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Author Archives: Christina Mantoura-Gough

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How to use your hot tub for a new you in 2021?

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It’s that time of year again – we’re almost at the start of a brand new year. 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year for many of us, which makes a fresh start a very appealing prospect. If you’re keen to step into a new you in 2021 then there are some simple ways that your hot tub can help you to do it, especially if you’re setting New Year resolutions this year or goals for the next 12 months.

Creating a wellness routine that gives back

New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to think about what you want from the next 12 months, what you’re hoping to let go of and where you want to build. However, there’s a reason that so many resolutions are on the scrap heap before the end of January – they often involve cutting things out, giving things up and generally framing the goal from a negative perspective. If you want to create change that lasts this year then putting a positive spin on your goals can help and your hot tub is a great way to make this happen.

  • Integrate your hot tub into your exercise routine. If you’re starting a new exercise programme in January and you know that it’s going to be a challenge then create some positive feeling around it so that you’re not dreading every workout. For example, you could start each session with a soak in your hot tub before you get to the working out stage. This will help your muscles to warm up and give you time and space to relax and get your head in the game. You could also make your hot tub soak the place where you relax after you’ve worked out and celebrate a great session.
  • Improving sleep. Research and surveys have found that not many of us make sleep a priority, despite the fact that a good night’s sleep can make all the difference to how we feel about life the next day. Whether your goals for next year are to focus more and be more productive, to eat better or to be more positive all of these will be influenced by how well you sleep. Add in to your schedule for each week a 15 minute soak around half an hour before you go to sleep – in the water your body temperature will rise and then as you get out and ready for bed it will fall again, preparing your body gradually for easier and higher quality sleep.
  • Prioritising key relationships. It’s hard to make time for the people that we love with everything that our day holds sometimes. In the hot tub there are no devices and no distractions – it’s a great way to be more sociable, to prioritise family time or to spend some essential moments alone.

Your hot tub can help you in focusing on what really matters in 2021. Whether that’s physical wellness, sleep or key relationships these are just some of the ways it can support you in creating routines that help you uncover a new you.

Our top 8 swim spa exercises for the new year

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Fitness is essential for overall health and wellbeing. However, a repetitive round of running or going to the gym can get boring. Swimming is a fantastic way to break this up and to get a full body workout in a more physically supportive environment. And if you need a break from swimming then there are lots of exercises that you can do in the water that can help to improve your fitness. Not only that but you’ll get the benefits of being immersed in water, from the additional resistance that this brings to any exercise, to the buoyancy of the water, which can take the pressure off muscles and joints. If you want to try some new pool exercises for the new year then these are some of our favourites.

  1. Simple walking. This is a great way to get used to exercising in water and to improve fitness at the same time. In waist height water, start carefully putting one foot in front of the other, heel first and then toes with your arms at your side. Add in ankle or wrist weights to increase the challenge.
  2. Jumping jacks. These are simple star jumps with the water at chest level. As you jump your feet out raise your arms over your head and then lower as you bring your feet back together. Repeat and add arm weights for more resistance.
  3. Arm lifts. If you’re looking for an arm workout then stand in water that covers your shoulders, a water dumbbell in each hand with the palms facing up. Bring your elbows in close to your body as you raise your arms to water height. Rotate the dumbbells so your palms are facing down and lower. Repeat.
  4. Core activators. Start holding on to the pool wall with your feet on the wall and then push off on your back. Pull your knees into your chest then lower them to the floor and run back to the side to start again.
  5. Kicks. Hold on to the edge of the pool and cycle through repetitions of key swimming leg kicks – flutter kicks, scissor kicks, breaststroke kicks and dolphin kicks. Do each set of kicks for up to three minutes.
  6. Lateral arm lifts. If you’re looking to build upper body strength this is a great option. Start standing in water up to your shoulders with your dumbbells at your side. Raise to the height of the water so they are level with your shoulders and then lower.
  7. Leg shoots. Curl into a ball upright in the water, knees tucked in. Then shoot your legs out explosively so that you end up on your back. Curl your knees in and then do the same with your legs but this time finish on your stomach.
  8. Ballet lifts. In waist height water stand on one leg and raise it with the knee bent until it’s parallel to the water. Extend the leg fully, hold and then lower with the leg straight. Repeat and then do the other side. Add ankle weights to make it harder.

