Our breathing deepens, our muscles loosen up and we let our troubles dissolve away. It’s not all in our heads either… taking a soak has been proven to have quite a few health benefits. Here’s four of them!
1. Lowering blood pressure
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a hot tub soak causes blood vessels to slightly dilate, thus lowering overall blood pressure. Soaking in warm water can cause internal body temperature to increase slightly, in turn blood circulates more efficiently and blood pressure decreases. As always, consult with your physician before engaging in any form of self-therapy, including hot tub use and hydrotherapy for high blood pressure.
2. A better night’s sleep
A Study in the journal, ‘Sleep,’ showed that soaking in a hot tub prior to bedtime will not only help individuals fall asleep but will also provide a deeper, more relaxing sleep as the body cools.
3. Aid in weight loss
It’s estimated that sitting in hot water burns about 3% more calories than sitting on your couch. It may not seem like much but, let’s be honest, every bit helps when it comes to losing weight!
4. Ease muscle tension
Any physical therapist will tell you that heat from water penetrates the body better than any other type of heat. While heat increases blood flow to muscles and accelerates healing, buoyancy eases the built up pressure in your joints and muscles. Additionally, hot tub jets provide therapeutic massage, stimulating the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain and stress diffusers.
Which benefit will inspire you to hit the tub? If you are interested in learning more about other health benefits of tub soaking, spa therapy, or sauna, subscribe to our monthly newsletter or follow Shoji Spa on social media!