Tag: Relaxation

Lifestyle

Top 5 Health Benefits of Saunas And Steam Rooms

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Top 5 Health Benefits of Saunas And Steam Rooms

Saunas and steam rooms are not for everyone, but this is one thing we look forward to most after a workout. It is a great way to relax and recharge. Steam rooms and saunas are similar, both are heated rooms and used for relaxation and to help relieve symptoms of certain medical conditions. There are differences between the two, steam rooms offer moist heat, while a sauna provides dry heat from a wood or electric stove. We researched more into the benefits, and here are some of the reasons you need to steam and sauna your way to better health.

Post-workout relaxation: Muscles need to be relaxed and stretched after they are exercised in order to promote healthy recovery. This process is expedited by muscle relaxation, which occurs in response to a hot environment. Saunas and steam rooms also relieves joint and muscular tension. The heat soothes, warms and relaxes your muscles. Which is why this is so important to do after sport. It is said that it helps with joint pain as well as arthritis, migraines, and headaches.

(Photo credit: HUUM)

Removes toxins and clears the skin: We found out that sitting in a sauna and steam for just 20 minutes can get rid of an entire day’s sweat and all of the toxins! Steam clears the skin of impurities.  It improves circulation in the whole body, which gives you a healthy glow and will make your skin look and feel amazing.

Reduces stress: The heat causes the body to release endorphins that reduce the feeling of stress in the body. After you will feel rested and rejuvenated.

(Photo credit: Lukas Kubica)

Helps with weight loss and a healthy blood flow: The heat of steam and saunas get you sweating which can help even shed a few extra pounds of water weight. Capillaries dilate when exposed to the heat of a sauna or steam room, so blood flows freely and easily through the whole body, transporting oxygen everywhere you need it and leaving you feeling refreshed.

Opens the sinuses: Wet heat opens and thins mucous membranes in your body, sinuses, throat and lungs. Loosening mucous can be felt after entering a sauna as your breathing feels clearer. This can be especially beneficial for those who suffer from chronic congestion or sinus infections.

Shelley & Michelle xx

Travel

Our Staycation in Bath

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Our Staycation in Bath

Bath is the largest city in Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. Fun fact, It is said that Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century, and used the city as a setting for some of her novels. Bath has also been home to many more impressive residents over its long history and has over 6 million yearly visitors, making it one of ten English cities visited most by overseas tourists. Attractions include the spas, canal boat tours, museums, galleries and Royal Victoria Park which hosts carnival and seasonal events. It’s such a quick and easy journey to Bath, it took us less than 2 hours from London by train.

We stayed at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel that sits on 7 acres of private grounds. If you’re looking to unwind or just enjoy a few days of peace and quiet then this is the ultimate destination. The rooms are so cosy and the facilities include an award winning restaurant, breathtaking landscaped gardens, leisure club, hydrotherapy pool, and thermal spa. A lot of our time was well spent relaxing in the sauna’s and steam room. There’s also an ice room where we smothered our bodies with the crunchy ice, it was of course freezing, but always good to do as it closes the pores and cools you down after a steam. One of our evenings was spent out in the hydrotherapy pool which was so calming. It was absolutely freezing outside but the hydro pool was so warm. It was great to just lie back and watch the stars in the nights sky.

Bath is a city where you can relax and discover new things. We took a long winters stroll, taking in the scenery and getting lost in the surroundings and came across a very interesting building called Victoria Art Gallery, which is a public art museum. We walked up a spiral staircase and viewed the galleries collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. The Gallery was named to celebrate Queen Victoria’s sixty years on the throne. It includes over 1,500 decorative arts treasures, including a display of British oil paintings from 17th century to the present day.

If you decide to visit Bath you must try Hudson Steak house. It’s one of the best steaks we have ever eaten! The gravy and mash was so tasty. Hudson steak house specialises in prime dry aged steaks, and some mouth watering classic dishes.

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

Thai Square Spa London

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Tucked away along the busy streets of London lies the perfect spa getaway everyone needs in their lives to chill and have some time out. Thai Square Spa is about a five minute walk form Charing Cross station which is perfect!

When you enter the spa peace and tranquillity hits you straight away, your shoulder automatically lower and you feel at peace as you’re greeted by soft music and the most amazing scents. The staff are so friendly and make you feel welcome, when shown to the changing rooms we were provided with white comfy dressing gowns, Thai Square Spa’s own flip flops and throw away knickers which are supposed to be used before treatments (but don’t forget your bikinis). We were guided down spiral stairs and entered a different world… literally. The dim lit lighting, soft spotlights and candles were sprinkled around the spa area that was exquisitely decorated with a mix of Roman, Thai and Turkish interior. In a row stood the masseuses and masseurs who stepped forward calling our name and introducing themselves to us, they then guided us to our treatment room.

Thai Square Spa has five Thai massage treatment rooms including six ritual massage rooms and one VIP suite treatment room. We both chose the same treatment which was the Thai Herbal Healer this particular massage is known for its traditional Thai herbal therapy to soothe, tense, stiff muscles. They massaged us with a warm herbal poultice which contained a variety of therapeutic herbs and spices. The technique was followed by a full body ritual massage with Jasmine massage and body oil. The treatment was for an hour and we were so relaxed we could have stayed on that massage table for at least another hour!

After our treatment we were taken to the relaxation/chill out area and was offered water or tea. We chilled there for about ten minutes before entering the spa area. Everything about this spa is top notch and just kept getting better and better. The spa boasts an incredible Jacuzzi which is very warm and toasty. It’s quite a deep Jacuzzi with stairs leading into it and the bubbles are so powerful which soothes your aches and pains. You can choose between the Sauna and steam room but being Shelley and Michelle we obviously tried out both! We began in the Sauna then finished in the steam room which is surprisingly large. Luckily for us the spa was empty so we had the facilities to ourselves. Next to the Jacuzzi there is an ice fountain that’s there to cool you down, stimulate circulation and eliminate toxins.

When we were finished chillin’ and taking full advantage of the spa we showered and made our way to the chill out area again and was greeted by a friendly member of staff who offered us more tea which is the most tastiest herbal Chinese tea. We relaxed on the comfiest white chaise and just chatted and took in the scenery and peaceful environment.

If you’re in need of some rest and relaxation why not try Thai Square Spa (here) it’s in a great location and was voted World Luxury Spa UK Awards Winner 2017.

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

Shelley & Michelle xx