Christina Mantoura-Gough, Author at The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company

How to Prevent Stains in Your Swim Spa

Posted on 5 October 2016 - 00:00 by Christina Mantoura-Gough

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Stains can form when your swim spa is not in use, which can make your spa lose its luster to a certain degree. There are ways to combat this, however, and keep your swim spa looking as good as the day it was purchased and installed. According to the experts, the absolute best way to keep stains or any other degradation from happening is to invest in a really good cover for your spa for those dormant or winter months. There are different types of covers to consider. The mesh safety covers or solid safety covers with drain panels serve a certain purpose, yet they still allow a certain amount of contaminants, such as oils and dirt to accumulate in the spa all winter long. A solid safety cover is considered the absolute best way to prevent those contaminants from entering the spa and causing the stains that can form when they are allowed to enter.

Another very important factor to consider and action to perform is to fully ensure that the water remaining in the spa is properly balanced. As the colder weather comes, the water will change and it can have a very negative impact on your spa. The colder water will allow the formation of crystals from the salt if the ph, alkalinity and calcium are not properly adjusted to counteract this simple chemistry reaction.

The third thing to consider is the final cleaning of the spa for the winter close up. Be sure to take the time to thoroughly clean the spa, so that it is virtually spotless. By doing this, you will be sure that there is nothing that can give rise to the problems outlined above.

The maintenance does not end there either. Be sure to keep the cover free of any debris that may blow in over the course of the fall and winter months. Always keep the water level below the rim of the cover as well to prevent the water from touching the cover as it can trap debris like leaves. Also, be sure to clean any snow off the top and use a leaf catcher to reduce the amount of leaves and debris from sitting on the top.

These are just a few of the tips needed to maintain your spa during winter. You will also need to consider using scale inhibitors, stain inhibitors and possibly enzymes as well, depending on your particular climate and type of filtering system. Be sure to do your homework and follow the advice of your manufacturer to ensure that your spa looks great for years to come.

A Soft Tub can be the Right Hot Tub Choice

Posted on 30 September 2016 - 00:00 by Christina Mantoura-Gough

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For some people, a soft tub is the ideal choice for a hot tub. One of the greatest advantages with the soft tub is its portability. While the materials are considered to be soft, they are extremely strong and some of the additional advantages, such as its ability to be able to be installed easily in a limited amount of space.

For those that are on the go, perhaps travelling between their main home and summer home, taking the soft tub with them should pose no problem. Some individuals that have a large balcony have soft tubs installed in because the weight allows them to do so.

Once it decided that the soft tub is the best choice for you, you are going to find that there are some great choices available to you. If you are a couple that is looking for just a high quality smaller version of a hot tub, a small two-seater soft tub is a great solution.

Aside from the size and portability, there are some other great reasons for choosing the soft tub. Most often, they are used in small areas.

Energy efficiency is important with any type of hot tub, including soft tubs. Although, soft tubs are lightweight and soft, you can count on it being weather resistant. It can take both the heat and the cold, as well as the warm sunshine or the rainy weather quite easily. Keeping the soft tub clean is never an issue as it has an automatic cleaning system built into it.

There is never any reason for any individual or family to have to do without the benefits of a hot tub as the soft tub is the perfect alternative.

How Saunas Provide Therapy

Posted on 28 September 2016 - 00:00 by Christina Mantoura-Gough

A lot of people are beginning to look for more natural ways to improve their health rather than having to rely on traditional treatments, such as medications. One of the alternative ways people are treating themselves is through sauna therapy.

Many individuals like to use their sauna year round as they have found that their are many benefits. People use them for different reasons, such as improving relaxation, while some use it for pure enjoyment throughout the year and cold winter months. In addition to this, there are the many health benefits that have been accredited to saunas, such as helping with cold symptoms, reducing stress and pain relief. Many athletes find that it is a great way to help improve their performance.

When it comes to which type of sauna is a best for the home, there are several choices. There is the dry sauna, infrared sauna, and even steam rooms. The biggest differences between the different types of saunas is the differences in breathing dry sauna air versus wet steam air.

In the steam room the humidity is much greater and many people that have respiratory problems or colds find that this increased humidity really helps with breathing. For those that are focusing on raising their core body temperature and inducing sweating, they tend to go for the dry saunas.

One of the most important factors about saunas no matter which is chosen is that they help to detoxify the body, which helps to strengthen the immune system. Saunas have also been proven to help improve the health of the heart, while helping to reduce inflammation that can often be created from sports activity.

Many individuals that are suffering from different types of muscular pain or injury have turned to saunas for relief. Those that have fibromyalgia and arthritis will often say that they find that the benefits that the sauna brings them far supersedes anything else that they may be doing for these conditions.

