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Sleep tight with a hot tub

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According to the National Sleep Foundation there are more than 30 million people in the UK who suffer from insomnia or other sleep issues. So, if you regularly find yourself struggling to get a good night’s sleep then you’re not alone. The impact of poor sleep can be wide ranging.

From being unable to concentrate during the day to feeling depressed and anxious, there are many ways in which a lack of rest at nighttime can affect how you feel all day. If you’re currently struggling with insomnia then your hot tub might be able to help you turn the situation around.

Giving the body what it needs to wind down

Many hot tub owners report getting better sleep simply as a result of using their hot tubs before bed. There are lots of different reasons for this. For example, when we’re in a hot tub we tend to put our phones down – the blue light that smart phones emit essentially tells our brains that it’s daytime, waking us up just when we should be winding down.

20 minutes in a hot tub before bedtime – without your phone – means you’re avoiding exposure to that harmful light and you are much more likely to sleep better as a result. A bedtime session in a hot tub also helps to release tight muscles and soothe any aches and pains that could potentially be uncomfortable enough to keep you awake. The warm water in a hot tub improves the flow of blood around the body, boosting its ability to heal itself.

A better night’s sleep

When we are in a hot tub, the warmth of the water tends to increase body temperature. However, once we step out of the water, body temperature falls. This can naturally trigger drowsiness, signaling to the mind and body that it’s time to switch off and rest. This not only helps to avoid a situation where you can’t get to sleep but can also ensure that the quality of sleep that you enjoy is higher too.

Experts recommend bedtime rituals

Parents often create bedtime rituals for children because this helps young minds to get used to the idea that sleep happens at a certain time of the day. Many experts recommend the use of similar rituals in adults for anyone who finds it difficult to get to sleep on a regular basis.

A warm soak in a hot tub can be the cut-off point from the day that has just gone, helping to create a gap between being switched on during the day and switching off when it’s time to sleep. It’s a good idea to schedule this for around an hour or 1.5 hours before you go to bed, at the same time every night, so that the body starts to get used to the idea that this is the point at which the wind down begins.

A hot tub is a fantastic tool for anyone who is struggling with sleep issues. Regularly soaking in your hot tub before bed really can help you to sleep tight.

Get in touch with The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company to browse our full range today.

How can daily hot tub use improve physical wellness?

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“Wellness” has become a social media buzz term and a theme across many sectors. However, the reality of it is simply taking care of yourself. There are many different elements involved in this, from ensuring that you’re eating a healthy, balanced died to getting the regular exercise that your body needs to thrive. If you have a hot tub at home – or you’re thinking of getting one – there is a lot that hydrotherapy can contribute to keeping your wellness levels high.

Hot tubs and insomnia

Insomnia is one of the biggest wellness blockers. A good night’s sleep can make you feel revitalised and energetic with positive implications right across the body, both inside and out. However, if your sleep quality is poor, or you’re struggling to get to sleep in the first place, this can have a significant negative impact on how you feel.

The warmth of the water in a hot tub, and the relaxing effect of the experience, can contribute significantly to aiding sleep. Spend time in your hot tub in the evenings to wind down from the day and you’ll soon find that you’re more ready to close your eyes – and that your sleep quality improves as a result.

Recovering from physical activity

The benefits of hydrotherapy are well known when it comes to recovery – for example, heat from the water in a hot tub increases blood flow to muscles and promotes healing. Whether you’re a professional athlete or you’ve started a new exercise programme, aching muscles and tired limbs can be soothed by a soak in the warm bubbles of a hot tub. Not only will this make you feel better in terms of providing some pain relief but it can also help to improve recovery time too.

Minimising chronic pain

Conditions such as arthritis can be difficult to manage and the ongoing discomfort has a very negative effect on wellness. The Arthritis Research Campaign actually recommends regularly using a hot tub to help improve quality of life when it comes to managing this condition. Some of the benefits of doing so include reducing joint stiffness, better pain management and aiding muscle relaxation.

