Dr. Jules Pretty, at the Center for Environment and Society in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex, in England makes a strong case for “being in nature”. “Irrespective of where we come from in the world, it seems that the presence of living things makes us feel good. There are three levels of engagement with nature he says.

*The first is viewing nature, as through a window, or in a book, on television or in a painting.

*The second is being in the presence of nearby nature, which is incidental to some other activity, such as walking or cycling to work, or reading on a garden seat, and (we’ve added this one) soaking in a hot tub outdoors.

*The third level is active participation and involvement with nature, such as gardening, hiking or running.

There is now strong evidence that all these levels deliver mental health benefits. The levels with the most involvement deliver the most benefits.

A recent survey of our Olympic Hot Tub Company Hot Spring Spa owners echoed Dr. Pretty’s research  regarding to his second point of engagement with nature. All of the Hot Spring Spa owners we surveyed reported immense pleasure, increased mental relaxation and peace of mind from soaking in their outdoor  hot tubs. They all said that being in the presence of nature was the “frosting on the cake”, the “cherry on the sundae” that capped the experience and took it from the mundane to the sublime. It was the reason they rarely missed a night’s soaking. It was the reason why their own yards gained a bigger place in their lives.

Outside soaking brought  a new appreciation of the previously unseen natural world to hot tub users.  Hot tub owners mentioned owls, squirrels, raccoons, the wind, stars, the trees and far vistas all never before seen in their day to day lives.  So in addition to the great physiological benefits, the mental/spiritual benefits were the most deeply moving.

From my own experience I, too, have been profoundly moved by soaking in my roof top Hot Spring while viewing the stars and satellites (!), feeling the wind and the rain on my face and just letting go of all daily cares and worries. Plus I get my best ideas in the hot tub!

RES EST SEVERA VOLUPTAS. Latin for pleasure is serious business.

TOP 6 TIPS FOR USING THE HOT TUB TO OVERCOME JET LAG MORE QUICKLY:

1. SOAK 2-3 HOURS BEFORE SLEEP. After a long trip across several time zones,  get in the hot tub 2-3 hours before you want to sleep. It’s important to observe the 2-3 hour rule. The best sleep occurs when your body cools naturally which it will do within 2-3 hours. Soaking in the hot tub will have a great relaxation effect, which will also help you sleep more deeply.

2. NOT TOO HOT; NOT TOO LONG. Time and temperature are important. Run the jets to get a good massage and stay in at least 20 minutes. 24 minutes is the maximum for a session of total relaxation. Make sure the water temperature is no more than 104°.

3. SOAK TO RE-HYDRATE. The air on planes has a very low humidity, which may contribute to that tired feeling and ultimately jet lag. You also experience dehydration particularly on your skin, which can cause discomfort, itchiness and also wrinkles. Soaking in the hot tub is a way to feel re-hydrated, but you’ll have to drink water to actually replace the moisture lost during a long flight.

4. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER Drink lots of bottled water during the flight. Avoid alcohol and coffee before or during the flight as both of these drinks are dehydrating (and cause you to walk up the aisle in search of the restrooms more often).

5. EAT LIGHTLY. Avoid food that is high in fat and salt (most airline meals). Try to have a light meal in-flight and stave off hunger pangs with food that is high in carbohydrates such as fresh fruit and fruit juice. Continue to drink lots of fresh water for at least two days after your flight.

6. USE THE HOT TUB TWICE A DAY THE WEEK AFTER YOU RETURN: A soak for 10-15 minutes in the morning and 20-24 minutes at night every day in the week following your flight will help you overcome jet lag more quickly.

Any other tips for over coming jet lag more quickly?

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Here’s a summary of the research thus far adapted from the Athletic Business article:

“Bruce Becker, a physician and research professor at Washington State University, sums up his current — and groundbreaking — study of the health impacts of warm-water immersion with a practical analogy. “You know when you come home from a long day at work and you’re stressed out?” he asks. “You want to sink into a hot bathtub and go, ‘Ahhh.’ I’m trying to figure out what the hell that ‘Ahhh’ is all about.”

