Academy of Health and Happiness:
A Place of Renewal Near Ottawa
The Ottawa River Valley is one of those places where nature seems to have been created for restoring both body and soul. Drive just half an hour from the capital, and unforgettable landscapes open before you: rolling hills, mirror-like lakes, evergreen forests, and exceptionally clean air. Here, in the Gatineau area — around Val-des-Monts, Chelsea, Cantley and Wakefield — life moves at a different pace: calm, harmonious, and in tune with the rhythm of nature.
Imagine a morning by the lake: a light mist floating over the water, birds singing, and deer tracks along the trail. Nearby, you may encounter a beaver, a turtle or a porcupine — all living in remarkable harmony with people. The water in the local lakes is clean, clear and rich in oxygen, while the forests are filled with trails for walking, mushroom picking and berry gathering.
It is in this picturesque setting that we are planning to create a unique new space — the Academy of Health and Happiness, inspired by the traditions of the best Soviet preventive health retreats. In the Soviet Union, such centres helped people maintain their health by preventing illness rather than simply treating its consequences.
Unfortunately, this concept is almost absent in Canada: the healthcare system is largely focused on people who are already ill rather than on disease prevention. We are working to bring back the idea of prevention — taking care of your health before problems arise. A cottage located just half an hour from downtown Ottawa is exactly the kind of magical place perfectly suited for this purpose.
The Academy of Health and Happiness will become a place where everyone can pause, reflect and understand what may be missing from their lives in order to achieve greater harmony and happiness. For some, it may be better health; for others, love, confidence or peace of mind.
That is why the Academy is envisioned as a community of specialists from different fields — nutrition experts, psychologists, massage therapists, yoga instructors, coaches and longevity specialists. They will help retreat participants undergo a gentle yet sufficiently in-depth assessment, understand the true needs of their body and mind, and begin moving toward personal transformation and happiness.
Even if money is what you feel is missing in order to achieve your goals, career coaches can help you advance toward a prestigious and well-paid profession. See the article by career development specialists on page 10.
Of course, it is possible to visit doctors and psychologists while continuing to live in the city. But the pace of urban life often leaves little room for genuine recovery. To truly change, develop new healthy habits and step away from stress, a reset is needed — a time and place where nothing distracts you. The Academy of Health and Happiness offers an opportunity to spend several days or even weeks in nature, in peace and quiet, by the water, away from gadgets and the rush of city life.
Here, you will be able to choose a program that suits you — detox, weight management, yoga, qigong, meditation, water exercise, guided walks, massage, and conversations by the fireplace. The atmosphere of peace, nature and self-care creates the conditions for inner renewal.
After returning home from a week in this magical place, you may feel not only lighter and more energetic, but also equipped with new strength, new healthy habits and a new outlook on life. The Academy of Health and Happiness is a step toward a more mindful, healthy and harmonious life.
And if you are a specialist who helps people become healthier and more balanced in every aspect of life — physical health, beauty, psychological well-being or financial well-being — if you are a trainer, cosmetologist, coach or business consultant, we invite you to participate in our project.
613-262-2644
nashaottawa.ca/academy
While the Academy is still being developed, this wonderful place can simply be rented as a cottage for a weekend or for an entire week.
The house has four bedrooms, a kitchen and a spacious living room. It is heated and always warm and comfortable. In winter, you can relax beside a real fire.
Autumn brings a special kind of magic here. The air becomes crystal clear, the sunlight glides softly across the surface of the water, and the surrounding landscape bursts into magnificent colours: golden and crimson maples, oaks and dark-green evergreens.
It is the perfect time to spend evenings by the stove with a cup of fragrant tea, or to sit on the veranda wrapped in a blanket, listening to the wind rustling through the leaves.
Picturesque trails run along the lake, while on the water you can enjoy kayaking or riding a pedal boat, taking in the peaceful surroundings and the reflection of the sky on the mirror-like surface.
For photography lovers, autumn here is a true paradise: every panorama looks as though it were created for a postcard.
In winter, the cottage transforms into a cosy mountain chalet. Quietly falling snow covers the forest and lake with a white blanket, creating an atmosphere of peace and seclusion.
Inside, it is warm and bright, the fire crackles in the fireplace, and outside the window snowflakes slowly drift through the air.
You can go for a walk on the frozen lake, ski directly from the house, and in the evening enjoy a family dinner by candlelight.
Nearby are the Sommet Edelweiss and Mont Cascades ski resorts, where you can spend an active day on the slopes and then return to the peace and comfort of the countryside.
This cottage is an ideal place for anyone who wants to reconnect with nature, restore their energy and find inspiration.
Whether surrounded by the colours of autumn or the magic of winter, this place is always filled with harmony, peace and the feeling of a true home — the kind of place you want to return to again and again.
Stay healthy and happy!
For reservations:
613-262-2644