Author Archives: Christina Mantoura-Gough

If the arrival of winter makes you want to retreat inside and put the cover on your spa for six months then you’re not alone. Few of us enjoy being out in the colder weather – however, if you have a spa then there are actually some great benefits to continuing to use it at this time of year.

Use the spa to help fight illness

Coughs and colds are very common at this time of year and can be difficult to shift. If you have a spa then using it could actually aid your recovery thanks to the effect of the warm water on your body’s circulation. Blocked sinuses can be eased by the steamy environment, which may help to take the pressure off your chest and lungs. In fact, a dip in your spa can help you to feel a lot better generally – the only time you need to avoid it is if you have a temperature.

Aiding rest and recovery

Winter is also a time when many of us suffer from aches and pains – the cold can really get into your joints and make muscles stiff. This could be problematic just in terms of moving around on a daily basis if you have a condition such as arthritis. It may also make exercise more difficult and increase the risk of injury if your body isn’t warm when you start. Your spa has an obvious role to play here too, helping to soothe the seasonal aches in muscles and joints and providing a very effective way to warm up before exercise.

Create a space in which to switch off and relax

It’s very easy to get over stimulated at this time of year. Many of us spend a lot more time in the winter inside and tend to watch a lot more TV and be more sedentary. End of year pressures can also create stress, as can imminent seasonal celebrations. If you have a spa then you can use it to create a space where you can find some essential moments of peace and relaxation at this very busy time of the year. Added extras, such as heating lamps or a thick rug can make the experience cosier while you enjoy the fresh air and time away from screens, devices and other people.

Using your spa in winter – top tips

• Make sure you can get dry quickly after you’ve been in the spa. Retain the benefits of the experience by ensuring you’re not going to be sitting around in swimwear afterwards.
• Clean and service the spa regularly. Keep up the cleaning schedule as you would during the summer months and change the water before temperatures really start to plummet.
• Reduce jet pressure. Sometimes the air from jets can lower water temperature so it’s a good idea to turn them down.
• Be sensible. Limit your soak to 20 minutes maximum and don’t be tempted to stay in even if the air outside is cold. Always remember to hydrate afterwards.

There are some fantastic benefits to using your spa in winter. From helping to alleviate the symptoms of a cold to providing somewhere to relax, this is a season in which your spa can be incredibly useful.

Water has long been viewed as a way to heal and soothe, as well as to hydrate. The concept of hydrotherapy is essentially using water to support recovery and promote physical wellbeing and today it’s often most accessible via a home hot tub, sauna or swim spa. If you’re keen to find out more about how hydrotherapy might contribute to your lifestyle then there are five healing benefits to note.

1. Providing immune support

Especially during the winter months our immune systems can take quite a battering. Hydrotherapy works to increase the flow of blood around the body and boost white blood cells. Lymph, which is an essential bodily fluid for the immune system that effectively removes unwanted materials, is then able to move more freely through the body, boosting the immune system so that you’re less susceptible to colds etc.

2. Getting rid of toxins

Whether you’ve had a stressful few weeks and been eating and drinking badly as a result or you’re just keen to get ready for the party season, hydrotherapy can help where detoxification is concerned. Heated hydrotherapy, such as a sauna or a steam room, makes the body sweat, triggering its most effective mechanism for removing toxins from the system. This can help with everything, from clearer skin to reducing headaches.

3. Effective pain relief

One of the biggest benefits of hydrotherapy is the fact that it triggers the release of endorphins, which have a crucial role to play in relieving pain. The weightlessness of the body in water can also take stress off tired and aching joints and muscles, reducing inflammation so that it’s much less painful to move, both in and out of the water. Hydrotherapy can be a particularly effective option if you’re recovering after a workout or looking for a way to help manage chronic pain.

4. Dealing with stress and tension

Stress is a major cause of many of the problems that we struggle with today and can have a range of uncomfortable effects that are both emotional and physical. Hydrotherapy is a great way to start managing stress differently. Regular sessions can help to reduce blood pressure and the endorphin release provided by the water can also work to reduce anxiety. Plus, warm water tends to relax us physically, which can slow down both a racing heart and a racing mind.

5. Support for injury

Hydrotherapy is commonly used by athletes and professional sports people who deal with injuries on a regular basis. It can also help to provide progress and relief for every day issues where joints or muscles have become damaged. This is because warm water will boost blood flow around the body, which will reduce pain. An increase in circulation works to rehabilitate and heal injured muscles, tissues and joints.

Especially at this time of year when wellness moves to the top of everyone’s agenda, hydrotherapy has a lot to offer. These key healing benefits are just some of the ways in which this type of physical therapy can be beneficial.

Many people are increasingly beginning to appreciate the benefits of cold water swimming during the autumn and winter months. From the boost that this can provide to the immune system to the mental and physical sense of wellbeing that can result from a chilly dip, there are many good reasons why you might want to consider venturing into the water in the colder months. If you’re going to do that then these are our top tips for making sure you get the most from the experience.

