

The Tradition of Thermal Baths Around the World

ISSUE 10: BEAUTY

The Power of the Feminine Cycle

Dermonutrition

Photos: © Bianca Des Jardins (1, 2 and 3, 5 to 10), © Pierre Manning (4)

ISSUE 11: IMAGINING THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

Sound Therapy

Our Way of Viewing Life is Connected to Our Land: An Interview with Elisapie Isaac

Food Self-Sufficiency in Quebec

ISSUE 13: WATER

Water in Architectural Design

Emotional Literacy and Early Childhood

ISSUE 15: WINTER THERAPY

Second Nature: An Interview with Dominic Arpin

The Impact of the Industrialization of Food on Our Health

ISSUE 12: THE OBSESSION WITH WELL-BEING

The Beauty that Surrounds Us: An Interview with Kim Thúy

The Mental Load

ISSUE 14: ANCHORING YOURSELF

Doing Politics Differently: Interview with Catherine Fournier

Various Breathing Techniques

ISSUE 16: CONNECTION WITH OTHERS

Seduction Through the Prism of Culture

The Hallucinogenic Mushroom: At the Foundations of Humanity

A Desire for Authenticity: An Interview with Guylaine Tremblay

ISSUE 17: MODERN SANCTUARIES

New Vocations for Sacred Spaces

Art as Refuge: An Interview with Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette

ISSUE 19: THE LIBERATING POWER OF LETTING GO

Feeling Fully to Better Move Forward: An Interview with Phil Roy

Nordic Swimming

ISSUE 18: AUTHENTICITY

Positive Masculinity

Sound healing

Creating a Timeless and Meaningful Interior Through Interior Design

ISSUE 20: LONGEVITY

Turn the page to discover what’s inside!

Photos: © Bianca Des Jardins (11 to 15, 19 and 20), © Maxime Brouillet (16), © Olivier Staub (17), © Matt Charland (18)

Inhabiting Our Old Age: Rethinking Collective Living Spaces

An interview with Erick Rivard and François Grisé

We spend our lives surrounding ourselves with beauty, taking care of our interiors, and carefully choosing where we will live and how we will live there. However, when age forces us to move into an institutionalized residence, we’re often faced with a cold, hospital-like environment where the aesthetics haven’t necessarily been designed for well-being. Fortunately, across the province, people are actively working to rectify the situation. New thinking and projects are emerging to put dignity, well-being, and community back at the heart of seniors’ lives through design and architecture. The following is an interview with Erick Rivard, an architect who worked on the Quebec government’s seniors’ homes project, and François Grisé, a multidisciplinary artist and the founder of the HABITATS movement.

A BIT OF CONTEXT

In Quebec, the population is aging: In 2031, one quarter of Quebecers will be aged 65 or older. It is therefore more important than ever to think about the issue of housing for seniors.

While the majority (59%) of people aged 85 or older still live at home (Ministère de la Famille, 2016), others primarily live in a private residence for seniors (RPA) or a long-term care centre (CHLSD) once their physical or psychological health status requires daily care (typically more than four hours per day). Intergenerational homes and housing co-ops are also among the options, but are less common.

In recent years, the Quebec government has expressed a desire to address issues related to aging in order to allow individuals to age “better” and promote active aging. A policy titled Aging and Living Together, At Home, In Our Communities, In Quebec has also been implemented. Some of the objectives of this policy are to combat ageism, encourage seniors to remain at home, and build or develop living environments that promote an active lifestyle.

Seniors’ homes, which have started to be built in recent years and which are aimed at reinventing the CHSLD, are part of this approach and innovate from both an architectural and a social perspective.

To listen to the full interview hosted by Evelyne Charuest, follow our podcast Centré sur l’équilibre

ERICK RIVARD

FRANÇOIS GRISÉ

Hello to both of you. Is this a new idea, placing importance on the aesthetic side of homes for seniors? If so, why haven’t we thought about it before, as a society?

“Let’s just say our architectural culture in Quebec is quite recent. Design isn’t always a concern when designing buildings. We quickly focus on the cost, the timeline, and we say to ourselves, ‘if there’s any money left over, we’ll make it look good.’ Unfortunately, that’s not quite how it works… The beautiful and the well-thought-out can probably heal.”

“And the architecture of the building influences the social architecture and the private architecture. If I’m a resident of a seniors’ home and I feel good there, I’ll want to invite my granddaughter. And if my granddaughter comes to see me once spontaneously, and she feels comfortable and she feels like she can make me toast or whatever, she’ll come back.”

So, does this mean that design and social issues are closely related?

F.G.

“Absolutely! It takes humans to ask the right questions. To ask whether the homes we’re building encourage families to come and visit their loved ones, with a mix of generations. We don’t know what to do about being old! First, all of society tells us to retire, which also means to withdraw. And consequently, afterward, we have the impression that the efforts to be made to continue being part of active life are immense, because our reality is no longer the same; neither are our interests or our abilities. We feel cast aside. This is where the importance of an inclusive community lies, one that mobilizes to keep older people close.”

E.R.

“In the past, we’ve also often made the mistake of placing seniors’ homes just about anywhere, thinking it would work. Unfortunately, we end up with elderly people who are ‘prisoners’ not only in their homes, but also in their neighbourhoods. Our cities, most of which are built taking for granted that the primary means of mobility for their citizens is the car, aren’t designed to promote the involvement in active life of elderly people, who sometimes have mobility issues or who may have lost their driver’s license. We’ve spread ourselves out over excessively large territories.

inviting

How about well-being to the workplace

?

“Necessarily, in the seniors’ homes project, what we looked at first was the location where we were going to build these buildings. We wanted them to be in the centre of neighbourhoods, at the heart of communities, and above all, we didn’t want them to be next to highways. We wanted there to be life around them, for the residents to see children going to school and the crossing guard, for them to hear the bell ringing. We even pulled off a real feat: there will be childcare centres on the ground floor of several seniors’ homes. We’re very enthusiastic, because that will add some life to them!”

What will these homes look like?

dementia in Denmark. In short, we tried to find the right recipe to build the homes. What came up often and what ended up imposing itself on us was the principle of the household—that is, of having only a handful of residents live together, and even better if they have similar profiles.

“First, they put the residents in the foreground. Unlike some previous models, the facilities are at the service of the people, not the other way around.

“Before starting the project, we sat down with the other architectural firms and the Ministère de la Santé to determine the guidelines. We relied on research, of course, and we were inspired by what is being done elsewhere in the world. For example, we went to visit a village for people suffering from E.R.

“Concretely, the seniors’ homes have 12 residents who share a living space. I call it a roomy 17 1/2 (laughter). The households were organized like big apartments to overcome the famous hallway typical of the long-term care centre, with the guard post in the watchtower at the end. There’s a kitchen right in the middle, a huge island in the centre of that, and a living room nearby. We reproduced the typical Quebec kitchen: everyone comes together around the island! With the special feature that it can accommodate both standing people and seniors in wheelchairs.

“Life has a funny way of doing things: while I was working on this project, my grandfather was nearing the end of his life, and I realized I didn’t want to go see him either, because I found the place austere and unpleasant.

Photos: © Jonathan Robert / Architecture: © Groupe A, GLCRM, and ACA Architects

“That got me thinking, and I wondered what would make my teenagers want to go see their great-grandfather, for example. And I said to myself, ‘If we go there and there’s a big island and a show playing on the TV and it smells nice like applesauce because someone made applesauce, that’s more tempting!’ Several of our possible solutions, before even thinking about beauty, were related to normality: the normality of things, their comforting banality.”

Were those most concerned—that is, the seniors—involved in the decisions surrounding this project?

E.R.

F.G.

“Definitely! We organized committees to include them in the discussion.”

How can we address issues that will have a direct impact on the lives of elderly people without speaking for them and—above all— without coming across as ageist?

“Consulting with them and asking them what they think is actually the first thing to do, in

my opinion. Seniors have told me so many times that they never get asked for their opinion, or very rarely. Even for big questions like where they live! There is often little consideration for what older people want. It’s as if we don’t really want to ask them the question, maybe because we’re afraid of the answer. I don’t think there are any bad intentions there; I think it’s really because there’s a discomfort: we’re uncomfortable with aging, and with the inevitable changes and losses that come with it.

“To avoid being ageist, I would say that we have to start by acknowledging that we too will get older. Beyond setting aside RRSP contributions, we have to start making smart choices for the future early enough, particularly with respect to housing. We have to break the taboo of aging in our own minds and accept that we are the seniors of tomorrow.”

Photo:

LÉANE LABRÈCHE-DOR

Inheritance

An interview with Léane Labrèche-Dor

Hello, Léane. The Labrèches have been part of the Quebec media landscape for several decades. Your father is Marc Labrèche, and your partner is actor Mickaël Gouin. So, there’s a very public aspect to your life. Where do you draw the line between public and private life?

“In several respects, the public aspect isn’t ‘real.’

The sketches I do with my father, I approach them as if we weren’t from the same family; otherwise, I feel like I’m going against what I’ve set up. I did theatre school to earn my place in the field. And for a long time, my plan definitely wasn’t to become an actress. Even after theatre school, I didn’t want to work with Marc. It took a lot of thinking and discussion. I was afraid of being told that I was only there because I was “the daughter of…”. I still get told that today. Unfortunately, I can’t control that, so all I can do is give it my best.”

How do you perceive longevity in the profession?

“I find it precarious. You can give 110% all your life and suddenly see your career end without knowing why. It’s not what we want to hear, but timing also has a lot to do with it. I often talk about this with Marc, who already finds himself a has-been and is trying to reinvent himself as best he can.

Navigating between public and private life can be a real challenge, especially for those who live life in the spotlight. Léane Labrèche-Dor, an actress and host, shares her thoughts on this duality, the precarity of the profession, and the challenges of being perceived as “the daughter of…”. She also opens up about her mother’s illness, a significant period during which she took on the role of caregiver. A meeting with an inspiring woman, at once anchored in the present and nourished by her past.

“When I started practicing this profession, he was already wondering how to make it last. Do we have expiration dates as artists? We evolve in an era. If the era changes, are we still relevant? I think art can make you think, can do good, but it needs to be in synchronicity with people’s wants and needs. These considerations made me understand that I can’t get up in the morning and aspire to do this job for the rest of my life.”

Your mother had cancer and passed away when you were in Secondary V. How did that shape that period of your life?

“She was diagnosed when I was in Secondary II. Fortunately, I didn’t have too many challenges at school; I was very studious. The ordeals I went through at home therefore didn’t affect my academic career too much. I even finished the year with honours (laughter) !

“That experience shaped me. It taught me to want to become a good adult, as I never could have learned at school. It empowered me. It taught me resilience. It taught me kindness. It taught me patience. It taught me determination. I’m much more equipped and much sharper as a human today.”