How Saunas Help With Athletic Performance

Posted on 19 September 2016 - 00:00 by Christina Mantoura-Gough

Saunas have been around for a great many years and with the modern day technology, the advancements that have been made in these is significant. The most common uses for the sauna is for relaxation, to detox the body, and for the treatment of many different types of common ailments.

Athletes have learned that the use of a sauna can help lead them to much better performance. The sauna has the ability to increase the core temperature of an individual for a short period of time, which helps to improve athletic performance. This is typically called hypothermic conditioning.

Hypothermic conditioning is being researched further for its potential ability to stimulate the growth of new brain cells, as well as having positive effects on the body in general. Being able to increase one’s level of endurance in any sport usually acts as a great bonus. Most often, the athletes exercise at a high intensity, while using this as their main way to build their endurance. When doing this, it usually will increase the body temperature during the session.

Wen an individual is acclimatizing to the heat in the sauna, it helps the body adapt quicker during body temperature elevation. This is normal heat stress, which creates some positive affects in the body. There was a study done where individuals were subjected to a 30 minute sauna session twice a week for a period of three weeks after they had completed their workouts. The end results indicated that there increase in time to run until they reached their exhausted level was increased by 30%.

There is further research being done in regards to the possibility of a sauna being able to produce a mass release in the human growth hormone. A reduction in the HGH usually comes with age and being able to increase these levels tends to make one healthier and stronger.

Aside from athletes, many others find that the benefits that the sauna offers by way of relaxation and reducing muscle soreness in itself is a great benefit.

A Closer Look at Swim Spa Enclosures

Posted on 12 September 2016 - 00:00 by Christina Mantoura-Gough

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Having a swim spa installed at your home is a great addition. It is something that is going to bring many hours of entertainment, as well as fun and relaxation to the entire family. Once you have your swim spa installed, you may want to go a step further and think about one of the many enclosures that can make this space even more valuable.

Your enclosure can be based around pools or swim spas. When making the decision for your enclosure, you may want to get one that is electronically controlled. These are super easy to use and usually all they take is a touch of a button on a handheld remote to open and close the enclosure. This gives you the best of both worlds. When it’s a bright and sunny day, you can open the enclosure, so you can enjoy the warmth of the sun. When the weather is not cooperating, it doesn’t mean that you can’t take advantage of your swim spa, as you can easily close your enclosure to provide you with the extra protection that you will want.

When choosing your enclosure, you’re going to want to think of some of the variations in colours, as well as shapes and designs. You also want to look for an enclosure that is going to fit in with the aesthetics of the area where your swim spa is located.

If you want to go even more elaborate, you can look at the fully retractable pool enclosures. Again, you have the option of having it open or closed which really makes the use of the swim spa versatile. Before making your decision, you really want to look at what is available to you, as a well as your budget.

It is not unusual for many people, when first starting out with a swim spa, to not consider adding an enclosure. However, after they have enjoyed the fun and all the other benefits that the swim spa has to offer, they don’t want to lose any time throughout the year of not being able to use it. Making the extra investment for an enclosure is a good one because it allows you to use your spa all year round.

Can Your Hot Tub Help You With a Cold?

Posted on 9 September 2016 - 00:00 by Christina Mantoura-Gough

When one develops a cold, along with it comes several unpleasant symptoms. There is the stuffed up nose, the runny eyes, and sometimes a fever and a cough. In addition to this, it’s not uncommon for people to become dehydrated while they’re fighting off their cold.

Those that have made use of a hot tub when suffering with a cold often find that they generally feel better. This is because the hot tub helps you relax to relieve the aches and pains that can come with a cold. What some researchers are suggesting is that the hot tub can actually even create a slight fever when someone is entering into a cold. They consider this as a good symptom as it helps to fight the cold virus much quicker. This low grade fever produced by a hot tub boosts the immune system, which helps to fight off the germs and viruses that can come with a cold.

Many types of colds and flu’s also come with general aches and pains where some people complain of being sore all over. The hot water from the hot tub helps to increase the blood circulation, which in turn provides nutrients to the muscles and allows them to relax.

One of the most frustrating complaints of a cold is the congestion that comes with it. Many people have difficulty breathing, eating or sleeping properly when they are suffering with a cold. Some find that when they enter the hot tub, the warm steam filled air that it releases helps to loosen up the nasal passage, improving breathing.

There is no doubt that a cold can hinder sleep but the hot tub can promote a more restful night of sleep.

The best way to get the most out of your hot tub in the cold and flu season is to use the hot tub as soon as you feel sick. At the very least, you are going to feel relaxed, warm and soothed, which is going to put you in a better frame of mind to be able to fight the cold that is oncoming.

The Advanced Hydrotherapy of Hot Tubs

Posted on 6 September 2016 - 00:00 by Christina Mantoura-Gough

Hydrotherapy has been provided by hot springs that were found in nature for a very long time. These are not nearly as readily available as they once were, and where they are located often means a great deal of travel to get to them. With the introduction of hot tubs, travel is no longer necessary. Any individual can enjoy the benefits of what hydrotherapy has to offer in the comfort of their own home.