These pool exercises will not only help to keep you fit in 2021 but bring an element of fun and variety to your workout too.

Top tips for hot tub usage this winter

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Winter is a fantastic time to use your hot tub. Whether you’re really feeling the cold, looking for new ways to enjoy your garden or improve your wellness, a hot tub in winter has a lot to offer. It’s important to make sure that you bear in mind the different way that you’ll use the hot tub during the winter months, both to get the most from it and to make sure that you look after it. These are some of our top tips.

Consider keeping the jets turned off

You can still get a lot of benefit from a soak in the hot tub without the jets on and if you’re keen to keep your bills down this can really help. Every time you use the hot tub jets they release air into the water and this can lower the temperature. So, to keep your hot tub at optimal temperature in the winter months, use the jets less or turn them off.

Invest in a good cover

If you don’t already have a robust cover for your hot tub then now is the time to invest in one. The cover has a big role to play in keeping your hot tub hot as it traps warm air inside. If it is thin or damaged then it won’t do a very good job of helping to ensure your hot tub maintains the right temperature. Make sure that the cover is sufficiently insulated, that it fastens securely and that it’s not bowing or rising.

Monitor the water level

Using the hot tub in winter means being aware of the impact that cold temperatures can have on it. If the water level gets too low in the hot tub, for example, components such as pumps and pipework could freeze. So, it’s essential to regularly check that there is enough water in the hot tub to keep things moving – making sure it’s cycling with the circulation pump on a regular basis will ensure that everything continues to flow.

Don’t forget the cleaning

You may not be using your hot tub as frequently during the winter months as you might in the summer so it’s easy to let things slide where cleanliness is concerned. Leaving the hot tub without this type of maintenance may cause damage and also means that it won’t be ready for whenever you want to use it. Clean down the parts of the shell that aren’t submerged with a damp cloth, regularly replace the filter and make sure you change the water when necessary.

Create a winter hot tub experience

That may mean ensuring that you have warm robes to put on afterwards and drinking plenty of water – you’ll still be sweating even though the air is cold. Limit the time that you spend in the hot tub to 20 – 30 minutes and warm up straight away after you’ve got out so that you’re not getting too hot and then too cold.

A hot tub in winter can be a fantastic way to make the most of your home as long as you know how to use it at this time of year.

Top 10 reasons to using your sauna this winter

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Winter can be a wonderful season, full of fun and celebrations and an end of term feel. However, it’s also a time of year when we can feel grumpy and anxious and illness and physical discomfort can be frequent. With a sauna you can really make the most of the season, no matter how it usually affects you.