Coping better with stress

Ongoing anxiety and stress are essentially the opposite of high wellness levels. From tense muscles through to the experience of migraines and panic attacks, stress can have an impact right across the body that can be physical and psychological. Hot tubs are a very powerful tool if you’re looking to better manage your stress to improve overall wellness. The combination of the warmth of the water, as well as the buoyancy and the soothing massage jets is incredibly effective when it comes to helping to bring stress levels down. Plus, the massage effect of the jets can release endorphins, which instantly reduce stress levels.

If you’re looking to make wellness a priority in your life, a hot tub could have a big role to play in making that happen. To find the perfect hot tub for you, contact our team.

How can a hot tub help enhance your social life?

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According to the Office for National Statistics 5% of adults in the UK say they feel lonely “often” or “always.”  Being around other people has a very positive impact on the human brain, which is why a healthy social life is so important. Hot tubs are renowned for delivering a range of health benefits associated with hydrotherapy, from optimising sports recovery to helping to soothe aches and pains. However, having a hot tub can also help to support mental health and happiness by enhancing your social life too.

Being in the present

We are all tied to our phones today, whether to check on the babysitter or see whether someone we’re interested in has WhatsApp’d. Getting your friends together in the hot tub means that phones have to be left at a safe distance from the water. This provides the opportunity to really engage and connect, to rediscover what you love about those in your social circle and to strengthen bonds.

Making new friends with a games night

Everyone loves a games night. And if you’re looking to widen your social circle this is also a great way to do it, as it’s much easier to make friends when everyone is focused on the same activity. There are plenty of options when it comes to floating board games and card games or you can use items from your home to set challenges. Get everyone you invite to bring someone you don’t know and your social circle will instantly double.

Staying in is the new going out

It can be difficult to chat in a restaurant or bar if you can’t hear each other over the ambient noise. Maybe you don’t really like the music or the drinks are watered down. If you have a hot tub gathering at home instead you’re completely in control of the playlist and you won’t have to queue for your drinks. That leaves much more time to have fun the way you want to – with the food, drinks and music that you like. If you’re on a budget then it will be a far more wallet-friendly evening too.

Enhancing the fun with a theme

When you have a hot tub at home you can instantly make social experiences more fun by adding a theme. For example, why not create a spa experience around your hot tub for a pampering evening, birthday or hen do. You could also have a movie night, projecting a classic film onto a big screen, or even the side of your house, which everyone can enjoy from the warmth of the hot tub.

Enjoy the outdoors

Especially in winter, it can get boring being inside all the time. If you have a hot tub then you and your friends can socialise outside. And, no matter what the weather is doing, you’ll still have a great, enjoyable (and warm) time.

Hot tubs have a lot to add to any social life. Contact us to find your ideal model today.

Enhance your hot tub experience with aromatherapy

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Aromatherapy offers a wide range of health benefits, including helping to reduce anxiety, enhance healing and aid better sleep. Hot tubs are also known for their positive impact when it comes to easing stress, minimising muscular aches and pains and improving general wellbeing. Combining aromatherapy with a hot tub experience can considerably enhance the range of benefits that you enjoy as a result.

Using aromatherapy in a hot tub

Aromatherapy is most often available as essential oils. However, it’s important to note that adding these straight into your hot tub is not a good idea. Dropping oil into the water in your hot tub will leave an unsightly film on the surface of the water and mean you might need to change it more often. Essential oils can also block filters and may do damage to the internal parts of the hot tub so that it requires more maintenance – or even replacement parts.

You may also find that essential oils change the PH balance in the hot tub, which may make sanitation difficult. So, essential oils are not the best idea for hot tubs. However, there are a range of options that have been specifically designed to help you combine aromatherapy with your hot tub for the best possible experience.

Aromatherapy liquids

These will disperse in the water of the hot tub releasing the right fragrances but without blocking the filters or causing any damage to internal workings.

Aromatherapy crystals

Using crystals means you can still create a wonderfully aromatic experience but you won’t be left with a film of oil – the crystals just dissolve leaving nothing behind.