After more than 18 months of research, he’s getting closer to finding some answers.

Becker’s efforts focus on the benefits to the autonomic nervous system of soaking in water with a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. An individual’s autonomic nervous system helps him or her adapt to changes in environment and affects such vital functions as heart rate, digestion, respiration, salivation, circulation and even sexual arousal. While in a constant state of flux, its two subsystems — the sympathetic nervous system (which escalates under stress) and the parasympathetic nervous system (which promotes calm) — fall into balance when the body is immersed in warm water, according to Becker’s findings.

That balanced state has been associated with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease, improved memory, enhanced cognitive processes and increased concentration. “The autonomic nervous system responds to warm water immersion the same way it responds to meditation or a number of other relaxed states,” Becker says.

While such claims seem logical on the surface, there has been little scientific evidence to support them until now.  Industry professionals know , empirically,  that spas make people feel better. They relax you, help you sleep better and provide benefits for sore muscles. But there has been no proof of that medically.

That’s why Becker’s research at WSU’s National Aquatic & Sports Medicine Institute is considered so important. Most of the current literature on immersion focuses on subjects in a  floating position, rather than in the seated position that is more common in a spa.

“The technology to look at this easily, noninvasively and in an aquatic environment has not been around all that long,” says Becker, NASMI’s director.  “I’m a rehab doc by training, so I’ve used the water as a rehab and recovery environment through much of my professional career and have been frustrated by the lack of supporting research to really document what’s happening. Do I know that it works? Yeah. Do I know why it works? No.”

Three donated Hot Springs Spas filled with water — each large enough to hold as many as four adults — are housed a research laboratory at NASMI headquarters. One by one, 16 college-age students and 16 adults between the ages of 45 and 64 took turns sitting for 24 minutes in each of the tubs during evaluation sessions conducted by Becker and his team of researchers in 2008 and 2009. Resting measurements of heart rate and blood pressure were taken to establish a baseline, and participants’ core body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, circulatory functions and respiratory status were monitored during their immersion time in each tub. In between his or her immersions, the test subject would sit for 12 minutes outside of the water in order to re-establish the baseline.

The first tub was filled with 87-degree water. Any cooler than that, and people would start shivering, Becker says, “so we settled on a temperature that most people certainly wouldn’t define as cold. When you get into it, it doesn’t feel cold, but you’re sitting immobile. I participated in the study, and my teeth were chattering in about six minutes.”

The second tub contained what researchers referred to as a “neutral” temperature of 94 degrees, and the third “hot” tub registered at 102 degrees, “which isn’t hot by the way some people set their hot tubs,” Becker says. “If you set the hot tub at 104 degrees, which is what most commercial facilities do, people are not able to stay in long enough to get the therapeutic benefits out of it that they could if you set it to a cooler temperature. In our study, most people really were pretty anxious to get out after 24 minutes. We tried going warmer than 102, and they just couldn’t stay in, or they got really lightheaded when they got out — if they managed to stay in for the entire time.”

The two age groups analyzed were chosen because of their healthy youthfulness, in the case of college students, and because middle-age adults have sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems that typically remain in a greater state of flux.

At his research’s most basic level, Becker and his colleagues found that immersion in warm water tends to reduce stress levels for all participants. The degree of stress reduced varied from subject to subject, but all of them responded in the same way.”

Stay tuned for more scientific news about the health benefits of hot tubbing. More results of Dr. Becker’s research will be published in the fall.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that is characterized by the irresistible urge to move the legs. While the name may sound funny, it is a very real disorder. In order for you to be officially diagnosed with RLS, you must meet the criteria described in the four bullets below:

• You have a strong urge to move your legs which you may not be able to resist. The need to move is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Some words used to describe these sensations include: creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging, or gnawing.
• Your RLS symptoms start or become worse when you are resting. The longer you are resting, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be.
• Your RLS symptoms get better when you move your legs. The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity. Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues.
• Your RLS symptoms are worse in the evening especially when you are lying down. Activities that bother you at night do not bother you during the day.