What was your role as a caregiver to your mother?

“At the time, I wasn’t aware of being a caregiver. I was a presence; I gave her love. I cooked; I skipped school in the afternoon to go to the grocery store so I could make dinner in the evening. I took care of her; I was the one who shaved her hair. I accompanied her to certain treatments; I read gossip magazines with her, just to take her mind off things. The little foot massages go a long way, too! I took care of her, ultimately.”

What was your mother like? What memories do you have of her?

“I never know if my memories are faithful or if they’re embellished by the fact that they’re frozen in time and by the love I have for my mother, who has remained in the past, but what I remember is a very headstrong woman (laughter). I also think that’s part of the reason why she got sick, from wanting to do too much.

“I found her brilliant, too. She didn’t have much education, but she got by in life. She was very human, very attentive. Attentiveness is one of the most beautiful qualities a human being can have, and as a parent, even more so. She was lively, curious, funny; a partier, a traveller.”

Are you anything like her?

“Yes, and having children makes me notice just how much. The stubborn side, my tendency to put others first… Everything she needed to work on, I need to work on!

“My mother was my best friend. I had been arrogant and ungrateful at times, like all children, but there was a partnership between her and I that was greater than what I saw with my friends and their mothers. And it’s also true with my father. I don’t know why, but my brother and I are very close with our parents.”

What is your relationship with femininity?

Did you want to be a boy for a long time?

“Yes, I tried to pee standing up for a long time (laughter) . I was proud to play soccer with the boys and fight with them. I liked that.

“I think that inclination was passed down to me by my mother. She was 5 foot 1 and weighed 103 pounds, but she drove trucks, she ran the show, and she was the only girl in a family with four children. She always wanted to prove herself and be stronger than the others. She had a drive that fit well in another era of feminism.

“With hindsight, I realize that what made the boys at school respected and seen as cool were things that I was naturally closer to than what the girls were respected for. I wasn’t the prettiest, I wasn’t the best dressed… I told myself I had a better chance of fitting in with the group of guys, with my broad shoulders from swimming and gymnastics.

“Today, I no longer agree with that idea of comparing myself to men. Glorifying the distinctive traits in the men around me and trying to reproduce them as a woman only creates a form of internalized misogyny.”

When did you start to embrace your femininity?

“At age 29. It’s pretty recent. I have to tip my hat to my boyfriend, who worked very hard to make me understand that it had to start from inside me. He was the first person to tell me:

‘When you don’t second-guess yourself and you present yourself in a way that you find beautiful, going by feeling, you’re more beautiful than many people.’ He made me realize that when I was trying to fit in based on what I thought others expected of me, that never served me well.

“Becoming a mother also reconnected me with what was most important to me. Motherhood remains an ordeal, but it’s no less bright because of it.

“Giving birth made me realize that my body has no limits. There’s a feeling of absolute power that comes with it which is very liberating. No one can take that away from me, and I can’t take it away from any other mother or any other woman. Women’s bodies have immense potential, whether or not we take steps toward motherhood. We’re stronger, more tolerant, more resilient than many things in this universe.”

To listen to the full interview hosted by Evelyne Charuest, follow our podcast Centré sur l’équilibre

The Intoxication of Travel

By Franck Laboue, Voyageurs du Monde

On the little ochre table in the Bougainville, a glass of Chablis sits alongside my dreams and my notebook. Nestled between the zinc counter and the window overlooking the terrace, I cast my glance over the regulars, absorbed in their conversations. The smiles are contagious, the exchanges spirited. Around me, the hubbub of the bistro envelops me, the clinking of the glasses, the cheerful banter of the laughing Parisians… this ochre and purple cocoon cradles me. There’s an air of familiarity, of eternity, as if I could suddenly make this piece of Paris a weekly rendezvous. But I have to go back tomorrow, the post-vacation blues creeping into my thoughts. I feel a little lost at that moment, somewhat disoriented, like Bill Murray in Lost in Translation . In the street, the Parisian women seem to float above the sidewalks, a chocolate éclair in their hands. I rest my chin in my palms; I’m about to turn 40.

THE POST-VACATION BLUES: A TIME FOR RENEWAL

On the other side of the window, Rue de la Banque and Passage des Petits-Pères come together. My instinct tells me to hit the pavement in the most beautiful of beautiful places: the Galerie Vivienne, which unfurls its twists and turns at the exit of the bistro. In the silence of my steps, I tell myself that at age 40, there’s no longer any question of slowing down. In the hustle and bustle of Paris, life screams at me to live, to accept the frenzy and the freedom. I go out onto Rue des Petits-Champs and stride around Paname, my head full of resolutions. What if travel, like therapy, provided some answers to better living? Does it at least accelerate this feeling? As if this adrenaline, the intensity of elsewhere, shaped

us to live longer. At the approach to Rue Sainte-Anne, the terraces are overflowing, the laughter rings out, and the sidewalks are crowded… suddenly, there’s an abundance of life. I immediately wonder why this little glass of white wine from vacation wouldn’t become a post-trip ritual, just to live to be a hundred and keep a moment of Paris with me. I let myself be guided by my steps at the whim of the night, like Owen Wilson, drawn by his dreams of another time in Midnight in Paris

A terrace in Paris

Photo: © Charles Loyer

In the streets of Paris

Photo: © Jorgen Hendriksen

A taste from afar

But there’s also, in this return, a strange feeling of transformation. We return from a trip with fragments of our souls—pieces of ourselves that we had left elsewhere, that we hadn’t been able to see before. There’s a magic in the return. Journey after journey, I no longer find room for material souvenirs, but for dreams shared, the little ideas that are born and grow larger in silence. These are the resolutions that germinate—a promise to live each day with more attention, love, and self-care. The journey, then, is no longer a simple external adventure. It’s a movement of the heart. My steps stop; I’m under the colonnades of the garden of the Palais Royal. I remember Baudelaire’s famous quote, the one that Paris has just inspired in me: “One should always be drunk. That’s all that matters; that’s our one imperative need. So as not to feel Time’s horrible burden that breaks your shoulders and bows you down, you must get drunk without ceasing. But what with? With wine, with poetry, or with virtue, as you choose. Let yourself be carried away.

LIVING BETTER: THE EXAMPLE OF THE BLUE ZONES

According to a recent study, travelling lets us slow down aging. Tourism isn’t therefore just a matter of leisure and relaxation. It might also contribute to people’s physical and mental health. When we travel, we change our habits, we push past our limits, we alter our pace… travelling better brings with it an idea of living better. And then, there are those famous blue zones, those blessed lands where longevity seems to be a way of life. In Sardinia and Okinawa, time seems to stretch out, and each daily gesture becomes a tribute to life, health, and balance. For a long, healthy life, take a page from the Sards and combine an active lifestyle in a hilly environment, a diet rich in vegetables and antioxidants, (moderate) red wine consumption, social support that reduces stress, and a slow pace of life. This is the recipe for longevity to bring back from your travels!

Longevity and travel: a secret and subtle link? Perhaps it’s in the way we pamper ourselves, nourish our dreams, and allow our soul to slow down and savour every second? The journey therefore no longer becomes a simple exploration, but a true silent lesson, an art of living that is anchored in us, well beyond the return. True longevity isn’t measured by the years that pass, but by the way that each moment is filled, each gesture is made, and each thought is experienced. Because every journey, every return, every breath is a chance to get a little closer to yourself, to get involved more deeply in life, to love more passionately. Maybe this is the secret magic of travel: not seeking answers, but questions that nourish the soul and make it grow.

“Journey after journey, I no longer find room for material souvenirs, but for dreams shared, the little ideas that are born and grow larger in silence.”

Colourful houses in Sardinia

Photo: © Lachezara Parvanova

Luminaire Authentik: Lighting up the Future

Nestled in the heart of the Eastern Townships, the Luminaire Authentik workshop embodies much more than just a creative space; it’s a laboratory of ideas where authenticity, sustainability, and innovation come to life. Founded in 2015 by Maude Rondeau, this Quebec business is reinventing lighting by combining organic aesthetics, artisanal knowhow, and respect for the environment. Each light fixture, designed with circularity in mind, demonstrates a deep commitment to more responsible consumption.

WHEN NATURE INSPIRES LIGHT

Designed, drawn, and handmade in Quebec, Luminaire Authentik’s creations are inspired by organic forms and natural textures to offer a timeless and refined design. Every line, every curve is thought out to create a light that dialogues with the space, bringing a unique sculptural touch to any interior. This is an approach that resonates with that of Strøm, where design and nature interlace to enhance environments.

SPOTLIGHT ON WELLNESS

The relationship between our emotions and the lighting in our environment is closer than we might think. Conscious of this impact, Luminaire Authentik has chosen to integrate Dim-to-Warm technology into its light fixtures using Tala bulbs. By simulating the solar cycle, these bulbs help balance the circadian rhythms: a white, energizing light during the day and a warm, soothing glow in the evening. This feature makes it possible to offer adjustable lighting that adapts to the needs of each space and each moment, thereby promoting concentration and sleep. Thanks to their minimal flickering, they reduce eye fatigue and headaches while being sustainable. They represent a perfect meeting between innovation and wellness, in line with Luminaire Authentik’s vision.

A SUSTAINABILITY ETCHED IN TIME

At Luminaire Authentik, sustainability isn’t a trend, but a way of life. Each light fixture is designed to last for years without ever losing its shine. Working according to a design philosophy focused on reduction, Luminaire Authentik manufactures its light fixtures for resilience, adaptability, and reuse. Favouring high-quality materials designed to last over time is one of the fundamental principles of the company. Its light fixtures are made from 100%-recyclable locally sourced aluminum and feature a powder paint coating that reduces volatile organic compounds while ensuring a lasting finish. Customers are thereby encouraged to reduce their consumption by choosing options that offer exceptional longevity.

Offering a wide range of colours and infinite personalization, the brand allows everyone to create unique lighting tailored to their living space. Its QuickShip Collection is made up of its most popular models, ready to be shipped, for those looking for a turnkey solution. Intended for both residential and commercial projects, our light fixtures illuminate the Nord Restaurants at Strøm Old Quebec and Strøm Saint-Sauveur, as well as the Nord Culinary Laboratory in Chambly.

Photo: © Luminaire Authentik

“I don’t think you have to live to old age at all costs.”

Photo on the left: © Julie Allard

Eternally Young

A Conversation with Jeanne-Mance Houle

On a cold February afternoon, we travelled to Victoriaville to meet Jeanne-Mance Houle. At the age of 86, this radiant, generous and visionary woman welcomed us into her home with inspiring kindness. Through her vocation and her optimistic view of the passage of time, she embodies a longevity imbued with meaning and transmission. Her story, made up of fragments of life, is a tribute to the passage of time, to the great joys and profound trials of life, to eternal love and the blood ties that never die.

MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE

“I loved school when I was young. I told my mother that I wanted to go to school until I was 30, but as I was the eldest of seven children, my parents couldn’t afford to pay for long studies. So I did a business course. I got a job in an office. I was there for five years, I had some interesting colleagues, and it was there that I met the man who would become my husband, Yvon.

Then I worked with him, he had restaurants, and I helped and supported him in that.

One day, we were in Florida and I had just turned 40. Yvon had gone for a walk. In the meantime, I reflected and said to myself: ‘You’re 40. It’s time to make your unfulfilled dreams come true.’ When he came back from his walk, I said to him, ‘My dream was to go to university, and I didn’t.’ He was immediately supportive, and I was able to pay for my courses with our money. I started at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, doing an evening course while working. But at the rate of one course per term, it takes 12 years to complete a bachelor’s degree! Towards the end, I went part-time and ended up graduating at the age of 53. I graduated a year before Eric, my youngest son, did.”

A VOCATION: PROVIDING CARE AT THE END OF LIFE

“I earned my bachelor’s degree by accumulating three certificates: theology, gerontology and psychology. So I was working and studying part-time while also being the mother of three children. Luckily, they were all grown up, and I just had Eric left at home.

After graduating, I went to Québec to perfect my skills in caring for people at the end of their lives, and I found a job in a residential and long-term care centre. I really loved that job, and I received a lot of love in return. Even when I was on call and they called me in the middle of the night, I didn’t mind getting up and going. I was so motivated. I came away energized, as if the person I’d helped had given me energy. I felt serene because I’d freed them. I’ve never found it upsetting to be in close contact with death.

I did this for about fifteen years, until I was 70. When I’d finished, the activity coordinator said to me, ‘Come back and visit us, Jeanne-Mance!’ It’s funny, but I never went back. The mission was accomplished, and I said to myself, ‘Now think of yourself.’”

TAKING CARE OF OTHERS, FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

“Laurence and Rosalie, my granddaughters, often came to spend Saturdays with us when they were young, because their parents were working. They stayed with their grandfather because I worked at the residential and long-term care centre.

One morning, when Laurence was four or five, she looked at me as I was leaving and said: ‘Grandma! What’s your job?’, meaning ‘you always go away on Saturdays.’ I explained to her that Grandma met with people who were ill, people who were in pain, and that she consoled them, listened to them. She looked me in the eye and said: ‘That’s what I want to do when I grow up!’ And today she’s a doctor. Even as an adult, she remembered that moment, and that’s what pushed her in that direction.

I’m so proud of my children, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren. They are my greatest treasure, my greatest accomplishment, my greatest blessing! The three happiest days of my life are the days when my children were born. I hope I’ve passed on to them the desire to be good people, good listeners, and open-minded. When I look at them, I tell myself that I’ve succeeded!”

A FREE AND COMMITTED FAITH

“When I was younger, I was a pastoral animator. The priest was kind and believed that women had their place in the Church. After a confirmation, he invited me to eat with the group. There were nine of us, and I was the only woman, naturally.

Jean-Jacques introduced me, and the first question one of the men at the table asked me was, ‘What does your husband do for work?’ I could have slapped him. I was so angry. What does that have to do with anything? As far as I was concerned, he wanted to know if I was married… I replied, ‘My husband is an industrialist,’ and went and sat down at the other end of the table. I said to another priest, ‘I don’t want to talk to him ever again.’

I’ve been a churchgoer all my life, but I’ve also been very critical of certain things in religion, including the place that the Church gave, and still gives, to women. So I’m a churchgoer who listens to her heart. I’m not by the book, I choose what I do and what I don’t do.

When I was 18, I founded the YCW (Young Christian Workers) in our parish. It gave me extraordinary energy. Thirty-five girls followed me, and I became the president. We had meetings where we exchanged girls’ stories: work, dating, relationships with parents, marriage. I always felt very close to the girls, they confided in me, and I realized that being socially involved made me incredibly happy. I’ve loved helping others all my life!”

AGING GRACEFULLY

“I don’t feel old. There are often those who say, ‘Getting old is no fun…’ But I don’t agree. It’s true that I’m lucky, I drive my car, I go where I want, I do my own shopping. I still have all my activities, I still go to concerts, and even energetic concerts, sometimes! The other day I went to see FouKi with MindFlip as the opening act. I also go to country concerts. Matt Lang is really good! I’m often accompanied by Lise, one of my friends, or by my new boyfriend, René, with whom I’ve been in a relationship for a year and a half now.”

LOVE AT EVERY AGE

“René and I have known each other for a long time, maybe 40 years. His wife, Marie-Paul, was my good friend. He looked after her for 12 years before she died of a degenerative disease. His devotion was incredible.

Before that, the four of us took several trips together. We went to Italy, to France, we often went to Florida. In my mind, René was Marie-Paul’s spouse, and that was it. We got on well. The four of us had a lot of fun together.

After Marie died, I often went to see René on Thursdays, after running errands at the nearby Pharmaprix. I’d check up on him and ask how he was doing. Most of the time, he’d just come back from playing golf and he’d be eating a meal, so he’d give me a small glass of wine, we’d chat, and I’d head home. At one point he said to me, ‘Tomorrow I’m having wine and cheese, would you like to come for dinner?’ I said, ‘Yes, I’d love to!’ Two weeks later, I returned the invitation, and it started like that.”

“You’re 40. It’s time to make your unfulfilled dreams come true.”

LONGEVITY: A LIFE CHOICE, NOT OLD AGE

“I don’t think you have to live to old age at all costs. But in good health, with a reason to live, yes! I like my life, I like growing old, I have my boyfriend. In fact, he’s a bit younger than me. I’m like Janette Bertrand, I like them younger! (laughs)

If I became very sick and had no quality of life left, I’d be in favour of medical assistance in dying… But I’ve realized recently that it’s not such a simple choice to make, to choose death. Some time ago, I had to go to the emergency room for a heart and lung problem, and in the evening, the doctor said to me, ‘I saw in your file that you had marked “no resuscitation.” If something happens tonight, do you still agree with that?’

Oh dear! I said, ‘You can try it at least once…’ (laughs) I wasn’t that sick!

It’s one thing to say to yourself, ‘Yes, that’s what I’d do’ when you’re well, but when you’re faced with it, that’s another thing…”

Jeanne-Mance during her involvement with Young Christian Workers. Jeanne-Mance and Yvon at the time of their engagement.

What Is Life Worth if It Has No Meaning?

An interview with Alain Crevier

The components of a long and healthy life are multiple, and they can often be measured or studied. But one ingredient that gives life flavour and is difficult to quantify is meaning. Can a life lived without intention be satisfying? Is it absolutely necessary to emerge stronger from the trials that life places in our path? Has the erasure of the Catholic religion left us without any point of reference to make sense of life’s dramas? Alain Crevier, a renowned journalist and host, known for the Second regard program on Radio-Canada, shares with us his thoughts on the search for meaning and—above all—on our humanity.

Hello, Mr. Crevier. In 24 years at the head of Second Regard , do you feel that you have covered the question of meaning?

“Not at all! We’ve only opened some doors! When I arrived in 1995, the show was interested in religions (plural). Then, we said we were interested in religious phenomena. After that, out of a desire to modernize, we moved on to the search for meaning, whatever that meant. And that’s when Robert Lalonde [Note: a Quebec actor, novelist, and playwright] entered my life. In a discussion before an interview about his book Le seul instant, I said to him: ‘But Robert, surely you must be interested in the search for meaning!’ He replied to me: ‘Ah, no, Alain, I find that searching for meaning only leads to disappointment.’ His answer remained stuck in my head for months, because I suspected he was right. I started suggesting to my colleagues that they search for something other than meaning. That was when we began to take an interest in our humanity. At the end of the show, there were almost no religious subjects on the program anymore. Over these years, we’ve stuck, consciously or not, to Quebecers’ search for meaning, I believe.”

What do you think of this search?

“I think Robert Lalonde was right. Sometimes, I wonder if, centuries ago, we didn’t make a wrong turn somewhere, as if our human GPS had led us down a path where there are no answers. If we had focused our search on serenity, on our humanity, on what the best we had to offer was, then there might have been less violence between religions, first of all, and perhaps we would have been wiser.

“I’m sorry, but there are a lot of things that don’t make sense. My mother died of Alzheimer’s disease. She was a believer, a joyous believer, and she died not remembering who Jesus was or anything else. That doesn’t make sense; it’s just cells that went haywire and killed her memory. I knew a guy who was in a car accident, a head-on collision with a truck, he lost his girlfriend, and he’s in a thousand pieces: that doesn’t make sense. Losing a child in an accident or due to illness; it just makes no sense. So, I don’t look for the meaning of that. And the problem with searching for meaning is that we end up finding one. We invent one in the end that winds up reassuring us, but which falsely reassures us. In my opinion, meaning isn’t transcendent, it doesn’t come from above, isn’t imposed on us. On the contrary, we as human beings can make sense of our ordeals, make something out of them; yes, I believe it.”

ALAIN CREVIER

Photo: © Julia Marois

So, you don’t believe that everything has a meaning, that “everything happens for a reason?”

“No. There are some things that happen for no reason. I don’t think anyone, anywhere, gives an inherent meaning to the things that happen to me. I don’t like the idea that someone I’ll never see is making me suffer. When I was young, that was what religion was. ‘Why am I suffering?’ ‘Jesus is testing you.’ ‘Why is my mother dying?’ ‘God is bringing her back to him.’ ‘Yes, but what if she went to hell?’ ‘Ah well, I wouldn’t think that way, because God forgives all.’ All that came from somewhere else, somewhere unnameable, and justified everything. It doesn’t work, because I see men acting in the name of these same principles, and it gets gleefully massacred.”

Does it make us unaccountable when we believe it’s what God wants?

“It took me years to start asking that question. If we accept the idea that not everything necessarily has a meaning, it means that we have to take responsibility for it and find one. Science is our ally in this process. It allows us to take responsibility in the face of dramas, human tragedy, and others.

“When I hear this need to tell ourselves that after death, there’s something else, I ask myself, ‘and what if there were nothing?’ This idea soothes me, because I don’t have to live my life based on something which, in my opinion, doesn’t exist.”

“In my opinion, meaning isn’t transcendent, it doesn’t come from above, isn’t imposed on us. On the contrary, we as human beings can make sense of our ordeals, make something out of them; yes, I believe it.”

