Arcana was created with one mission: To detach urbanites from the city and help them experience the restorative power of nature. The retreat – where stainless-steel-clad cabins disappear into the surrounding forest – encourages guests to start their stay with a custom sound journey, a guided meditation designed to bring you into the present.
At its Muskoka location – the exact address is revealed once you book – you enter the property on foot via an art installation called “the woodland portal.” It’s a short walk to the 23 cabins, which were designed to bring the outside in with huge picture windows and a ScandiCanadian vibe: white oak walls, heated floors, sleek kitchens and bathrooms – all stashed in 65 hectares (160 acres) of forest. You can cook your own meals or opt for in-cabin dining with food and wine provided by Pearl Morissette, the vaunted Niagara winery and restaurant, known for its elevated regional cuisine. After all, this isn’t about food deprivation, it’s about urban deprivation.
The idea is to reset your system, as little as 15 minutes in the woods can reduce cortisol. Increase exposure, and with it the benefits. Nature’s patterns, leaves, raindrops, water, are shown to create alpha waves in the brain, the state of wakeful rest and relaxation.