RLS can also cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep which can be one of the chief complaints of the syndrome. A substantial number of people who have RLS also have periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). These are jerks that occur every 20 to 30 seconds on and off throughout the night. This can cause partial awakenings that disrupt sleep. Sleep deprivation can seriously impact your work, relationships, and health.

How is it treated?

A regular exercise program may help restless legs. Reducing caffeinated drinks, alcohol use or smoking may also help. You may also reduce RLS by keeping mentally active while you are sitting down. When restless legs occurs, any of the following activities may help:

• Walking
• Riding an exercise bike
• Massaging the legs
• Soaking in a hot tub

Check out : The RLS Fact Sheet or the more detailed Living with RLS.

With the rise in medication for RLS, it seems like a doctor’s prescription for a hot tub would be in order, don’t you think? Want to treat RLS the natural way-without medication? Try soaking in a hot tub before bed to relax and massage your legs to ease the cramping and pain!

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Did you know that relaxing in a hot tub can help ease your body into a deeper sleep? The National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a non-profit organization promoting sleep education, advocacy, and research, has declared March 3-9 National Sleep Awareness Week. According to a recent poll by the NSF, approximately 132 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders more than one a night a week. This number is rising! The growing number of sleep disorder centers across the nation (approximately 3,000 in the U.S. today) is proof that more people are sleepless and want to do something about it.

Sleep researchers believe that many cases of insomnia can be traced to our hectic, stressful lifestyles. Even though you may enjoy perfect health, sleep deprivation can soon lead to a variety of ailments. The results of sleep deprivation are varied and can include battered nerves, grogginess, lapses in memory, depression, and even erratic mood swings. Rather than reaching for over-the-counter sleeping aids, prescription drugs or giving in to insomnia,  the first thing to do is relax in a hot tub before bedtime.

The Pool & Spa News magazine (July 1998) reported that a Gallup poll found bathing to induce sleep common among the 1,000 adults surveyed, and a Consumer Reports survey reported that readers with mild sleep disorders listed a warm bath as one of the most popular remedies.

Studies suggest that immersion in hot water (such as a hot tub which has a constant temperature) before bedtime can ease the transition into a deeper, more restful sleep. This may be due to a temperature shift, since the body’s core internal thermostat drops after leaving the water, which signals the body that it’s time to sleep. Or, the sleep improvement may be related to hot water’s relaxing properties – the buoyancy of water reduces body weight by approximately 90%, relieving pressure on joints and muscles, creating the sensation of weightlessness. The hot, swirling water leaves you feeling both mentally and emotionally relaxed.

In addition, hot tub-induced sleep is a natural remedy, unlike alternative sleeping aids such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies and alcohol – all of which can make you feel groggy and have other adverse side effects.

Just how much can a hot tub enhance your sleep? Researchers are still finding out.  Check out the following sources:

• National Sleep Foundation
• The Sleep Medicine Homepage
• The Sleep Well

Getting in my hot tub 2-3 hours before bed and “re-setting” my body temperature for sleep plus getting rid of the aches and pains of the day really helps my sleep. It’s nothing short of a miracle waking up feeling refreshed before the alarm goes off. The quality of my sleep is so much better-even priceless!

Come take a FREE test soak in one of our Olympic Hot Tub Company showrooms and test the better sleep theory for yourself.  I know you’ll enjoy better sleep. Getting a new mattress is only 1/2 of the answer to better sleep. Your body holds the key to the other 1/2.  Soaking in a hot tub before going to sleep on a new mattress-wouldn’t that be a great thing?