Yet I know many people who are very anxious about the idea of there being nothing after death! “That’s because they’re thinking about ‘I!’ They ask themselves, ‘what will happen to my mind?’ I answer them: ‘The life of your mind will stop when your cells stop.’ And they: ‘But what will that have served?’ And my response: ‘Others.’ The most important part of the equation, I think, is ‘we.’ So, we are eternal, we have something to do, we will have a long life, if we don’t act like idiots.

“Today, people who want to find meaning in their lives are taking open, informed, rigorous steps, and I think that at a time when religion was more present, that wasn’t done. The answers were in religious texts, but they were unsatisfactory. There was cruelty, wickedness, injustice in it. People today are looking elsewhere and building their own ideas of what life is.”

Has the disappearance of religion left us with a certain emptiness, in terms of rules, moral righteousness, and meaning, too?

“I don’t agree with the emptiness part. I’ve already spoken with people from the Church whom I like who told me that we’ve lost our bearings, our values. And I told them, ‘But it’s not true!’ I have the same values as before, and I think values preceded the very idea of religion. We loved our neighbours before the Catholic, Muslim, or Jewish narrative came along. I think people have values, and I don’t think that today is a worse time than my father’s or mine.

“I’m part of the generation that filled churches to the rafters, only to desert them and never return. We thought we had settled the matter, and that we were free. But the big questions came back, and they came back more intensely than before, because we no longer had the instruction manual to guide us: the missal. That left us to our own devices to find the answers to life’s tragedies, but it also allowed us to question what didn’t make sense in our eyes, in order to shape a society that more closely resembled us. Medical assistance in dying is one of these achievements. We could no longer tolerate the idea of forcing people to live in agony, so we made things change. And it’s for the better.”

Any final words?

“Pay attention to the echoes of our humanity. Even though our era seems to be filled with horrible people and things, there are good people around you, there’s beauty everywhere, and we have to believe in that. We owe it to our children.”

Discover the Bouquet, a fine and elegant sparkling wine with mineral, floral, and yellow-fleshed fruit notes.

To listen to the full interview hosted by Evelyne Charuest, follow our podcast Centré sur l’équilibre

EATON CENTER – PROMENADES SAINT-BRUNO – DIX30 – CARREFOUR LAVAL – FAIRVIEW POINTE-CLAIRE

In the heart of Québec City’s Old Port, let H71 and Strøm Nordic Spa be your haven of serenity. Our packages are designed to awaken your senses.

Keep an eye out for our special offers!

The Ritual, Enhanced

Four new skin care products have joined the line, offering original formulas to pamper your skin all year round. Designed to enhance the skin’s natural beauty and address the specific needs of each skin type, they fit naturally into the ritual, combining the awakening of the senses and tangible benefits. These new arrivals are full of active ingredients from the boreal forest, not only helping to protect the epidermis, but also offering an olfactory experience evoking a soothing moment at the spa. To be discovered: treatments that provide radiance and hydration to both sensitive and mature skin.

ENZYME FACE SCRUB

Sensitive skin

Exfoliation is the perfect step to prepare your skin for the changing of the seasons. Made up of aloe vera and amino acids, this scrub provides softness and radiance to the skin. It gently removes dead cells, while its formula, rich in purifying active ingredients, stimulates skin cell renewal and blood circulation. The cutaneous barrier is restored and the skin is protected. It is recommended to use it once or twice a week after the cleansing step. Apply a small amount of the jelly to the skin of the face and neck, let work for 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, then complete the ritual with a moisturizing treatment. Ideal for dry and sensitive skin. $40

RADIANCE EYE AND LIP CONTOUR CREAM

All skin types

A complete anti-aging treatment that targets two areas at once, this rich cream is specially designed to mitigate the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, as well as dark circles and bags under the eyes. Thanks to its moisturizing, toning, and antioxidant ingredients, it nourishes the delicate skin around the eyes and lips and gives it a smooth, luminous appearance. This treatment is particularly suitable for mature and dehydrated skin. Simply apply the cream to the eye and lip area, then gently massage until completely absorbed. $70

MOISTURIZING MASK

Sensitive skin

Even with the arrival of nice weather, it’s essential to keep hydrating your skin deeply. Reducing redness and giving the skin a supple appearance, this rich mask intensely hydrates and soothes even the most sensitive skin. Chosen with care, the natural active ingredients work to protect your epidermis from external aggressions. For its part, hyaluronic acid promotes skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Take a break and treat yourself to a moment just for yourself by applying the mask to your face and neck, then letting it work for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly with warm water, dry the skin gently, and observe the results. $45

LIGHTWEIGHT MOISTURIZING CREAM

Oily to combination skin

Intended for combination to oily skin, this lightweight cream hydrates, protects, and helps restore the cutaneous barrier for soft, healthy skin. Ideal in all seasons, especially summer, it is quickly absorbed and leaves a silky finish. The synergy of the natural components helps regulate sebum production and gently purifies for a luminous, matte, and hydrated complexion. Among its key ingredients are vitamin B3, Quebec black spruce, and zinc. To be used daily in the morning and evening. $70

Learn more about the full line to recreate the Strøm experience at home. products, developed and manufactured in partnership with a Montreal laboratory, are available at all Strøm Nordic Spa locations and at the online store at stromspa.com.

Photo: © Bianca Des Jardins

The Ingredients of Thriving Physical Health

By Jérôme Perreault, kinesiologist

Around the world, longevity is celebrated as a true achievement. From the wisdom of the elders in Asia to the tributes paid to centenarians in Western societies, reaching an advanced age in good health is universally admired. However, living a long and healthy life requires much more than luck: it’s the result of a commitment to ourselves that involves the rigorous maintenance of our physical health.

The musculoskeletal system – consisting of our muscles, bones, and joints – is at the heart of this quest. Like a car we want to keep in good condition over the long term, our body requires constant care in order to slow down and mitigate the inevitable effects of aging. However, unlike a car, we can’t just drop our body off with the mechanic. It’s our personal responsibility to keep it in good working order.

One of the greatest modern threats to our longevity is a sedentary lifestyle. This way of life, characterized by a minimal, even non-existent level of physical activity, accelerates the decline of our physical abilities and limits our chances of aging with dignity and independence. More than ever, this highlights the importance of integrating movement into our daily lives and continuing to engage all parts of our body from a very young age. As the old saying goes, “Use it or lose it.”

In this article, we will explore four pillars of musculoskeletal health: cardio (cardiovascular health), strength, mobility, and balance. Together, these elements form the foundations of a functional and resilient body.

An active lifestyle lets you maximize the chances of staying mobile for as long as possible.

Photo: © Britt Gaiser

CARDIO: THE ENGINE OF VITALITY

The cardiovascular system acts as the engine of our body. It transports oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body while eliminating metabolic waste. With age, this system naturally becomes less efficient: the heart rate adapts less well to exercise, the blood vessels become less flexible, and circulation is less efficient.

If cardiovascular fitness is not maintained, muscular atrophy and deconditioning increase considerably, which can then lead to a high risk of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, working on this pillar lets you maximize oxygen supply to all the tissues, thereby improving overall energy and the ability to recover.

Recommended methods:

(1) Power walking, hiking, cycling, swimming. These low-intensity but long-duration activities are ideal for maintaining good cardiovascular health, especially when practiced regularly.

STRENGTH: CATALYST OF FUNCTION

Muscular strength is the ability of the muscles to generate tension in order to perform movements, maintain a position, or resist a load. With age, sarcopenia – a reduction in muscle mass and quality – becomes a major challenge. This phenomenon not only reduces our strength, but also affects our metabolism, coordination, and bone density.

Without regular training, a loss of strength leads to reduced autonomy, an increased risk of falls, and difficulty performing daily tasks. Conversely, strengthening the muscles improves quality of life, extends life expectancy, and reduces the risk of injury.

Recommended methods:

(1) Resistance exercises, such as squats and pull-ups. It’s not necessary to go to the gym to build strength. Simple exercises using your own body weight can be more than sufficient.

(2) Grip strength training. While this is often neglected, several scientific studies have determined that this is a key indicator of longevity and overall health. A simple and common way to work on your grip strength is to carry your grocery bags, ensuring that the load is heavy enough to be challenging, but not so heavy that it represents a risk factor.

Easy on the joints, swimming is a great form of physical exercise.

Photo: © Britt Gaiser

Simply using an elastic band can allow you to perform a wide range of exercises of various intensities.

Photo: © Danielle-Claude Bélanger

MOBILITY: FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

Mobility is the ability to move freely within a functional range of motion. For example, reaching an object on a high shelf shows good shoulder mobility, while sitting comfortably in lotus position requires favourable hip mobility. However, with age, the connective tissues lose their elasticity, the synovial fluid decreases, and the joints generally wear out.

If this aspect is neglected, the consequences include a loss of autonomy, an increased risk of falling, and limitations in the ability to carry out everyday tasks. Working on mobility provides a freedom of movement which, combined with strength, allows you to perform a wider variety of activities.

Recommended methods:

(1) Gentle or adapted yoga (such as chair yoga).

(2) Joint mobility exercises focusing on the quality rather than the quantity of the movements.

BALANCE AND COORDINATION: THE ART OF STABILITY

Balance relies on sophisticated sensory systems, including vision, the inner ear, and the neuromuscular receptors. These systems work together to allow us to stabilize ourselves, whether on a slippery surface or in the face of a sudden movement.

With age, these mechanisms decline: vision becomes less precise, the inner ear detects movements less effectively, and the reflexes slow down. This increases the risk of falling, promotes social isolation, and leads to a vicious circle of sedentariness. Fortunately, balance training can reverse some of these effects. Vision Inner ear

Proprioception

Integration and interpretation by the nervous system

Production of a motor action (voluntary movement and automatic reflexes)

Recommended methods:

(1) Tai-chi: a gentle practice proven to reduce falls in older adults.

(2) Simple balance exercises, such as standing on one leg or varying the points of contact with the ground.

We have just explored the foundations of physical health: cardio, strength, mobility, and balance. But beyond the “what” and the “how,” it’s essential to understand the “why.” Why invest time and effort to preserve these aspects? The answer is simple: for quality of life.

With age, maintaining an active and functional body offers more opportunities, guarantees autonomy, and preserves dignity. It also sends an inspiring message to future generations. If you want to adopt a physical activity routine, don’t hesitate to consult a kinesiologist or another health professional. These experts will guide you in tailoring your efforts to your abilities and specific needs.

Remember: it’s never too late or too early to start. Every movement counts. Take care of your body today, and it will pay you back for years to come.

