Swimming Spa – All About You Need To Know Swimming spa is a multifunctional machine that combines the best features of a swimming pool and a hot tub. It also tends to fall somewhere in the middle of these two in terms of size. One of the most common ways that swim spas are used is for a challenging but impact-free water workout. Swim spas produce a powerful current of water that provides continuous resistance you can swim, run, jog, or walk against without ever “hitting the wall.” You can swim lap after lap, or walk or run for miles, all in the comfort and privacy of your swim spa. Best of all, once you’ve given your muscles a good workout, you can use the very same swim spa to relax and unwind. Simply settle down in front of the hydrotherapy jets and adjust the settings for an invigorating and therapeutic massage. So, to sum up, a swim spa offers a range of activities geared toward fitness, fun, and relaxation: Swim, run, jog, or walk against a powerful resistance-producing current Splash around with your family and friends Relax into an ergonomic seat surrounded by heated water Soothe sore muscles with massage jets What is a Swim Spa? The Basics Swim spas are an alternative to traditional pools and spas. Like hot tubs, swim spas are self-contained, so all the pumps, filters and heating elements are part of the unit — no additional equipment required! However, like swimming pools, swim spas are designed with swimming in mind. With powerful jets on one side, swim spas produce a swim current, allowing users to swim continuously in one place. When these jets are turned on, it creates an endless pool effect so swimmers can backstroke, butterfly or freestyle as long as they want. Swim spas are a popular option for people who enjoy pool exercises and swimming workouts. However, most swim spas are split into two sections, with a pool on one side and a hot tub with jets and seating on the other end, so users can get a workout in, and then relax. Don’t let the word “spa” fool you: the water temperature is adjustable to serve a wide range of uses. Additionally, there are several models and types. You can have an in-ground swim spa or an above-ground swim spa, and you can even choose an indoor or outdoor model. 8 Benefits of Swim Spas Let’s move on to some of the most significant benefits of swim spas. 1. Less Space: You don’t need a lot of room to swim laps with swim spas, so they are generally much smaller than traditional swimming pools. 2. Multi-Functional: Most swim spas provide a space for continuous swimming exercise, hot tub relaxation and entertainment. 3. Year-Round Use: Because the water is heated, swim spas are meant to be used throughout the entire year. (For this reason, most swim spa owners invest in an automatic pool cover, so they can easily keep their swim spa protected and accessible year-round). 4. Ideal Exercise Environment: Aquatic exercises are low-impact and great for any fitness level, and swim spas provide space for just that. The buoyancy of water is an excellent choice for people with chronic pain to remain active, improve flexibility, increase balance and enjoy all the other well-known benefits of exercise. 5. Unparalleled Swim Training: Whether you’re training for a triathlon or competitive swimming, swim training is essential. However, training in public pools, gyms and aquatic centers may not be an option. Swim spas allow swimmers to practice their crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and more from the comfort of their backyard — just adjust the water temperature as you like and start swimming. 6. Warm Water & Aquatic Therapy: You can easily heat up the water temperature of swim spas for therapeutic purposes. Combine this with a water-based aquatic therapy routine, and swim spas can help people struggling with chronic pain. 7. Relaxation: Don’t forget about the spa part of the swim spa. Most swim spas include massaging jets and other features found in traditional hot tubs, so you can turn up the temperature and use your swim spa to ease tension and relax after a long day (or high-power swimming workout). 8. Entertainment: Like any pool or spa, a swim spa is a great space to hang out with friends and family. Splash around or relax and catch up. Swim spas offer many of the same benefits of regular pools and spas. Healthy Living with a Swim Spa Many of our clients find that they naturally (and almost effortlessly) live a healthier lifestyle once they add a swim spa to their home. Keeping up a fitness schedule no longer requires planning, commuting, dressing, and undressing in a locker room, and all the other small hassles that working out in a public facility—even a high-end one—requires. Going for a swim or a water run becomes a simple matter of changing into a swimsuit and hitting the water. Another way that swim spas make adopting a healthier lifestyle a breeze is a fact that water workouts tend to be really fun and enjoyable. It’s so much easier to stick with an exercise regimen when it’s something you actually look forward to doing. And again, because it’s in the privacy of your home, you can create the ultimate personalized workout environment. Blast your favorite music, set out a stack of fluffy towels to dry off with, and get your favorite smoothie ready to reward yourself with after you step out of the pool. Finally, swim spas help you live a healthier lifestyle by completely eliminating one huge obstacle that prevents many people from working out consistently: the shyness factor. It can be very intimidating to exercise in front of other people, especially if we’re trying something new. A swim spa offers you complete privacy, and if you don’t already know how to swim or do water aerobics, you can take lessons from a private coach in a comfortable, one-on-one setting in your home. How a Swim Spa Can Help Better health and well-being don’t come from a single choice or action—it’s typically the result of our habits. If we want to enjoy the fruits of a strong body and mind, then it’s in our interest to create a lifestyle that supports the development of good habits. A swim spa is an excellent way to develop a routine. It’s hard to think of a better or more convenient way to get a full-body workout than in the comfort and privacy of your own swim spa. You can use it as often as you like, and in a variety of different ways, to achieve your health and wellness goals. In terms of physical health, a swim spa offers the following benefits: Eases muscle tension Soothes joint pain Builds a stronger cardiovascular system Promotes weight loss Increases muscle strength Improves circulation A swim spa is able to produce such a wide range of positive health outcomes because it provides the perfect setting for hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is a water-based therapy that has been used for decades all around the world as a way to heal injuries, improve quality of life, and promote overall well-being. It draws on the healing qualities of