  1. Improve physical ailments. From a sore throat to a blocked nose, spending some time in your sauna can help to improve many of the minor ailments of winter.
  2. Get warm and defrost. The cold can get right into your bones and joints in winter and it can feel hard to get warm. The heat of a sauna is incredibly effective, seeping deep into your muscles and through your system to help you feel toasty again.
  3. Sleep better. Poor sleep can impact everything, from the way that you feel to how productive you are. Regular sauna sessions have been found to boost cell activity and improve both the quantity and quality of sleep.
  4. Give yourself a detox. Sweating is the body’s most effective way to remove toxins from the system and help to keep yourself healthy, inside and out. Whether you’ve been indulging in festive food or just spending too much time sitting indoors, a sauna is a great way to help give your system a detoxing boost.
  5. Looking after your skin. Winter is the time year when many of us are prone to dry skin and chapped lips. A sauna can help to bring back areas of the body that are suffering, providing moisture to help restore a healthy glow.
  6. Relax. It’s difficult to switch off at this time of year, especially with the constant news cycle keeping us informed about the latest COVID-19 developments. Take time out in your sauna and you’ll find it much easier to switch off. The heat relaxes you physically and you’ll get a rush of endorphins that will help to boost your mood.
  7. Festive fun. Share your sauna with other members of your household and make it a sociable event that brings connection as well as all the physical benefits.
  8. Give yourself a space that’s all yours. If your home feels overcrowded and noisy right now, or you just want somewhere to get away from devices and the pressure of life, the sauna is the perfect place to do it. The warm atmosphere will help you to wind down and phones and tablets must be left outside.
  9. Give your body an immune boost. Regular time in a sauna improves circulation and has a general boosting effect on the immune system, improving the health of organs and helping to keep sickness at bay.
  10. Use the time to plan. If you feel like you don’t have much headspace to think about the future then you could find this in the warm, dark calm of the sauna. Sit back, relax and wait for the inspiration to come as the heat relaxes your body and opens your mind.

Using your sauna in the winter has all these benefits and more.

Why should you use your hot tub in the winter?

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Along with everything else that’s going on in the world right now winter is here – there’s a lot for all of us to cope with. This season means cold weather, darker days and potentially even snow. Your hot tub can become something of a sanctuary in this season, providing somewhere you can get away from all the busyness of the world and just relax. It’s also a great way to get the most out of your garden all year round. If you’ve been wondering whether you should use your hot tub in the winter these are some of the best reasons to make sure that you do.

Warm up and stay cosy

Especially if you’re not a fan of the cold your hot tub can be a great place to get warm and defrost. Turn the heat up to 40 degrees celsius and make sure that your hot tub cover is robust and effective so that most of the heat is being retained. Make sure you have warm robes and slippers within reach to continue the cosy effect when you get out.

Celebrate

New Year’s Eve could be a bit of a non-event for many people this year but if you have a hot tub then you can still have an unusual celebration. Watch the fireworks from your hot tub with a glass of fizz and ring in the new year in style.

Enjoy the benefits of hydrotherapy

At this time of year we can all start to suffer more from stiff joints, aches and pains, whether that’s as a result of the weather or new exercise regimes. Your hot tub provides very effective hydrotherapy thanks to the powerful jets and warm water, which will reduce the inflammation of conditions such as arthritis and help muscles to relax.

Ease colds and sinus problems

If you’re suffering with illness this winter then try a session in your hot tub to help ease the effects. The warm steam is fantastic for helping to clear sinuses, especially if you add a little eucalyptus oil. Steam inhalation is one of the most natural treatments for a cold and very effective too.

Destress

Whether you’re suffering from anxiety as a result of the pandemic uncertainty or Christmas is a season where you usually feel a little stressed, 20 minutes in your hot tub could turn things around. Try stargazing at night or finding a quiet five minutes first thing in the morning – your hot tub can be a sanctuary where you can have a few precious moments of calm away from the intensity of the world.

Go all out for Christmas

Christmas could be an unusual affair this year but you can still make it festive by going all out when it comes to your garden and hot tub. Create a stylish festive aesthetic with fairy lights wound around trees and have drinks and nibbles on floating trays. Or you could install lights and an entertainment system as well as a garden full of colourful light displays.

These are just some of the reasons to make sure you use your hot tub in winter this year.

Our top 10 winter swimming tips

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Swimming in the winter might seem like madness but there are some great benefits to doing this. Not only does it make you feel amazing but everything, from skin to heart health can be improved too. If you’re going to try winter swimming this year then these are our top tips.

