Everybody’s talking about hot tubs, but how many people actually know how good hot tub hydrotherapy is for the body and mind? In the busy world we live in, it’s more important than ever to prioritise our wellbeing. Find out more about how hot tubs and swim spas can benefit your health and wellness below.
What is hot tub hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy involves the use of water for soothing an aching body or speeding the recovery of other muscular ailments. Combining water with air and heat to promote wellbeing in the form of hydrotherapy has been used for various health issues, such as muscular conditions and rheumatic diseases.
There are different ways you can use a hot tub or swim spa to aid injury recovery and improve health and well-being, some of which we explain below.
How to relax in a hot tub
There really is no better way to relax the body than combining hot tub hydrotherapy with our spa aromatherapy. Using hot tub scents whilst indulging in the delight of hydro-massage is the perfect way to unwind.
Taking care of yourself using hydro-massage allows you to leave the world behind. Your hot tub should be run around 36°C to 38°C (personal preference) to plunge into a dimension of absolute peace. The feeling hot tub owners get when they enter their hot tub is of bliss, the fatigue flows away and folds into relaxation as the mind empties of problems.
The sensational feeling of aromatherapy products bubbling against the skin will ignite calmness and leave the body feeling invigorated. We recommend such treatment for up to 20 minutes and not to use these products more than twice a week.
It is also a good idea to have absolute silence while you relax; doing so will allow the mind filter out distractions and help fatigue disappear as the sensation of hydrotherapy works through your body.
How long should I stay in my hot tub?
Hydrotherapy through hot tubs will begin to replenish the human body within 5-10 minutes of bathing. We recommend at least 15- 20 minute spells in the spa in order to help your muscles recover, tone and revitalise your body as a whole.
What are the benefits of hydrotherapy?
All our hot tubs and swim spas give you the benefits of hydrotherapy from the comfort of your own home. Using a hot tub at home will help you to see the following healing benefits:
Reduction of muscle tension
Remember floating around in a pool as a child? That feeling of weightlessness relieves tension within your limbs and the supporting muscles. Sitting in your hot tub, feeling weightless realises endorphins which act as a natural pain reliever to reduce muscle soreness.
Rehabilitate muscles
Raising the bodies temperature, increasing blood flow and improving circulation are all the things your hot tub will do to help heal injured tissues and rehabilitate damaged muscles and joints.
Boost the immune system
You may have heard of lymph (a fluid of the immune system that collects and gets rid of unwanted materials from the body), your hot tubs hydrotherapy will stimulate white blood cells to carry any lymph efficiently through the body and strengthen your immune system. See a difference in the way you fight colds and other illnesses.
Detoxify
Turn the temperature up to 40°C and sweat it all out. The body eliminates toxins and impurities by flushing them out through the skin, the perfect hangover cure!
De-Stress
Stress is a common cause of high blood pressure in the busy world of today, so slow down the body’s reaction to anxiety and release natural endorphins to fight that stress off. Find out more about how hot tubs can help with mental wellbeing in our guide.
Hot tub and swim spa exercise
Not only can a hot tub help the body recover but it can also help the body improve through regular exercise within it. Swim spas also have the added benefit of swimming practice in the comfort and privacy of your own garden.
There are a few specific ways in which you can use a hot tub and swim spa to exercise as described below:
Abdominal exercise
Everybody dreams of having great abs don’t they? Well what better way to train them than in your hot tub.
Start this exercise by leaning back against the back rest in your tub, breathing in slowly, when you breathe out contract your abdominal muscles softly. Repeat this exercise 5 times to begin with, working up to sets of 10 when you feel confident.
Leg exercise
Again, lean against the back rest within your hot tub, breathing slowly. Bring one of your legs into your body slowly and then extend. Repeat this exercise 3 times to on each leg. You can do up to 5 sets of this exercise per leg.
Shoulders and neck exercise
Lean back against your hot tubs back rest, again breathing in deeply and slowly. Then begin to rotate your shoulders in a circular motion, forwards and backwards. Pause between each set and repeat this exercise up to 10 times.
In the same position against the back rest slowly work your neck from one side to the other, repeating up to five times.
After you have completed all of the above exercises it is important to take some time to close your eyes and focus on breathing. Completing the exercises on a regular basis will help you become more relaxed and happy with your body. Read more aqua aerobic exercise ideas in your swim spa in our guide.
How to maintain your hot tub
Along with looking after your body, it is vitally important that you take the correct precautions to maintain your hot tub water. We stock a wide range of hot tub chemicals online and in our Yorkshire showrooms. If you’re looking for more information about water care for hot tubs, check out our spa chemical guide or give us a call.
Parting advice
There you have it! After reading up on the health benefits of spas, check out our range of hot tubs and swim spas. We also offer installation services, finance options and accessories.
Want to learn more about how your spa can improve your wellbeing? Read our hot tub aromatherapy guide.
Need more advice? Give us a call on 01482 212322 or email enquiries@outdoorlivinghottubs.co.uk and we’ll help you out.
Or drop in and see us in our Hull or Leeds showrooms, where you can enjoy a private wet test with changing rooms and showers, as well as a hydrotherapy consultation. Every showroom has a range of running hot tubs so you can compare the difference between the Jacuzzi® Power-Pro™ jets, to the Classic jet systems. As well as various seating arrangements, depths and comforts.
Not near one of our Yorkshire hot tub showrooms? No problem, if you’re looking for a new hot tub you can explore our virtual showroom or book a video call with our showroom team.
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