Who knew there was another way to bring the mermaid trend into your beauty regime? Hydrotherapy uses hot and cold water to quite literally wash away your aches and pains. From meditational floatation tanks to spa circuits with ice-cold plunge pools, here’s everything you never knew you need to know about this therapy.
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1 Its history is way more interesting than classes at school
If you've ever spent a weekend in Bath, you'll already know people have been enjoying water-based spa treatments for thousands of years. The ancient Romans, Egyptians and Greeks were all big fans, but it really took off in the 19th century. When the first hydrotherapy centre opened in Malvern, the A-listers of the day flocked to it like an olde world version of Champneys.
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2 It's relaxing as well as therapeutic
We could wax lyrical about the health benefits of hydrotherapy all day but, as anyone who's ever lounged in a jacuzzi can knows, it's a blissful way to unwind. As for that invigorating cold splash, it gets the adrenaline (and endorphins) pumping.
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3 Hot and cold do different things to your body
While heat relaxes you by widening blood cells, a chilly blast makes you feel invigorated. Kind of like the cold version of a piping hot, strong espresso that gives you that Monday morning world domination feeling. OK, so maybe you feel more like that on Friday afternoon, but you get the idea.
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4 It coaxes injuries back to health
If you've been hitting the gym a bit too hard – or you tripped up in your less-than-practical heels last Saturday night – gentle exercise in a hydrotherapy pool can help you recover. The warm water soothes aching joints while boosting blood flow, helping to bring extra oxygen and nutrients to injured muscles. It also helps to maintain your muscle tone, so you can pick back up pretty much straight where you left off. (We mean at the gym, rather than where you were at 1am on Saturday.)
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FAQs
What is hydrotherapy and how does it work?
Hydrotherapy uses hot and cold water to help wash away aches and pains. Techniques include floatation tanks and spa circuits with plunge pools, using temperature changes to relax muscles and invigorate your body.
How can hydrotherapy help with injury recovery?
Gentle exercise in a hydrotherapy pool soothes aching joints while warm water boosts blood flow. This process helps bring extra oxygen and nutrients to injured muscles and maintains muscle tone while you recover.
What are the main benefits of hot and cold water in hydrotherapy?
Hot water relaxes by widening blood vessels, while cold water invigorates and boosts adrenaline. The temperature changes stimulate your body, helping you both unwind and feel energised.
How long has hydrotherapy been used for health and relaxation?
People have been enjoying water-based spa treatments for thousands of years. The practice became especially popular in the 19th century when the first hydrotherapy centre opened in Malvern, attracting many high-profile visitors.
What does hydrotherapy feel like for relaxation?
Hydrotherapy is often described as a blissful way to unwind. Lounging in a jacuzzi or experiencing a cold splash can help release endorphins, reduce stress and leave you feeling deeply relaxed.