While every hot tub owner has their list of favourites when it comes to the advantages that a hot tub has to offer, one of the major ones is its ability to act as a stress reliever. There’s just something about being able to soak in warm circulating water that seems to remove all the stress that one is feeling both mentally and emotionally. As the blood vessels respond to the heat, it can actually help with relaxation. Muscles that have become tight as a response to stress begin to relax almost immediately after being subjected to the warmth of the water. Most will report that they get immediate pain relief when entering the hot tub after a mere few moments.

There are some very common medical conditions that the hot tub provides exceptional treatment for. These include arthritis, diabetes, and back pain. When it comes to diabetes, there is a study done several years back that indicates that blood sugar levels are reduced in those who suffered from diabetes and utilized a hot tub for 30 minutes a day on a six day per week basis.

One of the most common complaints when it comes to medical ailments is chronic back pain. There have been studies to show that the hot tub is a great resource for helping to reduce the pain that is created with this ailment.

Added to this is that many report that they find that their sleep patterns are much better after making use of their hot tub. They find that they get a more peaceful and deeper sleep as well as a longer one. Finally, there is the quality family time that can be spent in the hot tub and it acts as a great social venue for entertaining.

UK Realizes the True Value of a Hot Tub

Posted on 1 September 2016 - 00:00 by Christina Mantoura-Gough

While hot tubs are very popular in many parts of the world, probably one of the countries that has realized the most growth in hot tubs is the UK. Back a few years ago, it was estimated that one in every ten homes had a hot tub. While it certainly does add value to the home in a sense, it adds much more value to the overall well being of those that enjoy them. Although hot tubs could be found throughout the UK dating back to the 1970’s, it is this influx of popularity that has really caught the attention of many.

Part of the attraction comes from wanting to spend more time outdoors with friends and family. A lot of homeowners spend a great deal of money and time on their gardens and are beginning to discover that an additional way to enjoy this setting is by relaxing in a hot tub.

Others have determined that it is a much more economical form of entertainment. It provides a wonderful venue to entertain guests when they have come for an evening’s visit. Another great aspect about the hot tub is that it fits in with the busy lifestyle. For those that can’t find the time to relax during traditional hours, the hot tub is waiting for them 24/7.

The hot tub can really be used all year around and this is another attraction that draws new buyers to it. Then, of course, there are the many health benefits that can come with it.

For those that are very active or sports minded they find the hot tub is great to relax sore muscles before or after participating in sports. It is perfect that they can do this in the comfort of their home surroundings, which is a real time saver.

Many find that the motion and warm water works wonderfully to reduce general aches and pains that come as a result of daily activities.

While these are the physical benefits that can be enjoyed, there are also the mental benefits. The hot tub can be an excellent resource for relieving stress. Stress can also be the cause of some of the physical aches and pains. It provides a great atmosphere for Mom and Dad to just sit, soak and relax once the kids have been tucked into bed. There is no need to get a babysitter for a night out as the hot tub can provide all the fun and relaxation after a long day.

Using Your Swim Spa as a Treadmill

Posted on 30 August 2016 - 00:00 by Christina Mantoura-Gough

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There is a lot fun to be had with a swim spa and included in this is making use of it as a swimming treadmill. If you have ever used a traditional treadmill, you know the type of workout it can give you. Now, when you combine that with water resistance, you will get an impressive workout that’s also easy on your joints.

Traditional Treadmill Warm Ups

As with any type of exercise, a warm up is always required. Normally, for the warm up, it would consist of a three to five minute walk at an easy pace, which is then increased gradually. This helps to loosen up the muscles that are going to be used in the extensive treadmill workout.

Water Treadmill Warm Up

The warm up actually begins when most people enter the water. This is when they are going through the process of getting used to the water with its feel and temperature. It is common for people to automatically start moving their arms and legs once in the water.

Confidence

When on a treadmill, it is normal for most to use the cross bar of the treadmill to hang on to help them keep their balance and remain on the treadmill. This is not something that has to be done in a swim spa because the water provides the buoyancy that is needed to keep you stabilized.

Reduction In Soreness

It is not uncommon when using a treadmill, especially when first getting used to it, that one experiences different degrees of soreness. The feet can become sore as well as leg muscles. With the treadmill actions being carried out in the water, this is really reduced, especially when it comes to the feet.

Using the swim spa to carry out treadmill exercises often makes this type of exercise more enjoyable. You may feel far more refreshed as opposed to feeling sweaty and tired when using the traditional treadmills. This is just one of the many forms of exercise that can be carried out in the swim spa. When you combine these benefits as well as the fun and relaxation that a swim spa offers, it is well worth the investment.

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