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

In a our own study at Olympic Hot Tub Company conducted in late 2008 with a random group of our hot tub owners, we found (although we did not know it was called A.R. T.) that everyone questioned about the benefits of hot tubbing mentioned “being in nature”. Many of the respondents said that they went in every day. Using the tub was the only way they could find their “balance” again and it was hot tubbing outdoors that was the key. While in the tub they experienced the rustling trees and bubbling water that is now found to be so important to our ability to focus and maintain memory.

Feeling unbalanced and over whelmed by  urban life? Take a hot tub soak outdoors. Daily renewal is an important aspect of brain health-now validated by a scientific study. Hot tub soaking is more than a few minutes of “feeling good”-it’s vital to health.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

1. Better sleep. According to the National Institute of Health, more than 70 million Americans suffer from mild to chronic insomnia and other sleep disorders. A recent study in the scientific journal Sleep showed that soaking in a hot tub prior to bedtime can help insomniacs achieve a deeper, more relaxing sleep. Taking a soak in 102 degree water 2-3 hours before bedtime will relax you and re-set your body thermostat making it easier to both fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.
2. Stress Relief. There’s no better way to stimulate the body’s natural endorphin release than soaking in a hot tub. The heat increases blood flow and the therapeutic massage works out muscle soreness. Stress is a silent killer in our overworked culture. The resulting muscle tension, headaches, soreness and fatigue which can continue over time can lead to serious health problems. Not only does a spa’s buoyancy ease pressure on joints and muscles, the mood elevation and the natural relaxation response is a priceless way to improve health.
3. Improve your game. According to Tennis Magazine, improving your game is a cinch when you soak after playing. You’ll avoid muscle soreness the next day and your joints will thank you for the increased blood circulation which takes away lactic acid (which is what causes soreness and fatigue) built up through a rigorous game.
4. Knee pain relief. A recent study of patients who had undergone knee replacement surgery found that not only did they experience less pain, but their recovery time was faster than for non-soakers. Their range of motion improved significantly faster and they used less pain medication than did the non-soakers.
5. Banish Back Pain. Lower back pain is the number two reason in the U.S. (after colds and flu) for a visit to the doctor. The British Journal of Rheumatology published a study which demonstrated that hot tub therapy has both sort and long-term benefits for people with lower back pain. A later study in the same journal further documented the those findings. After three weeks of consistent spa therapy, examinations showed more improvement in the health status (as measured in pain duration and intensity and back flexibility) of the spa treatment group than of the medication-only group. After six months, significant improvement continued in the spa therapy group. In addition, their use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs had decreased.
6. Soothing Relief for Arthritis Pain. Approximately 43 million people in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis pain. The good news for those who suffer from it is that there are safe and effective ways to both minimize the discomfort and prevent further damage. According to a publication from The Arthritis Foundation entitled Spas, Pools, and Arthritis, “Regular sessions in your hot tub help keep joints moving. It restores and preserves strength and flexibility, and also protects your joints from further damage. Exercise can also improve a person’s coordination, endurance, and the ability to perform daily tasks, and can lead to an enhanced sense of self-esteem and accomplishment.” “A hot tub fulfills the need perfectly . . . providing the warmth, massage, and buoyancy that is so necessary to the well-being of arthritis sufferers. The buoyancy of the water supports and lessens stress on the joints and encourages freer movement. Water exercises may even act as a resistance to help build muscle strength.”

In addition to the above benefits, check out more ways a hot tub at home can help your overall health.  more. Take advantage of the exercise guide we’ve posted on the Olympic Hot Tub Company site for a gentle way to get fit while enjoying the hot, soothing waters of a hot tub.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

Canadian researchers asked the question: Are hot tubs safe for people being treated for hypertension? Their study results published in the Canadian Journal of Medicine are very interesting.

BACKGROUND: People with hypertension are commonly warned to check with a physician before using a hot tub, but there is little in medical literature on which to base this advice.  The authors compared symptoms, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in response to 10 minutes of hot-tub immersion in a group of patients with treated hypertension and in a control group without hypertension.