• Don’t stop swimming – just reduce time and distance. It’s not feasible to swim the same distances, or to stay in the water for the same length of time, once October has ended. But you can still enjoy a swim, just for shorter times and distances.
• Cold water acclimatisation is simple. All you need to do is take regular dips in cold water, starting off with a very short period of time and then building up as your body allows. A water temperature of less than 10 degrees C will feel cold and as it drops by each 1C after that the reduction in temperature will be more noticeable. Remember to factor in the outside environment and wind temperature when deciding how long to stay in.
• You don’t need to get a wetsuit. In fact, most cold water swimmers don’t wear a wetsuit just conventional swimming attire. If you think you’re likely to suffer from the cold then you might want to consider investing in neoprene socks and gloves for the hands and feet.
• Safety is essential. That means ensuring that you can get in and out of the water easily and that there are facilities within easy reach where you can warm up afterwards.
• Cold water swimmers have each other’s backs. So, if possible, it’s a good idea to go swimming with a group.
• Make sure you can be seen. It’s important to ensure that you can be seen by boats and other vehicles, as those driving them may not expect anyone to be in the water swimming during the colder months. Brightly coloured swim hats or tow floats can be a good idea to make sure you’re visible.
• Learn your limits. It can be useful to take a thermometer into the water with you and to keep a log of all your swims so that you have a record of how each one felt. This will enable you to understand your body’s limits and safely build up resistance.
• Warm up quickly when you get out. Get dressed as soon as you can and make sure that you have a warm drink on hand to help bring your temperature back up once you’re out of the water. Avoid a sudden increase in temperature, such as a hot shower, and opt for gradually adding layers and drinking something hot instead.

Swimming in colder months offers a lot of benefits and you don’t have to have a lot of kit to enjoy them.

From adding a bit of luxury into your life to creating more space for health and fitness, a spa can make a big difference to your lifestyle. Spas can be somewhere that all the family can engage with each other and also provide an ideal space in which you can relax alone and have some precious quiet time. There is a therapy aspect to spa use too, helping to calm frayed nerves and make it easier to wind down after a hard day. And, in addition to all of that, there are also a number of great health benefits that can result from using a spa.

Helping with stress management

Consider the impact of a massage on the areas of the body that tend to carry a lot of tension, such as the neck and shoulders. And then add in the feel of warm water. That’s the experience you’ll get with a hot tub spa thanks to the combination of hydrotherapy and the soothing impact of the massage jets. The hydrotherapy jets in a spa can be used to target a number of specific areas where tension is likely to build, including neck, shoulder, mid-back, lower back, thighs and feet. Just 20 minutes is very effective at helping to relieve muscular pain and curb the consequences of stress, such as tension headaches and high blood pressure.

Healing health benefits

What many people don’t realise is that a spa does feel like a luxurious experience but it also has a lot to offer in helping to manage various conditions. For example:

• Arthritis. Soaking in a spa can deliver relief from the pain and restricted movement of arthritis. The muscles relax in the warmth of the water so that moving becomes easier and less painful.
• Type 2 diabetes. The heat from a spa dilates the blood vessels in the body, increasing blood flow and enabling the body to better use its insulin. One study found that regular soaking helped patients to reduce blood sugar levels by up to 13%.
• Healing from injuries. From inflamed joints to strains and sprains, the impact of soaking in a spa can have a very positive effect. Increased circulation carries more oxygen around the body helping to promote healing where it is needed the most.

Sleep and skin

The stress relieving impact of a hot tub can help improve sleep, as well as the way that the body heats up in a spa and then cools once you get out. In fact spending half an hour in a spa 90 minutes before you want to sleep can promote better, higher quality sleep.  A spa will also encourage your body to sweat, opening up pores and activating the natural systems of detoxification that help to give skin a cleaner, bright finish and keep it healthy.

Regular spa use has a lot to offer everyone, young or older, both in terms of lifestyle benefits and helping you to better manage and optimise your health.

Swimming is often underestimated when it comes to fitness. It’s one of those activities where you may not be able to see the sweat rolling down your face but there is a lot happening to support improved mobility and increased fitness in a supported environment. Whether you’re training with injuries or you’re just looking to expand your abilities, swimming has a lot of benefits when it comes to improving the level of your fitness.

It’s fun

If you’re of the “no pain no gain” school of thought then you may have dismissed swimming in fitness terms. However, this is still an incredibly effective form of exercise, one that can be even more productive because you enjoy it as you’re doing it. Swimming can be sociable too – you can chat as you train and get a good workout while catching up with a friend at the same time.

The ultimate full body workout

Swimming uses all the major muscles in the body, which means that you’re getting a fantastic workout every time you get into the water. You don’t have to commit to the harder strokes, like front crawl or butterfly, to see the benefits either. Regular breaststroke sessions can be just as effective at helping you to tone up, get fit and lose weight.

Go for the burn

If it’s burning calories that you’re keen to do when you’re exercising, swimming is a great choice. The volume of calories you’ll burn per session will vary depending on your height and weight but, on average, you can burn around 200 calories in just 30 minutes. That’s twice what you would burn by going for a walk, which makes swimming a very effective part of any diet and exercise plan.

A supported training environment

The buoyancy of the water means that swimming is accessible to just about anyone. Whether you have joint issues, or you’re recovering from injury, you’ll still be able to reap the benefits of a training session in the pool without doing any damage. As water supports up to 90% of the weight of the human body this is a great way to keep momentum going even if you’re suffering from injuries or you’re just feeling a bit tired.

A healthier mind and body

Swimming not only feels great but can also have a very positive impact when it comes to helping to protect the body against certain diseases. For example, regular sessions in the pool can help to avoid issues with heart disease and strokes, as well as Type 2 diabetes. It’s also a great way to help lower stress levels and to cope with the daily anxieties of life – regular swimming sessions can be an effective tool in handling anxiety and depression, for example, as well as improving related issues such as insomnia.

No matter what your current level of fitness, swimming regularly can help to improve it. Whether you’re suffering from an injury or struggling to commit to an exercise routine, swimming can help you get on track to improvement.