Bath bombs for the hot tub

Many of us are familiar with bath bombs and these are also available for the hot tub, packed full of aromatherapy scents.

In-built aromatherapy

Some hot tub models have an aromatherapy system built into the design itself. Where that’s the case, the scent is usually dispersed via cartridges that release it into the air as opposed to the water.

Aromatherapy beads

If you’re looking for aromatherapy that doesn’t get released into the water, aromatherapy beads are ideal. They come with a dispenser that floats on the water, releasing the scent continuously without anything entering the water.

Aromatherapy – where to start

If you’re considering using any of these methods to start enjoying aromatherapy with your hot tub then these are some of the most common scents and their benefits.

  • Lavender. It’s widely known that lavender can be a great stress reliever and can help to calm the mind. Studies have also shown it may reduce instances of insomnia.
  • Rosemary. If you’re under physical or mental strain, rosemary can help to reduce the impact and enable you to find calm.
  • Peppermint. The kick of peppermint is great for mental agility, improving memory and waking you up.
  • Frankincense. This soothing scent is also well known for its effect on reducing anxiety, as well as inflammation and pain.

There are many ways in which a hot tub can enhance your lifestyle. Contact our team to find the perfect option for you.

Benefits of using your hot tub in the cold weather

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At this time of year it can be tempting to stay inside, wrapped up tight, and forget all about the outside space your home has. However, if you’ve got a hot tub at home then you’re missing out, as this is a great time of year to see a wide range of benefits from using it regularly. Hot tubs in winter can be a great place to relax, be social and also have lots of advantages when it comes to health and wellness too.
 

Get outside in the fresh air – but stay warm

If you’re using your hot tub outside then you’re enjoying all the benefits of the fresh air without any of the head to toe chill. Warm bubbles are a great way to stay toasty in cold weather and can help you to make the most of your outside space. Especially if you’ve been spending a lot of time inside with the central heating on, or wrapped up in layers, getting outside and into the hot tub can be an invigorating experience.
 

Be more sociable this winter season

Winter is the season when we tend to feel the least sociable. Especially once all the festive cheer of Christmas and New Years Eve have passed it can be difficult to get motivated to go out and see friends and family when the weather is cold and the days are short. Having a hot tub at home can provide exactly the motivation that you need for the colder, darker months – it’s a great theme for a party and a warm, fun space in which to get together with family and friends. If you’re looking for a unique way to get sociable this season then your hot tub is the perfect place in which to do it.
 

Improve your health and wellness

Hot tubs have long formed part of wellness regimes, as they provide an essential hydrotherapy experience. Hydrotherapy basically employs water to help soothe and treat a range of conditions, from arthritis to muscle stiffness. If you’re starting a new fitness programme and experiencing stiff muscles after workout sessions then spending time in the hot tub will help to soothe aches and pains. It can also be an essential experience pre-workout too. At this time of year we are all prone to muscle strains and injuries because our bodies are colder. A hot tub can help warm up muscles, joints and ligaments to help ensure a safer workout.
 

Using your hot tub in the winter months

With a few small adjustments, any hot tub can be made winter-proof. For example, make sure that you have warm, dry clothes to wrap up in when you get out and a quick route from the hot tub back inside. Clean and maintain your hot tub regularly if you’re planning to use it during the winter and turn down the jets, as these can lower the temperature in the water.
 

To find your dream hot tub for all year round, contact a member of our team.

How can hot tubs alleviate muscle pain?

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Whether you’ve started a fresh exercise regime for the new year or you’re trying a different activity that works a whole new range of muscles, aches and pains as a result of exercise can be troublesome. However, if you have a hot tub then you don’t need to keep suffering, as the warm water and jets of the hot tub can have a thoroughly therapeutic effect on your recovery. This is how it works.

Massaging tight or overworked muscles

The jets in the hot tub work to help loosen muscles that have become tight, either as a result of overwork or just being cold. This can be beneficial, both before and after exercise. Hot tub jets have a massage effect, which can help muscles to relax and improve recovery time after a workout session. You’ll not only feel better as a result of time in a hot tub post-workout but you’ll also be ready for your next session more quickly too.

