| ">What are the very many benefits that can be | | | | to see that in many ways they resemble the modern |
| derived from a modern Jacuzzi Spa for stress relief? | | | | health spas that we have today although one imagines |
| The word spa is taken from the famous natural | | | | and hopes that they were less expensive. The |
| mineral water springs at Spa in Belgium and has | | | | acceptance of bathing as the main event in daily life |
| become used as a common noun to describe any | | | | belongs to the Roman way of doing things and at the |
| place with a mineral or medicinal spring | | | | height of the Roman Empire, the thermal baths |
| If one goes back in time to Roman times it is | | | | embodied the ideal Roman way of urban life. |
| interesting to note that of all the various leisure options | | | | Examples of these Roman Hot Tubs can found today. |
| available at that time that bathing in warm water | | | | In Britain, there is of course the aptly named City of |
| sometimes using naturally heated water was one of | | | | Bath. In Spain on the Costa del Sol near Manilva and |
| the most revered. | | | | not far away from the famous Roman Oasis |
| The liquid we know as water is an amazing natural | | | | Restaurant are the Roman baths of Hedionda. In |
| resource. A liquid that we can not only drink and | | | | addition, at Campo Valdes, in Gijon Roman Baths in |
| consume but is a fluid capable of being solid when | | | | Antequera Spain and at many other locations in Spain. |
| frozen and increases in density at 4 degrees | | | | On of my favourites is at Bolonia just north of Tarifa |
| centigrade. | | | | on the Costa de Luz on the N340 road to Cadiz. This |
| Warm water is often used in physiotherapy to help | | | | example of an Ancient Roman Hot Tub can still be |
| recover from injuries and to soothe and relieve muscle | | | | seen today. Fees for both types of baths were quite |
| stiffness and aches by assisting in the reduction of | | | | reasonable, and within the budget of most free Roman |
| lactic acid. Warm soothing water helps to open the | | | | males. Since the Roman workday began at sunrise, |
| blood vessels to naturally assist and improve blood | | | | work was usually over at little after noon. About |
| circulation round the body. An increase in blood | | | | 2:00-3:00 pm, men would go to the baths and plan to |
| circulation helps to bring nutrients and thereby assists | | | | stay for several hours of sport, bathing, and |
| the tissue and muscle groups around arthritic joints | | | | conversation, after which they would be ready for a |
| relax, and at the same time promotes the flow of | | | | relaxing dinner. Today whilst you cannot go and enjoy |
| endorphins in the body. With out water on the planet | | | | an old style roman bath, you can still get a very similar |
| the Human race would not survive. | | | | effect by Hydrotherapy from a Hot Tub or Jacuzzi |
| Massage treatment to the feet and hands is known | | | | Style Spa. |
| as Reflexology and this is because there are reflexes | | | | The combination of soothing warm water combined |
| in the feet and hands that correspond to various parts | | | | with massage and buoyancy delivers a sensation that |
| of the body. The massaging effect of the warm | | | | not only relaxes the mind and body, but also helps to |
| water helps to apply gentle pressure to the feet and | | | | heal and soothe. With an increased number of jets |
| hands thereby increasing circulation and providing | | | | strategically placed in the Hot Tub Jacuzzi Style Spa |
| treatment and much needed respite to specific joint | | | | for maximum benefit, each & every Hot Tub offers |
| and muscular functions. | | | | supreme therapeutic support in a carefree setting. The |
| Clearly the Romans and indeed the Greeks and | | | | Hot Tub Spa treatment Increases blood flow and aids |
| Phoenicians before them new that the beneficial | | | | circulation, reducing & relieving muscle strain, soreness, |
| effect of the warm water was helpful to their general | | | | pressure and tension throughout your body. Clearly |
| well-being. This was very much a routine daily activity | | | | something that the Romans were extremely aware |
| for men of every class and indeed many women. | | | | of. Calculated buoyancy (and a corresponding feeling |
| Bathing today is considered a private activity carried | | | | of weightlessness) blends perfectly with swirling warm |
| out in the home but bathing in Rome was very much a | | | | water to deliver a pleasant relaxing soak with healing |
| communal activity carried out usually in public baths. | | | | properties. |
| One has only to look at the Roman Baths that survive | | | | |