Sources

Chen, L.K. (2024). The grip on healthspan: Handgrip strength as a vital sign of aging. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 122, 105436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2024.105436

Srikanthan, P. and Karlamangla, A. S. (2014). Muscle mass index as a predictor of longevity in older adults. The American Journal of Medicine 127(6), 547-553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.02.007

van Oort, S., Beulens, J. W. J., van Ballegooijen, A. J., Burgess, S., and Larsson, S. C. (2021). Cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle behaviors in relation to longevity: A Mendelian randomization study. Journal of Internal Medicine 289(2), 232-243. https://doi.org/10.1111/ joim.13196

Pietri, P. and Stefanadis, C. (2021). Cardiovascular aging and longevity: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 77(2), 189-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.023

Pantelaki, E., Maggi, E., and Crotti, D. (2021). Mobility impact and well-being in later life: A multidisciplinary systematic review. Research in Transportation Economics 86, 100975. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.retrec.2020.100975

Stair climbing and practicing tai-chi can help us stay in shape, regardless of our age!

Photos: © John Moeses Bauan / Kelsey He

Reversing the Visible Effects of Time

Remarks collected from Ariane Archambault, cosmetic lead

In a world where the quest for eternal youth is omnipresent, and at a time when image constantly occupies our minds, anti-aging products and treatments are legion. The solutions for delaying skin aging are multiplying and now constitute a universe in themselves in which it is easy to get lost. But have we ever taken the time to explore the basic principles of these regenerative treatments? To see things more clearly, we met up with Ariane Archambault, cosmetic lead at of Strøm Nordic Spa Mont-Saint-Hilaire.

WHAT DO THEY CONSIST OF?

An anti-aging product or treatment prevents, slows down, and mitigates the signs of aging. The products used in these treatments contain active ingredients that target loss of firmness, wrinkles and fine lines, age spots, and skin radiance and texture.

THE RIGHT AGE TO START

Starting from age 25, our own collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production declines, and cellular regeneration slows down. It may therefore be advisable to begin use around this age and avoid starting any younger. However, prevention is essential at any age. Make sure to moisturize your skin, exfoliate it regularly, and protect it from the sun.

Indeed, the importance of sun protection shouldn’t be neglected, regardless of the season. UVA rays (which cause premature skin aging and the appearance of wrinkles) can pass through clouds and fog, penetrate windows, and even be reflected by snow. It is therefore essential to protect yourself every day, even if staying inside. In the winter, we recommend applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day, and in the summer, “reapplication” is the watchword.

THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF THESE FORMULAS

RETINOL is an active form of vitamin A that acts as an exfoliant and accelerates skin cell renewal. Part of the retinoid class, it can cause side effects in certain skin types, including sensitive skin, due to its potency and effectiveness. To avoid irritation, redness, peeling, and dryness, it is recommended to gradually integrate it into your routine so that you can slowly get used to it.

AHAS are alpha-hydroxy acids, which are exfoliating agents that are particularly adapted to penetrate the skin. The best known are glycolic acid and lactic acid. They stimulate cell regeneration, refine skin texture, unclog pores, reduce excess sebum, and lighten pigment spots. To be used with care, as they increase sensitivity to sunlight.

HYALURONIC ACID is a molecule naturally present in the skin which allows it to retain moisture. It acts on the surface and forms a non-occlusive protective film, thereby locking in moisture and leaving the skin plumped and deeply hydrated. Its antioxidant action protects the epidermis from external aggressions, combats the effects of aging, and brightens the complexion.

COLLAGEN is a protein made up of amino acids that provide firmness and structure to the skin, allowing it to be toned and re-densified. Naturally present in the skin, bones, and joints, collagen ensures cohesion between the dermis and the epidermis, promoting the “youth” of the skin by improving its resistance to stretching. It supports cell regeneration and smoothes wrinkles and fine lines for firmer, younger-looking skin.

NIACINAMIDE is a form of vitamin B3, and its antioxidant power helps repair the skin from the damage caused by UV rays, offers soothing and anti-inflammatory effects, fights excess sebum, and evens out the complexion. This ingredient is particularly suitable for oily, acne-prone skin.

VITAMIN C , also known as ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant with preventive effects. It regulates melanin production, brightens the complexion, protects the skin from external aggressions, stimulates collagen production, and helps prevent the visible signs of premature aging.

Finally, PEPTIDES are versatile proteins composed of amino acids that act as biological messengers. They help reduce muscle contractions (reducing the appearance of wrinkles), promote reduced inflammation (soothing sensitive, redness-prone skin), and can stimulate collagen and elastin production (improving the skin’s structure and firmness).

Despite their benefits and undeniable power, anti-aging products and treatments definitely aren’t a miracle solution. Genetics play a major role in the health and appearance of the skin, as does a healthy lifestyle. Indeed, sun protection, sleep, diet, hydration, and healthy everyday habits all have an effect on the epidermis. Your skin care routine acts as a complement to these two essential factors.

STRØM OFFER: THE IN-HOUSE TREATMENT

THE ANTI-AGING TREATMENT

This smoothing and densifying treatment is ideal for treating deep wrinkles and making the skin more luminous. Perfect for mature skin, it sculpts the face, generates a “lifting” effect, and stimulates collagen and elastin production. It includes an invigorating massage with the gua sha ritual porcelain, which produces a rejuvenating effect and structures the oval of the face and the neck, in addition to improving blood circulation and lymphatic drainage.

STRØM OFFER: PRODUCTS

RADIANCE EYE AND LIP CONTOUR CREAM

This innovative cream targets the two areas where the first signs of aging usually appear: the fine lines at the outer corner of the eye are often the first to appear, while the skin around the lips loses its volume and firmness with age.

REGENERATING SERUM

Discover the treatments at Strøm Nordic Spa.

This serum prevents signs of aging on the skin of the face and neck by moisturizing, soothing, and protecting it thanks to its antioxidant ingredients, including pullulan, which activates collagen and elastin production while forming a protective barrier.

VITAMIN C SERUM

This serum puts the many regenerative properties of vitamin C to work for all skin types.

Photo: © Bianca Des Jardins

Five Longevity Retreats Around the World

Longevity is a passion, and some renowned wellness centres around the world have even made it their trademark. From more traditional treatments to the most advanced (and sometimes controversial) therapies, including rigorously structured meal plans, each establishment approaches this topic with its signature formula to provide its guests with lasting, concrete results. Let’s take a look at five retreats that are carefully thought out down to the smallest detail and established in dreamlike locations.

Photos: © Enrico Costantini / Alexander Haiden

Location

In Tyrol, in the heart of the Alps. Two hours by car from Munich, Germany.

History

of the establishment

The first Lanserhof – the brand has several establishments – opened its doors in 1984 in Tyrol and made its name in Europe thanks to its holistic approach combining natural healing and modern medicine. While its activities were initially rooted in the F.X. Mayr Cure, which focuses on the intestine and colon cleansing, the centre evolved in the 2000s toward a more holistic concept. Today, the Lanserhof approach includes naturopathy, energy medicine, psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, chronomedicine, and advanced medicine, along with nutritional and physical therapies, which makes Lanserhof a world leader in vitality medicine.

The retreat

The complex offers several medical programs, including the Longevity Program. By understanding the biological causes of aging, Lanserhof believes that we can slow it down. The basis of the offering is a fasting cure (although the scientific community is still divided on the merits of this practice): it is believed that only a detoxified and purified body will be prepared to regenerate itself. Then, through diagnoses based on the biological signs of aging, each individual’s aging process is analyzed, then a personalized treatment plan is issued based on the genetic, cellular, and metabolic needs identified. This treatment plan is then observed for 7 or 14 days and features innovative methods such as the CellGym procedure, sensorimotor control, the use of the cold room, as well as private training and meditation.

Their promise “Live better. Live longer.”

Capacity 75 clients a time (served by 175 employees).

Duration of the stay 7 or 14 days.

Price From 9600 CAD.

Photos: © Alexander Haiden / Enrico Costantini

Photo: © Six Senses, part of IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio

SIX SENSES KAPLANKAYA — TÜRKIYE

Photo: © Six Senses, part of IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio

Location

In the Valencia region, more specifically in the Alicante province, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.

History of the establishment

After several years of health problems and a colon cancer diagnosis, Alfredo Bataller Parietti, a real estate developer, was cured thanks to integrative medicine, which focuses in particular on healthy and restorative nutrition.

Amazed by the transformative impact of controlled nutrition and appropriate therapies, he wanted to share this new knowledge and allow others to benefit from it. In 2008, therefore, with the support of his loved ones, he founded SHA Wellness Clinic, which has since become SHA Spain following the addition of new locations in Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. The passion for wellness is a family affair, since Alfredo’s son, Alejandro Bataller, now leads SHA.

Their promise

The retreat

The Advanced Longevity program slows cellular aging, stimulates metabolic processes, and improves mitochondrial health. It combines functional medicine, longevity treatments, and the establishment of new healthy habits to optimize health and promote longevity. The process includes the analysis of biological indicators of age, a comparison with chronological age, and the identification of factors likely to adversely affect quality of life, all of which influence the program’s customization. The efforts focus on nine key areas: healthy nutrition, natural therapies, preventive medicine, advanced aesthetics, cognitive stimulation, emotional health, well-being, inner balance, and physical performance. The objective is to improve your physical appearance as well as your vitality.

The SHA method aims to “add years to your life, and quality of life to your years.” [loose translation]

Capacity 93 suites and 11 private residences.

Duration of the stay 7 days or longer.

Price

From 11 800 CAD.

Location

In the Aegean Sea region, near the resort town of Bodrum.

History of the establishment

Since 2017, Six Senses Kaplankaya, like all the brand’s complexes, has taken respect for the environment and the community in which it is established very seriously. This is why Six Senses Kaplankaya encourages local farmers by procuring supplies from them, places nature at the heart of the experience, and invites its guests to visit and celebrate the region by means of the numerous activities offered.

The retreat

The Longevity Program aims to overcome the effects of aging related to lifestyle and promote inner and outer beauty by nourishing the body, supporting intestinal health, and stimulating the mind. On the schedule: guided morning walks, private fitness sessions, yoga, breathing, and meditation classes, body wraps, dermatological analyses, hammam treatments, and personalized massages. It should be noted that among all the Six Senses establishments around the world, the Longevity Program is currently only offered at the Kaplankaya complex in Türkiye.

Their promise

Restored vitality and energy, increased mental clarity, and improved physical strength and emotional resilience.

Capacity 141 rooms and suites.

Duration of the stay 3 to 7 nights.

Price From 2750 CAD, excluding accommodation (price for the program only).

Photos: © Six Senses, part of IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio

Location

In Montreux, on the banks of Lake Geneva, one hour by car from the Geneva airport.