water—namely, its temperature and buoyancy—in combination with massage to boost blood circulation and the production of endorphins. Speaking of endorphins, which are the body’s “feel-good” hormones, the health benefits of a swim spa don’t stop at just the physical level. A swim spa also offers a range of mental health benefits as well: Improves sleeps patterns Reduce stress and anxiety Promotes relaxation Calms the mind This is because swim spas are a supremely relaxing environment that promotes mental calmness and clarity. Sinking into the heated waters and letting your stress melt away under the gentle pressure of the massage jets is a deeply healing experience that carries over into the rest of your life. The enhanced sense of well-being that you have after spending time in your swim spa helps you regulate your sleep patterns so you can fall asleep and stay asleep for a good night’s rest, which in turn, leads to an increased ability to handle the stresses of daily life. Other Benefits of Owning a Swim Spa Part of health and well-being is feeling good about our choices and enjoying the life we have created for ourselves. On this point, too, swim spas are an excellent way to invest in yourself, your home, and your family. Enjoy more quality family time With the fast pace of modern life, It can be difficult to find time to spend together as a family. Having a swim spa right at home provides the perfect gathering place for you and your family members to get together, enjoy each other’s company, and catch up on each other’s lives. Family swim time may just become the highlight of your week. Upgrade your backyard There’s no doubt about it—a swim spa is a stunning addition to a backyard and is sure to draw the attention and admiration of your neighbors. You may even inspire some to get their own swim spas! Increase the value of your home Like any renovation or extension to your home, a swim spa adds value to your property. It is a unique and attractive feature that will not only make your property stand out if and when it ever goes on the market, but it will also attract higher bids because of it. Provide an excellent venue for hosting gatherings Having a strong social network is another important element in living a healthier life. A swim spa gives you a great excuse to get together more often. Throw a mini-pool party for your closest friends, or just have one or two of your favourite people over to unwind with the massage jets and watch the sun go down. Allow you to spend more time outdoors Most of us would like to spend more time outdoors, and a backyard swim spa lets you do just that. Because a swim spa uses heated water, it’s a feature you can use 365 days of the year, through every season. Breezy spring days, bright summer afternoons, crisp fall evenings, and calm winter nights are all excellent times to enjoy a soak. More Ways to Live a Healthier Lifestyle Once you’ve felt the increased energy, improved mood, and overall boost in well-being that comes from taking good care of yourself, you’ll want to keep it going by making more positive changes in your life. Here are a few ideas to keep you on track for a healthier lifestyle. Limit your screen time Spending too much time-consuming media is bad for us. Most of us don’t need statistics to prove it (although there are plenty of those) because we know how we feel after binging on too many TV shows or staying up too late scrolling on our phones. Making a conscious effort to limit your screen time is an effective way to improve your mental health. If you need help doing this, you can adjust your smartphone’s settings to track your screen time and install apps that automatically close down your apps after a certain amount of time. Try new hobbies Trying new things is a time-tested way to build your confidence and reignite your zest for life. Let your own personal interests guide you to a new hobby or pastime, whether it’s photography, painting, sewing, or yoga (which you can also do in your swim spa!). Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet Along with exercise, the food we eat is one of the biggest determiners of our health and well-being. A well-balanced diet is one that includes a generous amount of fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean proteins, and avoids highly processed foods with high amounts of sugar and fat. Many people find that once they start exercising, they naturally feel motivated to eat well, since quality food energizes them and powers their workouts. Read more books Reading is an amazing way to broaden your horizons and stimulate your intellect. Whether you prefer fiction, non-fiction, or both, there’s an entire world of knowledge and creativity waiting for you when you pick up a book. Consider joining a book club in order to enjoy another layer of health benefits from connecting with others and expanding your social world. Grow a garden Bursting with lush green life, gardens are naturally relaxing environments. Growing a garden in your backyard will not only create a beautiful natural oasis, it also helps support local bug and bird populations (especially if you choose to grow plants that are native to your area). What’s more, a healthy garden improves the air quality of the surrounding area and provides stunning natural scenery to enjoy from the relaxing comfort of your swim spa. Practice meditation Meditation is an ancient practice that has exploded in popularity all over the world today, with good reason. The health benefits of meditation are extensive, from improving mental clarity to reducing high blood pressure. One of the best things about meditation is that you can do it pretty much anywhere and anytime. All you have to do is find a quiet space, focus on your breath, and clear your mind. What’s the Best Swim Spa for Me? Ultimately, the best swim spa for you comes down to personal preference. You can have one custom-built or order a prefabricated swim spa. There are so many options that it’s best to look around a bit to see which features you want and need most. Once you decide on a model, be sure to add an automatic pool cover for your swim spa to keep it protected throughout the year. Plus, an auto pool cover can help you control operational costs by trapping heat. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557569/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3795356/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21250133/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547718/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557569/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21250133/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547718/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4566164/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470290/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2807252/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557569/ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003751.htm Show More