METHODS: They recruited 21 patients (18 men and 3 women aged 43-76 years) with stable, treated hypertension and 23 control subjects (14 men and 9 women aged 19-83 years) without hypertension. They were studied, in mid-afternoon, at a public hot tub facility. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured at baseline, during immersion in a hot tub at 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) and for 10 minutes after immersion.  Each subject was asked to report any symptoms.

RESULTS: None of the subjects reported dizziness, chest pain or palpitations. During immersion, systolic blood pressure fell in both groups, from a mean 144 mm HG to 122 mm HG in the hypertensive group and from 130 mm HG to 110 mm Hg in the control group.  Blood pressure returned to baseline within 10 minutes after the subjects left the hot tub. Diastolic blood pressure also fell, whereas heart rate was increased in both groups. The hypertensive group showed a slightly lower maximal increase in heart rate than the group without hypertension.

INTERPRETATION: Immersion in a hot tub for 10 minutes lowers blood pressure in subjects with treated hypertension, but no more than in control subjects without hypertension.  Their conclusion: spending 10 minutes in a hot tub should be safe for most treated hypertensive patients.

Study authors: Shin TW, Wilson M, Wilson TW. Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology and the Cardiovascular Risk Factor Reduction Unit, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.

It is always advisable to check with your own physician, if you have any medical issues for which  you think hot tubbing would not be beneficial.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.

That finding was offered by Danish researchers who reviewed six studies involving about 800 patients.

In the studies, participants did aquatic exercise for different lengths of time and numbers of sessions per week. In most of the studies, patient progress was assessed after three months of therapy.

“In people with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, pain may decrease by one more point on a scale of 0 to 20 with aquatic exercise, and function may improve by three more points on a scale of 0 to 68,” the review authors wrote.

“There is gold-level evidence that for osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, aquatic exercise probably reduces pain and slightly improves function over three months,” they noted. “Based on this, one may consider using aquatic exercise as the first part of a longer exercise program for osteoarthritis patients.”

The review authors weren’t able to find evidence that patients experienced any changes in walking ability or stiffness after aquatic exercise sessions. They said more research is needed to determine whether aquatic exercise offers any long-term benefits for osteoarthritis patients, and the types, duration and frequency of aquatic exercise that may be most effective.

The review is published in The Cochrane Library journal.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, affects about 21 million Americans, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Treatment typically involves a combination of weight control, medication, physical therapy and exercise.

For more information: The Arthritis Foundation.

Try our Olympic Hot Tub Company water workout exercises that are gentle enough for people with joint pain.

Make your life better with the hot water therapy only a hot tub can provide. You really can reduce swelling, manage pain, heal faster, sleep better, and feel happier with regular hot tubbing. After exercising when you’ve stopped sweating and your heart rate is normal, immersion in hot water is said to reduce soreness by 40 percent according to Men’s Health Magazine in an article by Scott Quill published in the January-February issue 2007.  Immersing your body in a hot tub actually decreases swelling by the pressure that the water exerts on one’s body. You can improve your joint health and relieve pain as water immersion lessens the impact of gravity on  painful joints. The water makes you feel lighter and that adds to the relaxation effect. When recovery exercise was combined with water, patients experienced an increased range of motion and decreased levels of pain according to  the authors of a study “Aquatic physical therapy for hip and knee osteoarthritis” published in Physical Therapy, 2007.

A hot tub is far superior to a bath tub for hot water therapy. Why? You can maintain a constant temperature in a hot tub, have space to move around to do isometric exercises and experience added relief with hot water massage provided by the jets. If you take 3 or more baths a week to relieve pain & soreness, you need a hot tub.  Not only will you experience greater relief, your overall cost will be less. It costs less to heat a well-insulated hot tub (on average) than heating 3 bathtubs full of water And, it saves water since hot tubs like Hot Spring Spas need only be drained 3-4 times a year.

Feel sore after a workout? Feeling joint pain? Head to the hot tub! Feel better immediately.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.