History of the establishment

Founded in 1931 by Dr. Paul Niehans, Clinique La Prairie quickly became a reference in preventive medicine and wellness. Dr. Niehans developed cell therapy, an innovative treatment born almost by chance when he injected fresh parathyroid gland cells from calves into a dying patient (a controversial intervention, to say the least), with amazing healing and rejuvenating results. This success attracted a prestigious clientele, including figures such as Winston Churchill and Pope Pius XII. The clinic therefore established itself as a leader in the field of longevity and advanced medical treatments, combining scientific innovation and luxury care. It still welcomes public figures from all over the world today.

The retreat Clinique La Prairie is both a medical centre and a luxury hotel. Medical treatments covering more than 25 specialties are offered there on an outpatient basis or during short stays, but the 50 doctors and 200 therapists are also dedicated to caring for guests staying at the hotel and subscribing to one of the all-inclusive longevity programs: Revitalization, Detox and Vitality, Cognitive Performance, Radiant Beauty, or Medical. The top of the line? Revitalization Premium, their most advanced and comprehensive program. The Premium program is focused on cellular regeneration and immune defense, which involve the seven key systems and functions of the body, according to Clinique La Prairie: the brain, the heart, the circadian rhythm, the skin, the metabolism, immunity, and the microbiota. It includes personalized consultations and diagnoses, advanced medical tests, as well as injections of essential therapies based on the results of these tests. The program also uses the exclusive LP Extract formula, the result of 90 years of research, combined with cellular regeneration and antiinflammatory treatments. Nutrition consultations, longevity workshops, invigorating massages, and relaxation sessions are also on the agenda.

Their promise Stimulate the immune system, activate cellular regeneration, slow the appearance of the signs of aging, stimulate mental and physical abilities, improve sleep quality, reduce stress, strengthen resistance to chronic diseases and inflammatory reactions, and deeply regenerate the entire body.

Capacity 50 clients at a time (served by 350 employees).

Duration of the stay 7 days for Revitalization Premium.

Price From 75 500 CAD for Revitalization Premium, which is the most expensive program.

Photos: © Clinique La Prairie in Montreux, Switzerland

Photos: © Kiattipong Panchee

Location

Sources

Chiva-Som. (n.d.). Ageing well retreat. Chiva-Som. https://www.chivasom.com/en/chiva-somhua-hin/retreat/ageing-well/

Luxe Wellness Club. (n.d.). Alejandro Bataller, propriétaire de SHA Wellness Clinic. Luxe Wellness Club. https://www.luxewellnessclub.com/alejandro-bataller-proprietaire-de-shawellness-clinic/

Pelloux, C. (2022, January 7). Restart your life at Lanserhof Lans in Austria. Forbes. https:// www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliapelloux/2022/01/07/restart-your-life-at-lanserhof-lans-in-austria/

PME. (2021, June 14). Il faut définir une vision ambitieuse et ne pas craindre l’échec. PME https://www.pme.ch/publireportage/il-faut-definir-une-vision-ambitieuse-et-ne-pas-craindrelechec-573039

SHA Wellness Clinic. (n.d.). SHA Wellness Clinic - Spain. SHA Wellness Clinic. https://abliving. com/en/wellbeing/sha-wellness-clinic-spain/

Six Senses. (n.d.). Longevity at Six Senses Kaplankaya. Health Travel. https://www.health. travel/book/longevity-at-six-senses-kaplankaya/

Six Senses. (n.d.). Longevity programs at Six Senses Kaplankaya. Six Senses. https://www. sixsenses.com/en/hotels-resorts/europe/turkey/kaplankaya/wellness-spa/programs/longevity/

In Hua Hin, a renowned resort town 185 kilometres south of Bangkok.

History of the establishment

Founded in 1993 by Thai businessman and politician Boonchu Rojanastien. He first transformed his seaside home into a haven of peace far from the urban hustle and bustle, inspired by his experiences with European “health farms” in the 1970s. Open first to his family and friends, then gradually attracting an increasing number of enthusiasts, Chiva-Som quickly became Asia’s leading wellness centre, enjoying a worldwide reputation and winning numerous awards.

The retreat

The Ageing Well program focuses on diet, exercise, and an appropriate lifestyle. Fulfillment and pleasure are considered essential to a long and healthy life. Among other elements, the stay includes a consultation with a health and wellness counsellor, three healthy meals per day, physiotherapy follow-up, a dermatology consultation, up to nine sports and leisure sessions per day, unlimited access to the relaxation facilities (steam baths, saunas, pools, gym), one treatment or massage of your choice per day, and other state-ofthe-art therapies.

Their promise Increase longevity, improve the metabolism, and relieve pain.

Capacity 54 rooms and suites.

Duration of the stay 5 to 7 nights.

Price From 8450 CAD.

Warning:

This article presents general information on the retreats and does not constitute medical advice. Readers are encouraged to do their own research and consult qualified health professionals before making any decision regarding their well-being. Strøm Nordic Spa does not support or guarantee the methods, techniques, or treatments mentioned in this article and disclaims any liability for the effectiveness or effects of these retreats. This article is not intended to advertise the wellness complexes presented, and Strøm Nordic Spa is in no way associated with these companies. Each individual is responsible for their own choices and approach to health and well-being.

Sleep: 10 Common Questions Answered

Excerpt from an interview with Véronique

Latreille, PhD, neuropsychologist

Sleep plays a crucial role in our physical and mental health, and therefore in our long-term quality of life. Far beyond a simple rest period, it’s essential for cell regeneration, memory, and much more. Because sleep concerns us all, here’s a look at 10 essential questions.

(1) WHAT HAPPENS DURING A NIGHT OF SLEEP?

A night of sleep is divided into stages and cycles. The cycle is a sequence of stages from light sleep to deep sleep, then to dream sleep. There are four stages of sleep in total. Stage 1 is when we first fall asleep, and it lasts only a few seconds or minutes. This sleep is very light. Stage 2 is still light sleep, but tends to be slightly deeper, and can sometimes be experienced as light dreaming. This is an important stage for energy recovery and memory consolidation. At stage 3, we enter deep sleep, and it becomes difficult to wake the sleeping person. The fourth and final stage is paradoxical sleep. This is known as REM sleep, or rapid eye movement sleep. The sleeper’s eyes will move under the eyelids, a sign of intense dream activity. It is also during this stage that people have vivid and even “bizarre” dreams. The onset of REM sleep ends the sleep cycle, which in adults will have lasted between 80 and 120 minutes. We may return to wakefulness at the end of a sleep cycle, which is perfectly normal for a sleeper. Another sleep cycle begins, and so on until the end of the night.

(2) HOW MANY HOURS OF SLEEP SHOULD WE GET EACH NIGHT?

The famous magic number of 8 hours’ sleep that we often hear about stems from population studies that showed that, on average, a night between 7 and 9 hours was sufficient for people in good health. The most important thing is to find your own number, because sleep is an individual need. Our need for sleep is measured by the quantity (and quality) of sleep we get, which enables us to function during the day, carry out our daily tasks and maintain a good level of energy. However, recent research suggests that the consistency of our bedtimes and wake-up times is the key to good health, as much as, if not more than, the number of hours we sleep.

(3) IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE SLEEP-DEPRIVED?

Yes, and unfortunately, the vast majority of the population suffers from sleep deprivation, i.e., we don’t get enough sleep in relation to our sleep requirements. For example, a person may voluntarily cut back on sleep during the week for a variety of reasons, including productivity and performance, and then try to make up for the hours of sleep missed

by spending more time in bed during the weekend. This upsets the biological clock and should be avoided if you suffer from insomnia. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to bear in mind that when you have a short night’s sleep or a less recuperative night’s sleep, a natural rebalancing takes place the following night. This is because the brain, according to the principle of homeostasis, will naturally seek deeper sleep to recover, without having to make up for every hour of lost sleep.

(4) HOW DO YOU SWITCH OFF YOUR BRAIN BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP?

Stress and anxiety are the worst enemies of sleep. Cortisol, the stress hormone, influences the physiological processes that regulate sleep. We therefore want to reduce cortisol levels before bedtime, just like our body temperature, which is why we should avoid intense physical activity late in the evening. Intrusive thoughts and ruminations also keep us awake and contribute to increased stress in the evening or at night. Taking breaks to relax and unwind during the day will help to train the brain, which likes to go a hundred miles an hour, to relax, and will make it easier to relax in the evening.

(5) WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SUFFER FROM INSOMNIA?

You shouldn’t stay in bed when you can’t fall asleep. This habit, especially if you are prone to insomnia, helps to maintain it over time. If you can’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed and go to another room. This will avoid creating a cognitive association between being awake and being in bed. It is recommended to do a relaxing, even boring activity, with no secondary gain (don’t do your taxes, for example). Read about a subject that doesn’t interest you, such as an instruction manual. Above all, you must avoid your cellphone and television, which stimulate the mind. The idea is not to reward the brain for being awake at night. The goal is to create a sleep-bed association, meaning that “when I’m in bed, I sleep.”

(6) IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE A NAP?

It may be appropriate if you feel the need, and if you do not suffer from sleep problems such as insomnia. A “power nap” lasting 15 to 20 minutes is recommended to get some light sleep only. It’s also important not to nap too late in the day, so that you can build up the “sleep requirement” throughout the course of the day, allowing you to fall asleep at night.

(7) WHY DON’T SOME PEOPLE DREAM?

In principle, everyone dreams, even those who think otherwise. If we don’t wake up during REM sleep, we won’t remember our dreams. There isn’t enough room in our memory to store them all, unless we make an active effort to remember and write them down.

(8) IS IT TRUE THAT SLEEP CHANGES WITH AGE?

Sleep changes throughout life, from birth to old age! As soon as we reach our forties, we notice a gradual weakening of sleep, which continues with age. Sleep grows lighter, and nocturnal waking becomes more frequent. In men, the decrease in deep sleep tends to be more noticeable, and may be linked to testosterone, according to research. In old age, the biological clock moves forward: we go to bed earlier, and get up earlier.

(9) ARE SLEEP TRACKING APPS AND SMARTWATCHES REALLY USEFUL?

We must be cautious in our interpretations, since this type of application does not offer precise measurements. They rely mainly on body movements and heart rate. Only electrodes placed on the body (as in polysomnography) provide reliable data on sleep stages. These applications therefore offer approximate data that could undermine our confidence in our sleep and our subjective impression of having slept well. Unless you use them to remind yourself that it’s time to go to bed, you’re better off without them!

(10) DOES THE EARLY BIRD REALLY CATCH THE WORM?

It’s probably a saying popularized by the early risers among us, but it’s not necessarily true! Are you more of a night owl and a late riser, or more of an early sleeper and an early riser? Or somewhere in between? This is called a chronotype, and it’s partly genetically determined. It’s important to be in tune, as far as possible, with your chronotype.

READING SUGGESTIONS TO LEARN MORE Relief from Insomnia: Getting the Sleep of Your Dreams by Charles M. Morin (2 nd ed.)

