Heat Hormesis, or Heat Therapy, has been used for centuries to aid relaxation, reduce stress and relieve muscle soreness. There are many benefits to increasing our temperature – improved cardiovascular mechanisms, lower heart rate and enhanced blood flow to skeletal muscles and other tissues. In addition, the natural cooling that occurs after leaving the waters supports the relaxation state and thus sleep.
Louise Westra, Naturopath at The Spa at Gleneagles, Scotland.
Louise Westra, Naturopath at The Spa at Gleneagles, Scotland
It’s rather telling that, as the physical and emotional pressures of our busy lives mount, we feel the need to take a bath. It’s like our body is intuitively telling us that the warm waters will do us good. But how much truth lies in this instinct? Quite a lot, as it turns out…
Taking warm-water benefits further
Thermal waters have long been associated with wellbeing – while the naturally warm waters provide an effective remedy for stress, the 40-plus minerals found in these hot springs offer so much more for skin, body and mind.
Absorbing the minerals from thermal waters can support circulation, provide pain relief and promote the relaxation response, which in turn supports the immune system, advises Louise.
Two key minerals commonly found in thermal waters are magnesium and sulphur. When we’re stressed, magnesium levels in the body are often depleted which can further exacerbate the problem. Restoring these levels stimulates the production of serotonin which boosts your mood and leaves you feeling calm and relaxed. Alongside this, sulphur-rich water is considered particularly good for certain skin conditions such as psoriasis and may assist respiratory health.
7132 Vals, Switzerland
Spa Inspiration | 7132 Vals, Switzerland
Strikingly set among the Swiss mountains lies 7132 Vals, one of our partner spas. Commissioned by the villagers of Vals in 1986 – and taking ten years to complete – this minimalist masterpiece was built from 60,000 slabs of Vals quartzite and surrounds the area’s mineral-rich hot springs.
We Recommend | Re-establish an inner connection
7132 hotel guests can bathe in their thermal waters until 1am. For added impact, composer Fritz Hauser has created some special music for the relaxation room – surely there’s no better way to see the stars!
Enhance your therapeutic journey further with our Mindful Massage at 7132. Unique in every way, this bespoke rebalancing experience brings together guided breathing and visualisation with deeply therapeutic massage. Physical and emotional anxieties are released, mind and body are returned to the present moment and a positive spirit is restored.
Nicola Baillie, ESPA Senior Trainer
At Home | Restore and nourish in a complete sense
We’re firm believers in the powerful effects essential oils can have on your mind and body. Formulated with a deep understanding of clinical aromatherapy, our natural active formulas use specially created essential oil blends to create immersive experiences that are not only characterised by heavenly fragrances but are also powerful in their efficacy.
When the mounting pressures of modern life start to take their toll, simple measures – such as this stress-relieving bathing ritual from Senior Trainer Nicola Baillie – can help overcome any feelings of isolation or anxiety and help restore a positive spirit.
- Run a warm bath and, once drawn, add a couple of capfuls of Restorative Bath Oil – the expert blend of Rose, Chamomile, Bergamot or Lavender Essential Oils might be just what your overwhelmed spirits need right now.
- Next, stand in the bath and massage Relaxing Salt Scrub over skin – this soothing exfoliator will cleanse away a stressful day while calming senses with its blend of Bay and Lavender Essential Oils. Let the scrub freely fall into your bath – the natural benefits of this continues later.
- Once this scrub envelops your whole body, lie back and enjoy the powerfully replenishing combination of natural Sea Salts, nourishing Sweet Almond Oil and mood-boosting essential oils in your bath for at least 20 minutes.