In the winter cold there is nothing better than packing your bathrobe, slippers and towels, getting in the car and heading off for a day at one of our wonderful thermal baths. Did you know that the steaming water not only warms you up but also makes you healthier, happier and more beautiful? Here are the reasons why it is worth going to the baths as often as possible, even in winter!
It reduces stress
Using the services of wellness facilities and taking a hot bath help the body produce oxytocin, a kind of happiness hormone, which does our soul a lot of good in the grey, cold and frosty days of winter. One pleasant bath a week and we can already say goodbye to the winter blues! It has been shown that even just being near water relieves stress. In warm water, the heat and the caress of the water dilate the blood vessels, lower blood pressure and speed up circulation. The flow of oxygen and other substances needed for cell regeneration also speeds up. Buoyancy reduces the pressure on the joints, so the muscles can relax too. Together, these effects release muscle tension, and limbs tired by the end of the day practically come back to life.
Studies have also shown that massage reduces stress in the body and can help slow the heart rate, thereby having a positive effect on blood pressure. An excellent way to prevent stress is to spend a few minutes in the steam bath or sauna, breathing in and out evenly. You will see: in barely five minutes the stress will melt away!
It makes our skin more beautiful
The body wraps available in wellness areas, combined with the detoxifying effect of the sauna, give the skin a radiant glow, leaving it soft and silky. In winter our skin breathes less and tends to dry out, but the right treatment and the removal of toxins can work wonders. If we add an exfoliating treatment as well, we will feel much younger after the hours spent at the baths. Professional facials by spa specialists not only cleanse but also strongly revitalise the skin. A good treatment has a toning, moisturising and revitalising effect on the facial skin, which is vital in the dark winter months, when the body struggles to get natural vitamin D. A well-chosen bath and the treatments available in the thermal area help to moisturise skin that is often drier than usual in winter, making it harder for wrinkles to form and slowing down the ageing process.
It strengthens the immune system and supports joint health
The sauna and certain massage treatments can help prevent flu and viral infections, as they strengthen the immune system and clear the airways. It is very important, however, that once an illness has developed, the sauna and steam do not help but make the patient’s condition worse. Nevertheless, it is indisputable that various spa treatments and thermal water of the right composition relieve the joint complaints and rheumatic pains that occur more often in cold weather. The most effective way to get rid of toxins is in a steam bath or sauna. Here the heat opens the pores, and up to 30% of harmful substances can leave the body with sweat. The result is greater emotional stability, clearer thinking and, not least, a general improvement in well-being, and it is also effective in treating sleep disorders.
Sport and therapeutic exercise in the water
For those who would rather do sport in the water, we recommend aqua fitness, that is, water aerobics. It not only gets the whole body moving but also increases stamina. This form of exercise makes effective use of the water’s natural resistance and buoyancy. Its advantage is that it is particularly gentle on the joints, while it also improves fitness and massages the subcutaneous tissues. You can even heal while doing sport: therapeutic swimming can stretch some muscles and strengthen others, all with specific loads and distances. In water exercise, the density of water is eight hundred times greater than that of air; it completely spares the joints, the spine and the body’s entire support system, while making the muscles work hard. It is a particularly recommended form of exercise for people struggling with excess weight, the elderly and those in poor physical condition. And if we simply want to swim, we can do that in the 25- or 50-metre pool of almost any bath.
Great relaxation for the whole family
Last but not least, relaxing in hot, steaming water can be a great activity for couples or the whole family. At last, a place where nobody disturbs you, where the phone doesn’t ring and emails don’t ping, where the family can finally be together, chat and rest in peace. Let’s choose a thermal bath where children are also welcomed with fun pools, slides and games! That way, as well as resting together, they get some fun too, and we can spend a few minutes on ourselves.
The cover photo was taken at the Harkány Medicinal and Thermal Bath.
Source: termalfurdo.hu