Mindful living in the Eastern Townships: A spotlight on Quebec’s Spa Eastman

From its humble beginnings to its status today as a renowned wellness retreat, the story of Spa Eastman is one of passion, dedication and a commitment to the art of living well.

I had the pleasure of experiencing this haven firsthand, immersing myself in the spa’s serenity. From indulging in the soothing hot and cold thermal baths to taking a plunge into the invigorating cold pond, every moment was a celebration of self-care, whether we were strolling the grounds, admiring the scenery and the gardens, taking a yoga class or dining on the exquisite cuisine.

I sat down for a Q&A with the spa’s founder and president, Jocelyna Dubuc, a visionary whose impact extends far beyond the creation of a flourishing, inno­vative business. When she founded the first destination spa in Canada, she gave birth to an entire industry, with Quebec now boasting more than 140 spas. Her legacy goes beyond business success — it encompasses a commitment to healthy living, environmental protection and promoting wellness.

If I remember correctly, you mentioned a trip to India as the inspiration behind creating Spa Eastman in 1977. Can you tell us a little bit about that journey?  

Jocelyna Dubuc: I had just started making personal changes before going to India — I discovered the curative power of food and detox, and I was shocked by the realization. I made a big change to my way of eating.

At that time, I was teaching history and geography at a high school, and I was surprised nobody taught me that food had an impact on how I was feeling. That was the first ‘wow’ moment — I changed completely. I became vegan, and at the same time, I discovered yoga and meditation.

After a year of doing those things at home, I dreamed of experiencing real teachings about yoga and meditation. That’s why I went to India. While I was there, someone told me there was an ayurvedic doctor I should meet. He helped me discover this way of taking care of our health in a deeper way.

Because I had time — my first trip was four months — I was really trying to give more depth to my meditation and yoga. When I came back, I had the dream of creating a place where people could learn to discover themselves.

So, I created a destination spa. I did it without a model, just from my personal knowledge about food, the power of what you eat and the impact of meditation and physical activities like yoga.

You brought this art-of-living philosophy to Spa Eastman. Can you give a brief introduction to it?

I already mentioned the food and exercise. There are 15 kilometers of trails on this property, and we’re in beautiful nature, even though we’re five minutes from the highway. I designed an eating plan based on what I had learned. The interesting thing is that I’m not a chef. I love eating, but I’m not a chef, so I hired all kinds of people to make it happen.

Although I had been vegan, in 1994, I discovered the work of Barry Sears, who is well-known in the United States. At that moment, I decided to introduce meat, fish and milk protein healthily but slowly. We now know that many sicknesses are caused by inflammation, and inflammation is heavily based on food. I realized it’s possible to create a diet that will make you feel good and won’t create inflammatory symptoms.

Tell me about the foods you serve and how they reduce inflammation and improve the gut microbiome.

It’s gluten-free cuisine. It’s dairy-free because of casein, the protein in dairy. And meat is cooked very slowly at 230 degrees Fahrenheit because they’ve discovered that when you cook meat at a high temperature, it creates what are called glycotoxins. There’s a reaction in the protein that could be carcinogenic.

We also look at lacto-fermentation and how it makes our microbiomes healthier and maintains our immune system. But keep in mind, we aren’t on a diet here. I’ve seen people who want to lose weight when they come here. What they find is that by removing the foods that cause inflammation, they naturally lose weight.

What can guests expect when they visit Spa Eastman?

Some come here just to lose weight, and some to unwind and destress, but they also need coaching. Our program is seven nights, and we design it according to each person’s objective. And in coming to Quebec, they discover the French flavor.