Sleep and You: Sleep Better, Live Better by Diane B. Boivin

To listen to the full interview hosted by Evelyne Charuest, follow our podcast Centré sur l’équilibre

Divided Attention: A Critical Issue in Aging

By Dr. Maxime Lussier, Psy. D., Ph. D. in neuropsychology

WHAT IS DIVIDED ATTENTION AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Imagine you’re driving while listening to the news on the radio. Your ability to divide your attention between these two tasks, without compromising either your safety or your understanding, depends on divided attention. This cognitive function allows us to simultaneously process several sources of information or perform two activities at the same time. But what happens when this ability deteriorates, as is often the case with age?

Understanding divided attention and its evolution with aging is crucial. In a world where distractions are everywhere, knowing how to manage our attention is essential to maintaining a safe and autonomous life, especially as we age.

COGNITIVE AGING: AN EMINENTLY VARIABLE PROCESS

Contrary to popular belief, cognitive aging isn’t a uniform process. Many studies show significant differences between individuals due to factors such as each person’s cognitive reserve, life path, and genetic background. For example, a person who maintained an intellectually stimulating lifestyle might present a slower cognitive decline than another person. We also know that physical activity and a healthy diet can have a protective effect on cognition as we age.

In addition, not all cognitive functions are affected in the same way by aging. Certain functions, such as episodic memory or information processing speed, tend to decline gradually. Others, such as general knowledge or vocabulary, may even improve with age.

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND DIVIDED ATTENTION: A POINT OF VULNERABILITY

Among the cognitive functions most affected by aging, the executive functions occupy a central place. These functions include planning, inhibiting automatic reflexes, flexibility in the face of sudden changes, and managing multiple tasks. Divided attention, which is one of these executive functions, is particularly vulnerable to aging.

For example, picture an older person trying to cook a meal while answering a phone call. While this situation may seem trivial, it can become a real challenge if the ability to divide one’s attention is compromised. This can lead to errors or even dangerous situations such as forgetting a pan on the stove. In addition, although many people complain of memory problems as they age, these difficulties are often actually attention problems. We cannot effectively absorb new information if our attention is dissipated by distractors. These distractors can come from the environment (a nearby conversation) or from inside (wandering thoughts that distract us during a task).

SOLUTIONS FOR PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT

Fortunately, all is not lost. Science offers hope thanks to strategies for preserving and even improving divided attention with age.

Several studies show that daily cognitive stimulation, which can come through reading, strategy games, or social activities, can slow cognitive decline. More specifically, intensive cognitive training programs can significantly improve divided attention performance. Some studies even indicate that older people, with appropriate training, tend to benefit more than younger people from stimulation to perform two complex tasks.

TWO APPROACHES TO OPTIMIZE DIVIDED ATTENTION

In the face of this increased fragility, two complementary approaches can be considered:

(1) Avoiding divided attention situations when error is not permitted: in critical contexts, such as taking medication or driving, it may be preferable to focus on one task at a time to reduce the risks of error.

(2) Voluntarily stimulating divided attention: exposing yourself to situations that force you to divide your attention, such as doing crosswords while listening to the radio, allows you to keep this ability activated. However, these exercises must be adapted to the level of each individual to avoid cognitive overload.

In short, understanding the mechanisms of divided attention and its evolution with aging makes it possible to better understand the challenges with which older people may be confronted. Adopting appropriate strategies will help preserve this essential ability and promote an autonomous and active life. Rather than suffer the effects of time, it’s possible to act, one step at a time, to keep your mind sharp and efficient.

Want to experience a state of deep relaxation ?

Awaken your senses and dive in an immersive sound journey in the heart of Saint-Sauveur.

Reserve your spot now and let yourself be gently rocked by the harmonious vibrations of our concert.

Possibility of organizing a private event for your friends or company.

Photo: © Danie Franco

You ensure balance around you; let us be yours for a moment.

Every year, more than 500 caregivers come to recharge their batteries at one of our establishments.

Work After Retirement: To Live Longer

By Alexandra Lecours, professor and occupational therapist

A BALANCE BETWEEN BENEFITS AND RISKS

“A golden retirement in the sun,” “Freedom 55,” “Bye-bye, boss!”… These expressions, once synonymous with an ideal retirement, are no longer unanimously accepted. More and more Quebecers are choosing to return to work after retiring. In Canada, approximately one third of retirees are re-entering the job market, a growing trend.

Why this return to work? While some individuals are forced into it for financial reasons or to alleviate a labour shortage, others do so out of desire: a need for recognition, socialization, or self-improvement. What if, beyond obligations, work after retirement was also a lever for longevity and well-being?

WORK AFTER RETIREMENT: AN ASSET

FOR HEALTH?

The World Health Organization recognizes that work is a determinant of health. Studies also show that remaining professionally active after retirement improves physical and mental health and reduces the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and dementia. But be careful: these benefits only appear if the working conditions are favourable. In recent years, my research team and I have conducted studies to better understand the impact of returning to work after retirement on people’s health.

Returning to work after retirement can offer many advantages. It promotes an active lifestyle, which can prevent physical and cognitive decline. It also helps you keep your mind sharp, feel useful, maintain a routine, and cultivate social ties, all favourable elements for mental health. Many retired people who return to work mention feeling greater motivation on a daily basis and personal satisfaction related to their contribution to society.

However, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Older adults are more likely to suffer injuries or experience pain related to their work, especially when they occupy a position that differs from the one they held during their career. As “new recruits” in a field, they need to learn new tasks, which can cause stress and anxiety. Age-related stigma is also an issue: feeling judged or left out can negatively impact self-esteem and mental health.

THE KEYS TO FULFILLING WORK FOR RETIREES

Certain conditions result in a beneficial work experience after retirement:

A FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTED SCHEDULE Part-time work is often perceived as more pleasant. It helps maintain a balance between activities and free time. Some people opt for seasonal or contract work, which allows them to combine work and leisure. This balance is essential to avoid excessive stress, which could harm the health benefits of work.

REALISTIC PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS The employment must take the normal aging process into account and not require more than the person can reasonably accomplish without compromising their health. Adjustments, such as adapted workstations or regular breaks, should be privileged. Work that respects physical abilities can help preserve mobility and prevent chronic pain—two factors associated with better quality of life.

POSITIVE MOTIVATIONS Retirees who return to work for pleasure or fulfillment are in better health than those who return to it out of financial necessity. Income-related stress can force some retirees to accept precarious or full-time jobs, which is harmful to their well-being. Work chosen for pleasure stimulates better mental and emotional health.

A REWARDING WORK ENVIRONMENT Recognition of the skills and contributions of older workers plays a crucial role. Feeling that your experience is appreciated and that you have a place on the team contributes to satisfaction and mental health. Frequent social interactions are also a key factor in longevity, reducing the risk of isolation and depression.

WORKING

WITH

DIFFERENT GENERATIONS: BETWEEN CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY

Today, up to five generations coexist in the workforce, from baby boomers to generation alpha. This diversity can be a source of enrichment, but also of tension.

On one hand, intergenerational collaboration promotes the sharing of knowledge and the transmission of expertise. Many retirees find great satisfaction in mentoring and supporting younger people. On the other hand, differences in values, priorities, and working methods can generate misunderstandings and stress.

Companies that encourage intergenerational collaboration by implementing mentorship and job shadowing programs between younger and older people create a climate conducive to the transmission of knowledge and the recognition of experience. A work environment where exchange is valued promotes a positive attitude toward aging and longevity.

Work after retirement isn’t all black or all white. If properly supervised, it can provide meaning, dynamism, and quality of life to the retirees who choose to return to it. Beyond a simple occupation, it can be a real factor in longevity by stimulating the body and mind and strengthening social ties. Rather than viewing retirement as an end in itself, why not see it as a transition to a new way of being active, fulfilled, and healthy? What if working after retirement was ultimatel one of the secrets to living better and longer?

Sources

Lecours, A. and Bédard-Mercier, R. (2023). “L’expérience de retour au travail des personnes vieillissantes ayant subi une atteinte à la santé : un examen de la portée.” Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement 42(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1017/ S0714980822000095

Lecours, A. and Robitaille, R. (2020). “Comment le travail après la retraite influence-t-il la santé des travailleurs vieillissants ? Un examen de la portée.” Recueil annuel d’ergothérapie 12, 36-46.

Lecours, A., Lord, M. M., Negrini, A., and Robitaille, R. (2019). “How does returning to work after retirement influence older workers’ health? A scoping review protocol.” BMJ Open 9(3), 026446. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026446

Immortality in Art(s)

By Nicolas Gendron, cultural journalist

Who among us hasn’t dreamed, even for just a moment, of slowing down or even freezing the passage of time? From the mummies of Ancient Egypt to the portraits ordered by the ultra-wealthy of this world, as well as the self-portraits of Frida Kahlo and L’Immortalité devançant le temps by sculptor Georges Récipon, the visual and plastic arts have often been the ideal channel to transpose our fear of disappearing without leaving a trace. And why not take advantage of it in the process to enhance our image, at least when we have the means? But there is always the risk of becoming obsessed with our own reflections; social media didn’t invent egotism, after all.

Just talk to the hedonistic hero of Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, who is unable to tolerate the idea that the painting that represents him will age better than he will. Emblematic of the torments of a narcissistic soul, this work saw dozens of adaptations in the 20 th and 21st centuries for television, cinema, theatre, and comic books, proving that dandies don’t have a monopoly on aspiring to immortality or eternal youth. In this sense, literature is always highly revealing, capable of condensing time as well as stretching it out to infinity – or almost. This is demonstrated by many examples: Bram Stoker’s Dracula , with, at its centre, or rather in its blood, the figure of the vampire who can brave eternity by feeding on the vitality of others; Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, a hero(ine) who defies genders and centuries to better escape the ticking of the clock; or All Men Are Mortal , a novel by Simone de Beauvoir, which brilliantly reminds us that she was more than just an essayist.

This is without even talking about science fiction, because reality has often caught up with it in our increasingly robotized, cloned, and dematerialized world. In an era where the life expectancy in Canada exceeds 80 years, where medicine, science, and technology have undergone, over the course of a century, breakthroughs as remarkable as they are exponential, where cosmetic surgery has become just one more wellness activity, and where the web indefinitely extends the virtual lives of our deceased, it’s reasonable to believe that we still haven’t seen anything yet. Like nature, humans, with our fear of emptiness, will do everything in our power to repel and taunt death, even if it means paradoxically destroying our own environment. On the theatre stage, the Quebecbased company Posthumains examines the “impacts of the development of NBIC technologies (nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, information technologies, and cognitive sciences) on living beings,” particularly by probing the transhumanist movement. Its Post Humains and i/O shows, both the products of brilliant creator Dominique Leclerc, dive headfirst into this quest for an improved, enhanced body. Does it become dehumanized in the process? And to what extent does “our refusal of finitude” blind us?

