Water World - Where would we be without water?

By Tanya M. Williams

Where would we be without water? Second only to air, water is vital to life and to health. We are instinctively drawn to it, whether as ocean, waterfall or rain. We delight in watching it move and are soothed by its hypnotic sound. Fluid beings ourselves, we respond powerfully to water for ritual, healing, and recreation. Undoubtedly, our connection to water is in part what draws us to spas.

Hydrotherapy,the therapy of water, is the essence of the original spa. An acronym, S.P.A. stands for Solus Par Aqua, a Latin phrase meaning health through water. The original spas were similar to what we call bathhouses, places where individuals, or often entire communities, would go to soak, steam, and enrich their health through water therapy.

Water World Like many healing arts, hydrotherapy found its place in diverse cultures across the globe, from Japan to Turkey, Rome to Mexico. Though spas have evolved significantly from their ancient roots, many still take hydrotherapy very seriously, honoring their collective origin by incorporating water via simple footbaths or more modern Vichy showers. Below you’ll find a primer on water therapies old and new as well as why this age-old remedy still commands a place on spa menus.

Baths

From basic soaks to hydro-jet chromatherapy tubs, the bath is still a beloved way to take the waters. Hydrostatic pressure removes wastes from surface tissues and stimulates the circulation of blood and lymph. The buoyancy of water allows our bodies to float, giving joints and bones a chance to rest. Sundara Spa Director Tracy Ballweg notes, “Hydrotherapy has a cleansing effect on the tissues, drawing out contaminates like lactic acid, which causes stiffness, and relieving pain by reducing swelling.”

Traditional Hungarian Kurs (cures) are baths designed to heal chronic ailments by adding nutritious substances, like mineral salts or algae to the water. Today, pampering Kurs are offered at many spas, often combining symbiotic treatments like massage and wraps to increase the effects. Mirbeau Inn & Spa’s Kur treatments use salts, milk, and essential oils to make the experience truly luxurious.

Modern jet tubs and hydro-massage take bathing to a new level of therapy. Underwater jets and therapist-controlled wands take advantage of water’s therapeutic properties and add the tension-taming, muscle-milking benefits of massage. The Mayflower Inn & Spa offers five specialized baths boasting aromatherapy and other embellishments to meet your body’s needs.

Circuits

In the spirit of the grand Roman bathhouses, hydrotherapy circuits use a mixture of therapies in a specified order to systematically exfoliate, detoxify, invigorate, and relax the body. Prestigious destinations like Sundara Inn & Spa, The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, and Spa Grand Velas have incorporated bath rituals into their pre-treatment regimen, giving clients ample opportunity to fully relax before their treatment begins.

Though spas add personalized twists, the circuit generally consists of a warm exfoliating shower with a self-applied scrub, an aromatherapy steam bath, a dry sauna, a cool shower, a hot whirlpool soak, and a cold plunge or shower. The hot, cool, hot, cold fluctuation is called contrast hydrotherapy; it stimulates circulation and promotes healing. David Erlich, regional director of spa operations for Fairmont Resorts says, “alternating hot and cool treatments expands and contracts tissues and blood vessels, providing healthy exercise for the circulatory system.”

Steaming quickly heats the body and opens pores, which facilitates the release of toxins via perspiration in the sauna. The cool shower cleans and cools; then the hot soak relaxes muscles and warms the organs before a final cold plunge leaves nerves tingling and feeling vibrantly alive. Ironically, all this hydrotherapy is very dehydrating, so spas provide water, juice, and herbal tea to quench your thirst.

Mineral Springs

Around the world, thermal mineral springs have been healing destinations for ages. At The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, which sits on the site of two geothermal springs, 135 degree waters from 1,100 feet below the earth provide the mineral waters used in the hydro-circuit, all outdoor pools, and select treatments.

Springs like these have been credited with soothing digestive problems, decreasing pain, lifting depression, and alleviating skin conditions. Boasting such nutrients as calcium, magnesium, potassium, chromium, copper, iodine, and iron, mineral springs literally feed the skin, help promote elimination of toxins, and boost circulation and relaxation.

Since many health conditions are a result of nutrient deficiency or imbalance, it’s not surprising that taking these waters leads to better health and overall wellness.