This text discusses how to create a relaxing spa retreat in your garden, especially during the summer months. Here are the key points:This text discusses how to create a relaxing spa retreat in your garden, especially during the summer months. Here are the key points: 1. Adjust Hot Tub Temperature: – Lower the hot tub temperature to 96-98 degrees Fahrenheit in summer to avoid overheating. – For hydrotherapy or muscle relaxation, increase the temperature to 102-104 degrees Fahrenheit for short durations (10-15 minutes). 2. Consider an Ice Bath: – Cold water immersion reduces inflammation, repairs damaged tissue, and eases muscle pain. – Submerging in cold water for short periods (10-15 minutes) promotes recovery and reduces soreness. 3. Create an ‘Outdoor Room’: – Extend your indoor space by adding outdoor seating, rugs, fire pits, and plants to make your garden inviting. – This enhances the appeal of your hot tub and makes your space more comfortable. 4. Hydrate: – Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. – Enhance your spa experience by adding cucumber slices, mint, or fruit to your water. – Incorporate integrated fridges into outdoor kitchens to keep beverages and snacks within reach. 5. Conscious Meditation: – Combine hot water therapy with conscious meditation for deep relaxation. – Sit comfortably in the hot tub, breathe deeply, and allow the warm water to ease you into a meditative state. – Practice breathing techniques, such as long, slow breaths, to enhance the relaxing effects.
As the weather warms up, family bike rides are in full swing, running shoes are being dusted off, and people are working on their summer fitness goals, what’s the best way to unwind and prioritize self-care this summer after you’re done working out?
Over the past three months, searches for “best workout recovery” online have increased by 400 percent. People are thinking about the best ways and factors to relax and recover after a workout. Platinum Spas therefore set out to find ways to create a spa retreat in a garden.
To ensure this summer is as relaxing as possible, Gareth Ward, Director of Product Development and Design at Platinum Spas, has put together five essential tips on how to turn your garden into a spa haven.
1. Make sure your hot tub is at the right temperature
During the winter months, most people prefer a hot tub temperature between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit, but in the summer it is best to lower the temperature to 96-98 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid overheating. This is just a recommendation though, ultimately it is important to find the temperature that feels comfortable for you.
If you want to experience the benefits of hydrotherapy or muscle relaxation, we recommend setting the temperature between 102 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature range, it is essential to limit your soaking time to 10-15 minutes to avoid overheating or dehydration.
2. Consider an ice bath
Immersion in cold water is known to have many health benefits. Research has shown that cold therapy can repair damaged tissue, reduce inflammation, and ease muscle pain. Imagine how inflammation and pain can be reduced with the help of an ice pack, such as a frozen bag. There are several health benefits associated with ice baths, and this practical information supports that claim.
Ice baths or cold water immersion cause vasoconstriction, which reduces blood flow to the submerged muscles. This can help prevent inflammation and swelling caused by exercise-induced muscle injuries. Ice baths also help remove waste products, such as lactate, that build up after strenuous activity, which speeds up recovery.
This is especially useful in the summer when temperatures rise and you are looking for a way to cool down.
3. Make your space an ‘outdoor room’
Creating an outdoor spa is not just about the right wellness practices, but also about creating the right space for the summer season. Your garden becomes an extension of your indoor space, where you sit, eat and drink as much as you do indoors.
Gareth says: “There’s no reason why you shouldn’t go the extra mile to make your garden feel like an extension of your interior space. Adding outdoor seating, rugs, fire pits and planting will make your outdoor space more inviting, whether it’s large or small. In fact, it will make your hot tub more attractive and less of a visual distraction.”
4. Hydrate to feel good
Whether you’re soaking in a hot tub or lounging on a sun lounger, it’s important to stay hydrated in the hot weather. If you’re drinking water, make sure to top it off with cucumber slices, mint or fruit for a real spa-like touch. If you want to take things a step further, integrated fridges are available in some outdoor kitchen sets.
Gareth adds: “Make sure you keep your body hydrated, but also your skin, as summer is the time of year when your skin is most susceptible to UV damage. Make sure your skincare routine includes products with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, lipids and fatty acids. Relaxing in your garden after a long day is also the perfect time.”
5. Conscious meditation
It’s not just your surroundings that help create the calming feeling of being immersed in warm, relaxing water. If you have a hot tub, sit in a comfortable position, breathe deeply, and let the warm water ease you into a peaceful state. Practicing meditation can help reduce stress, and when combined with hot water therapy, you have the perfect recipe for relaxation.
Gareth concludes: “The simplest form of meditation you can do is breathing techniques; take long, slow breaths, pushing your belly forward as you exhale each time. If you practice your breathing techniques in your hot tub, enjoy the weightlessness of the water around you.”
