Hot, Cold and Community | Greg of Revive Wellness Club

What happens when a sauna and cold plunge club puts community first? Greg Aguilera spent 35 years in automotive before opening Revive Wellness Club, 100 metres from High Park Station, as a third space where everyone from a 13-year-old on a dad and daughter date to two sisters in their eighties feels welcome. In this episode, he shares why he’d rather be a community than just say it, why the West End is becoming Toronto’s wellness hub, and why rest might be the most important part of performance. If you’ve been curious about contrast therapy but a little intimidated, this one’s for you.

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In this episode we talk about:

Going from 35 years in automotive to opening Revive

What contrast therapy is, and why colder isn’t always better

An intergenerational community, from age 13 to 80

Saying you’re a community versus being one

The West End as Toronto’s wellness hub

Getting lost in High Park (in the best way)

Why we wear burnout like a medal, and why recovery matters

Free Sunday walks, member nights and briscola

Greg’s favourite West End spots

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Timestamps:

01:03 Welcome, Greg

01:23 Repping Quebec and Dundas

02:24 From automotive to Revive

03:16 Contrast therapy and building a third space

04:09 Everyone’s welcome, from 13 to 80

05:41 Hydrotherapy goes mainstream

07:19 Being a community, not just saying it

09:55 A quick note from Dr. Margot

11:16 The West End as a wellness hub

12:30 Getting lost in High Park

15:12 Why recovery beats burnout

16:12 The closest coffee shop to High Park

16:55 Social walks, somatic dance and briscola

18:35 Rapid fire: favourite West End spots

23:40 Where to find Greg and Revive

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Resources and mentions:

Revive Wellness Club, 2100 Bloor St W: revivewellnessclub.ca, @revive.highpark.ca

Petti Fine Foods, The Junction (3077 Dundas St W)

Claudia’s Coffee, The Junction (3079 Dundas St W): @claudiascoffee

The Good Neighbour Espresso Bar, The Junction (238 Annette St)

Antidote Wellness Lab, The Junction (2843 Dundas St W): @antidotewellnesslab

SWAT Health, The Junction (2896 Dundas St W): swathealth.com

The Hummingbird Field, Bloor West Village (2481a Bloor St W)

Hansa Wellness (230 South Kingsway): hansawellness.ca

Saponetti, zero-waste home essentials (order online and pick up at Revive): shop.saponetti.ca

Musoshin Ramen, Roncesvalles (9 Boustead Ave)

Usagi Sushi, Bloor West (1984 Bloor St W)

Noodle Me, by Jane Station

Taste of the Junction

CAMH and Sinai Health, two causes Revive supports

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Coming up:

Free social walks every Sunday at 9 a.m. from Revive, plus recurring somatic dance in the park and pumpkin carving for plunges at the end of October. Check revivewellnessclub.ca for upcoming events, with more coming in November and December.

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Connect with Greg:

Website: revivewellnessclub.ca

Instagram: @revive.highpark.ca

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Work with Dr. Margot: Curious about the Hormone Cornerstone Method mentioned in this episode? Book a free discovery call at doctormargotnd.com. Seeing patients in Toronto’s West End and virtually across Ontario.

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Prescription for Community: The West Toronto Podcast is hosted by Dr. Margot Lattanzi, ND. If you enjoyed this one, follow the show, leave a rating, and send it to a friend who could use a Sunday walk. Find me on Instagram @doctormargotnd.

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• Eats: Musoshin Ramen, Usagi Sushi, Noodle Me
• Coffee & Treats: Revive Wellness Club, Claudia’s Coffee, The Good Neighbour
• Go-To Shop: Petti Fine Foods
• Wander Street or Park: High Park, High Park Avenue, Dundas West
• Local Event: Taste of the Junction
• Hidden Gem: Saponetti, Antidote Wellness Lab