  • Start now. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or until you have all the right kit. If you’re feeling the desire to get in the water then go with the momentum and start today.
  • Decide when you’re going to swim. Give yourself a regular swimming schedule and you’ll find it much easier to stick to regular dips. Choose one or two days a week that work for you and make sure you keep to them.
  • Stay warm before you swim. If you’re already cold then you might find it harder to motivate yourself to get in the water – and to warm up afterwards. So, make sure that you stay toasty right up until the moment you’re ready for a dip.
  • Swim at a time that works for you. For most people this is going to be the morning or during the day – in the evening it will get colder as the light fades and you might find it harder to motivate yourself to go.
  • Choose social accountability to help you commit. Swimming with a friend is a great idea, not just from a safety perspective but also to make sure you actually go. If it’s just you then you won’t feel the same social accountability as if you have someone else who is expecting you to show up.
  • Don’t hang around. Whether you’re swimming in a river, the sea or an outdoor pool make sure that you get in quickly. The initial flash of cold is the hardest so you need to get through it quickly to avoid backing out.
  • Go for it as soon as you get in. The quickest way to feel warmer is to start swimming energetically as soon as you’re in the water. Warm up with a little freestyle and then start actively going for your lengths.
  • Set some goals. Perhaps you want to swim further this winter or improve the quality of your stroke. Now is the ideal time for setting objectives and creating a training schedule or goals to make them happen.
  • Think about the summer. Remember the start of the summer last year when you wished you’d done more swimming through autumn and winter to stay fit? Think about that as you’re getting in the water and how much better you’re going to feel when summer 2021 rolls around.
  • Get warm as soon as you get out. Make sure that you take off wet swimwear straight away and get into warm clothes and a hat and cosy footwear. A hot drink is essential to help you warm up (avoid a hot shower as this can be too much for the body after a cold swim).

Winter swimming is a wonderful experience and can get you set up for more enjoyable summer swimming next year too.

Our top tips for swimming in the winter

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Whether you’re swimming in a pool, lake or the sea there are many benefits to continuing to swim outside during the winter months. Fitness, resilience and the wellbeing and mood boosting impact of winter swimming are just a few of the advantages of getting into the water at this time of year. However, if you want to ensure that you get the most from swimming in the winter then it’s important to make sure you do it safely. These are our top tips for swimming throughout the winter this year.

  • Get the kit that works for you. Some people choose to swim in swimwear all year round others opt for a wetsuit when the temperature starts to drop. Work out where your body most feels the cold and consider some extra protection there – that could be wetsuit boots for your feet, a hat or neoprene gloves, all of which can help you to retain body heat.
  • Give yourself time to get used to it. Cold water swimming is a shock the first time but the secret is simply to carry on. Start with just a short period of time in the water and then build up from there as your body and mind begin to get more used to the experience.
  • Don’t jump in. The shock of cold water can be dangerous if you just hurl yourself in. Instead of doing this and ending up gasping or choking just get into the water gradually instead.
  • Choose your location carefully. If you’re planning to swim in open water then make sure you’re well aware of all the risks involved, including shipping traffic and rip tides. Don’t swim on your own and consider taking a tow float and wearing a bright hat so that you can always be seen in the water.
  • Don’t force yourself to stay in for too long. In the summer we can stay in the water for a long time but that’s not the case in winter. In fact, many winter swimmers only dip into the water for a couple of minutes. You can still get the benefits of the cold water from this kind of short experience. Make sure you don’t push your body too far where the cold is concerned.
  • Don’t have a hot shower. Hot water on a cold body can be dangerous so avoid a hot shower and let yourself warm up gradually instead. This means plenty of hot drinks and warm clothes. Many people invest in a changing robe for winter swimming – these have weather protection on the outside and are warm towelling on the inside. They can make getting warm and cosy again after your swim much easier to do.

Winter swimming has a lot of positive health benefits and can make you feel fantastic. It’s important to make sure that you choose where to swim wisely and that you’re prepared for the impact of the cold if you want to get the most from the experience.

How to use your hot tub during the winter

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There are different ways to use your hot tub during the winter months. You may want to drain it and keep it under cover for most of the colder season – or you may want to be able to take a nice warm dip even through the chilliest months of the year. Whatever your preference you need to make a decision now about how you’re going to use the hot tub during winter and then take steps to get it ready.