Between philosophy and the spectacular, the 7th art, of course, eagerly grapples with all these complex questions and, over the course of its roughly 130-year history, has not hesitated to make our fixation on longevity its bread and butter, starting withits plots featuring mummies, vampires, and untouchable and resuscitated superheroes, as well as countless adaptations of Isaac Asimov’s novels. Two films come to mind for me that each flirt in their own way with the fantastic while shaking up our relationship with time. First of all, we have David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, in which a man (Brad Pitt) reverses the normal course of things by being born old and progressing toward youth. Do a soul and its physical envelope always walk hand in hand? Fully embracing its nature as a modern tale, this drama encapsulates our fascination with the inexorable march toward death. More recently, and in another register, The Substance has divided and galvanized cinephiles with Demi Moore’s return to a role where she embraces the darkest parts of what our mirror reflects. Conducted at a cracking pace by French director Coralie Fargeat, this horrifying fable sells us the possibility of generating a rejuvenated and beautified version of ourselves, not without disturbing our conscience. If you suffer from belonephobia – the fear of needles! – however, move along.

What if this eternal theme was instead expressed through song? “Immortality,” written by the Bee Gees and brought fully to life by Céline Dion, naturally comes to mind here.

And I won’t let my heart control my head / But you are my only We don’t say goodbye / We don’t say goodbye / And I know what I’ve got to be / Immortality / I make my journey through eternity / I keep the memory of you and me inside

This desire for the absolute is part of a love to be preserved, despite an unexpected destiny that pushes you to the highest peaks and leads you into history… and memories. The path of passion seems to be the one that most quickly unites talents and minds, from love always (“I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston) to the Olympic promise of Édith Piaf in “L’hymne à l’amour”:

Nous aurons pour nous l’éternité / Dans le bleu de toute l’immensité / Dans le ciel, plus de problème / Mon amour, crois-tu qu’on s’aime ? / Dieu réunit ceux qui s’aiment (We will have eternity for us / In the blue of all immensity In the sky, no more problems / My love, do you believe we love each other? / God reunites those who love each other)

Jacques Brel, meanwhile, contemplates old lovers, assuring that “il [leur] fallut bien du talent pour être vieux sans être adultes” (“it takes a lot of talent to be old without being adults”). And Gaël Faye adds:

Malgré la vie, le temps passé / Malgré la jeunesse fatiguée Personne ne pourra empêcher / Nos corps usés de chalouper (Despite life, time passed / Despite tired youth No one can stop / Our worn-out bodies from swaying)

But there are also, in reality, those key people who make you believe that life has no age. On January 12, at the age of 101, the lights went out for that famous storyteller who had lit up so many hearts, both young and old, in a dazzling career between stage and screen, where her Fanfreluche and her grandmother from Passe-Partout inspired joy and opened the imagination. It’s not surprising that Kim Yaroshevskaya was chosen for the cover of the beautiful book Vénérables , in which photojournalist Jacques Nadeau sets out to meet some 80 elderly figures who have been through it all and share with us not the secret of their longevity, but their know-how-to-be and their intimate relationship with existence. Enough to reconcile us with our latent chronophobia – the fear of time passing…

Long life to you, Strøm Magazine !

REDISCOVER WORKS RELATED TO LONGEVITY

BOOKS

The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde (1890)

Dracula , by Bram Stoker (1897)

Orlando, by Virginia Woolf (1928)

All Men Are Mortal , by Simone de Beauvoir (1946)

Vénérables , by Jacques Nadeau (Éditions Cardinal, 2024))

THEATRE

Post Humains , by Dominique Leclerc (L’instant même, 2019)

i/O , by Dominique Leclerc (Atelier 10, 2023)

CINEMA

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, directed by David Fincher (2008)

The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat (2024)

SONGS

“Immortality,” by Céline Dion

“I Will Always Love You,” by Dolly Parton

“L’hymne à l’amour,” by Édith Piaf

“La chanson des vieux amants,” by Jacques Brel

“Chalouper,” by Gaël Faye

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Intermittent Fasting, Longevity, and Wellness: Between Myths and Realities

An interview with Professor Benoit Arsenault

BENOIT

ARSENAULT

Intermittent fasting has been popular for several years now. While some attribute a multitude of health benefits to it and even see it as a miracle method for prolonging life, others remain skeptical of the many claims surrounding it. Benoit Arsenault, a researcher and professor at the Department of Medicine at the Université Laval, offers us a nuanced perspective on the issue, bridging the gap between science and social issues.

Hello, Benoit. How would you define intermittent fasting? Why has it become so popular?

“Intermittent fasting is a dietary practice that alternates between periods of fasting and periods of food intake. Unlike other diets, it doesn’t dictate what you have to eat, but when you can eat. The most common approaches include limited eating windows, such as 16:8 (fast for 16 hours and eat for 8 hours) or 5:2 (eat normally for 5 days and significantly reduce calories for 2 days per week). This apparent simplicity, combined with tantalizing promises of weight loss and health benefits, explains its popularity. Many see it as an “easy” solution for consuming fewer calories without sacrificing their favourite foods in order to lose weight. Others do it for its alleged benefits on increasing life expectancy. But this approach raises many questions as to its actual effectiveness and long-term impacts.”

What are the main scientific findings on intermittent fasting so far?

“Over the past five years, many studies have explored the effects of intermittent fasting on human health. These findings have been consolidated into meta-analyses that give us a pretty clear picture. Let’s face it: the main reason people try intermittent fasting is weight loss. However, intermittent fasting results in modest weight loss: an average of one kilogram. In addition, this loss is often more attributed to a reduction in lean mass (muscle mass, bone mass, and water loss) than to a significant loss of fat mass. Certain shortterm benefits have been observed on metabolic health, such as improved insulin and blood cholesterol levels and reduced inflammation, but these effects generally do not exceed those obtained through simple continuous caloric restriction. Intermittent fasting can be an attractive option for some people, especially those with metabolic health issues such as prediabetes, but it should be integrated into a holistic and sustainable health approach.”

Photo: © Productions Optimales

Could intermittent fasting really extend your lifespan?

“It’s a fascinating question, but the answer is still far from being settled. In insects such as fruit flies and some animal models, studies have shown that intermittent fasting could extend their lifespan. However, these results vary according to the species and the experimental conditions, and some negative consequences, particularly on the immune system, have been observed. For example, laboratory mice, which live in highly controlled environments, might benefit. On the other hand, wild mice, living in more realistic conditions, don’t achieve the same results. This illustrates that the effects of intermittent fasting are highly dependent on context. In humans, we lack long-term data. We know that intermittent fasting can reduce certain blood biomarkers associated with aging, but it’s difficult to say whether these changes translate into a real increase in life expectancy and whether the benefits of this practice outweigh the consequences.”

What are the risks or limits of intermittent fasting?

“Intermittent fasting is not without risk, and its reckless application can have negative consequences. Motivated by influencers or ‘coaches’ on social media, some people adopt overly strict or prolonged forms of fasting without supervision. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, digestive issues, and even excessive loss of muscle mass. The promises of exceptional benefits for health and longevity are not supported by solid evidence, which can lead to disappointment or rapid abandonment. Intermittent fasting can also exacerbate eating disorders, particularly in young women. Cycles of fasting and overeating can harm our relationship with food and affect self-esteem. If I had one piece of advice to give to people who are contemplating intermittent fasting, it would first be that they should be aware that it requires a significant long-term commitment, but also that they should work as a team with a nutritionist belonging to the Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec in order to ensure that this process is undertaken safely and that realistic goals are set.”

What do you think of the commercialization of intermittent fasting?

“It’s a subject that’s both fascinating and worrying. I didn’t think it was possible to profit from this practice, but it’s clear that fasting has become a lucrative market. Apps, programs, supplements, and even ‘fasting kits’ claim to optimize this practice, obviously without solid scientific evidence. Celebrities and social media influencers promote these products, sometimes with exaggerated claims lacking nuance. These products are expensive and useless.”

Is the practice of intermittent fasting compatible with an active lifestyle?

“In some cases, intermittent fasting may be compatible with an active lifestyle, but it depends on several factors, particularly individual needs, the type of activity practiced, and the approach adopted. The main consideration is that physical activity requires a sufficient energy supply to optimize performance, promote recovery, and prevent injury. In practice, intermittent fasting can pose challenges for active people, especially if the eating windows don’t correspond to the times of high energy needs, such as before or after a workout. Furthermore, an insufficient caloric intake can lead to a loss of muscle mass, decreased energy, and increased fatigue, thereby compromising the ability to maintain an active lifestyle. For active people, a balanced diet spread out properly throughout the day often remains a more suitable option for supporting their health and performance goals while promoting a healthy relationship with food.”

In your opinion, what is the best approach to promote health and longevity?

“The science is clear: there’s no miracle solution. To promote health and wellness, we should focus on fundamental principles such as a balanced diet. Cooking and eating a variety of quality foods, not excluding any food groups, putting colour on our plates, sharing meals with family or friends, and paying attention to our hunger and fullness signals are among the key elements of a diet compatible with life expectancy in physical and psychological health! Two other factors which are often neglected—stress management and sleep—should also be considered. Regular physical activity, however, remains THE main determinant of healthy life expectancy.”

Access the social networks, YouTube channel, and Les voies métaboliques podcast hosted by Professor Arsenault.

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Five havens to slow down time

As we have seen throughout these pages, the good and the beautiful can contribute to a healthy and fulfilled life. Sometimes even a brief moment in the right place, with the right experience, is enough to help us adopt a lifestyle centred on well-being. Strøm Nordic Spa establishments have been designed with this in mind.

Discover them through these inspiring photos and let yourself be transported to these grandiose sites where time stands still.

Soak in the thermal bath at dusk.

The Panorama room and the lush vegetation that surrounds it, bathed in sunshine.

Photos: © Bianca Des Jardins

Resting point in the Strøm river.

The sun reflects off the expansive windows, magnifying the scenery both inside and outside the building.

Photos: © Bianca Des Jardins

View of the St. Lawrence River from the infinity pool at dusk.

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SHERBROOKE

Photos: © Bianca Des Jardins

Massages on stilts, in nature, remain a compelling attraction of the spa.

and

View of the site

the Lac des Battures at sunset.

NUNS’ ISLAND

Photos: © Bianca Des Jardins

Relaxation room with infrared beds.

Water feature in the steam bath.

The stone sauna offers a breathtaking view of the outdoors.

Photos: © Bianca Des Jardins

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