Dispersing lactic acid

It’s lactic acid that, more often than not, is responsible for the soreness that we experience after a workout. If the muscles don’t get enough oxygen when they’re being worked then lactic acid is created. This acid can be burned as energy but when it’s not the result is muscle pain and soreness. There are lots of different ways to tackle lactic acid if sore muscles are something that you regularly suffer from. One of the most effective ways is in the warm water of a hot tub. Research has found that a hot tub session after intense exercise can help to reduce lactic acid build up, which means that you’re going to get much less soreness.

Preparing your body to workout

The warm water of a hot tub helps to increase blood flow around the body and physically warms up muscles. Especially in the colder months of the year it’s easy to get injured simply as a result of starting a workout when the body is cold. Hot tubs can be used before exercise to help prepare the body to work out. The warm water not only improves the oxygen supply around the body by stimulating blood flow but also helps to ensure that muscles are warm enough to avoid injury as a result of activity.

Soothing away a hard day

Although hydrotherapy, such as hot tubs, is often recommended for those who are working out or exercising at professional athlete level, they also have a great deal of positive use for everyone else too. The impact of sitting at a desk all day has been found to be as tough for the body as professional sports – and can result in just as much debilitating stiffness and pain. Hot tubs not only enable stiff muscles to be eased out after a day at a desk but can also help to shake off the anxiety of the day by soothing the nervous system.

There are many wellness benefits to owning a hot tub, especially when it comes to alleviating muscle pain. If you’d like to find your dream hot tub today contact a member of our team.

All you need to know about throwing a Christmas hot tub party

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If you’re looking to throw a seasonal party to remember this year it has to be a hot tub party. The Christmas hot tub party is a distinctive and memorable way to celebrate the festive months and is guaranteed to be the event that everyone is talking about. This is everything you need to know about how to throw the best Christmas hot tub party your friends and family have ever seen.

Prepare your hot tub

Make sure you’ve got all the basics covered when it comes to prepping your hot tub for guests. Clean it thoroughly and ensure all the working parts are in great condition. You might want to think about how guests are going to use the hot tub – do you need a drying off area, somewhere close by for warm towels or clothes and will outdoor heaters enhance the experience?

Create your party vibe

You could just go for a straightforward Christmas theme but there are also lots of other creative options that will bring your party to life. For something a little more unusual you could go for “The Nightmare Before Christmas” or “Winter Wonderland” or even use your favourite Christmas story or song as the basis for the party theme. Once you’ve chosen your theme then you can start work on the other important elements, including:

The aesthetics

How are you going to decorate your home for your Christmas hot tub party? Festive water floats, Christmas trees and plenty of fake snow can create a fun winter wonderland. Stringing up lights in the trees – or using lots of outdoor Christmas lights – will make sure everyone is feeling super festive.

The practicalities

It’s worth taking the time to work out how you want your guests to use the space available, including the hot tub. You’ll need to ensure everyone is safe and warm and that people are rehydrating after they’ve been in the hot tub, especially if they’ve had a lot of mulled wine or eggnog.

The soundtrack

Will you go for festive vintage classics such as “Baby it’s cold outside” or something more recent like Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe”? Prepare your playlist in advance so you can roll out the perfect soundtrack to your party without having to be a DJ all night.

The consumables

Food and drink are essential for any good party, especially a festive one. Christmas themed nibbles range from festive cookies and cakes through to roast turkey sandwiches and tins of chocolates. You can’t beat a good festive punch or some champagne for a Christmas party that goes with a pop!

The fun and games

Give some thought to how you’re going to entertain your guests during the party, whether that’s raucous sack races or giant Jenga.

Organising a hot tub Christmas party is the ideal way to celebrate the festive season with friends and family. From small gatherings to parties where the whole neighbourhood is invited, your hot tub is the perfect way to make it memorable.

Get in touch to find your perfect hot tub or accessories to add to your hot tub experience today.