Keep the hot tub on?

There are many good reasons to keep your hot tub running during the winter, from enjoying the feel-good benefits of the jets and warm water when the world feels cold and grey, to the hydrotherapy that can help you to recover from injury or winter stiffness. It’s worth remembering that a lower outdoor temperature means that your hot tub will have to work harder to sustain its heat so this could mean an increase in energy bills. If you know you want to have access to your hot tub throughout the winter then you need to do the following before the season really starts:

  • Change the water and do a comprehensive clean. It’s well worth draining the hot tub and cleaning it thoroughly before the temperature dips too low. It’s hard to change the water in freezing temperatures and cleaning isn’t much fun either so do this now before winter really sets in.
  • Check your cover. A good hot tub cover can help to retain heat so that you keep your energy bills under control. It will also ensure that the water remains clean and debris-free. So, do a thorough check of the cover for any cracks or damage and replace it if necessary. You may also want to consider adding a thermal blanket under the cover, as this can be even more effective when it comes to keeping the heat in.
  • Regularly review the water level. If the water level in your hot tub plummets then the filter and pump can shut down. This will leave you with a hot tub full of frozen water that can do serious damage. Make sure you keep the water level topped up to avoid this situation.

Shutting your hot tub down for winter

If you do decide that you want to shut the hot tub down until next year then you’ll need to start by draining the water and flushing the hot tub out. You need to get as much moisture out of the hot tub as possible but just in case you don’t get it all make sure you loosen the fittings too. Clear the jets, replace the filters and give the hot tub a deep clean so that it’s ready for use again when the weather starts to warm up.

Whether you decide to keep your hot tub on through the winter months or shut it down until spring there are lots of little jobs you can do now to make sure that you get to enjoy the hot tub as you want to in the months to come.

Why you need to sauna in the winter

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Winter is coming – no matter how you feel about this time of year there is no escaping that reality. If you often find yourself dreading the switch from the warmer months to the colder seasons then maybe this is a good year to start doing things differently. Especially if you’re lucky enough to have a sauna at home there is a lot that you can do to make this winter not just more survivable but more pleasurable too. These are some of the reasons why we think you need to sauna in winter 2020.

It’s a mood-boosting experience

The winter blues are very common – the days are shorter and darker and there is less opportunity to get outside because of the weather. We also get less sunshine at this time of year and all that can add up to an experience that feels a bit gloomy. If you sauna in the winter then you can help yourself to avoid these kinds of feelings. Using a sauna can trigger a release of endorphins – these are the feel good hormones that boost your mood and also help you to relax. People who regularly use a sauna during the winter months also find that they have more energy, despite the lack of light and the cold outside.

Keeping healthy

There are many health benefits to regular sauna use, ranging from cardiovascular health through to helping to reduce inflammation. If you sauna in winter then you will also be encouraging your body to sweat regularly and this is a fantastic way to eliminate toxins from your system. In the summer we sweat more often and so we are naturally eliminating toxins on a much more regular basis but this just doesn’t happen in winter to the same extent. Unless you sauna. If you do then not only will you help your body become more efficient at removing what it doesn’t need but you’ll get the circulatory and heart healthy benefits of the sauna experience too.

Fending off the winter flu

Although you can’t avoid the flu – or other bugs or viruses – by spending time in a sauna you will be healthier as a result of the experience and this will give your immune system more to work with if it does get attacked. Plus, if you are suffering with a cold or flu then the heat of the sauna can be a great way to help clear the sinuses and make you feel more comfortable. Regular sauna use has also been found to have a positive impact on sleep, which is essential for illness recovery. Not only that but the high heat has also been found to slow the growth of viruses under some conditions.

From being healthier to helping to lift the winter blues and supporting your body through some of the toughest months of the year these are just some of the reasons why you need to sauna in winter – this year and every year to come

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