Advice
Hydrotherapy involves the use of water for soothing an aching body or speeding the recovery of other muscular ailments. It combines water with air and heat to promote wellbeing. There is a long history of using water treatment, or hydrotherapy for health issues such as muscular conditions and rheumatic diseases.
We have compiled a range of advice to help you understand the used and benefits for different types of Jacuzzi treatments...
Hydromassage is the art of taking care of yourself: there is no one moment during the day which is better than another, the important thing is to choose the right one, when you are more willing to leave the world behind and remain in silence with yourself.
Run the water, regulate the temperature at around 36°C-37°C and plunge yourselves into a dimension of absolute peace. The feeling is bliss, the fatigue flows away, the body abandons itself to relaxation, the mind empties to leave space for emotions.
MOMENTS OF RELAXATION
Technically, the ideal duration of a hydromassage varies between 15 to 20 minutes, little in the light of daily life, infinite if maternally lulled by the water... The first effects are however felt after the first 5 - 10 minutes: you will feel revitalized, less stressed, the muscles will be more toned, you will feel a general sense of wellbeing. Every hydromassage session can be personalized on the basis of need and preferences.
BENEFICIAL HEAT
A general rule regarding water temperature: the higher it is, the shorter must be the session, as suggested in the following table:
Temperature |
Duration |
34°C - 36°C |
20 minutes |
36°C - 38°C |
15 minutes |
38°C - 40°C |
10 minutes |
In order to accustom the body it is in any case good practice to start with a bath no longer than 10’ until reaching the optimal duration, which is personalized on the basis of the needs of each individual.
Before hydromassage, at least once a month, it is advisable to carry out a body scrub to clean the skin, freeing it from all the dead cells.
AROMATHERAPY AND HYDROMASSAGE, A WINNING COMBINATION
The use of aromatherapy together with hydromassage is particularly advantageous. The sparkling sensation created by the contact between skin and air bubbles is undoubtedly very pleasant and can be rendered even more so if we use beneficial fragrances of the J4U line, specifically studied to be dissolved in the water of our Hot Tub. A bath with such essences should last at least 20-25 minutes and, owing to the characteristics of the oils themselves, it is recommended not to exceed more than two sessions a week.
WATER GAMES
The hydromassage tub or hot tub can become the ideal space to carry out a few simple exercises, representing a beneficial experience and at the same time being amusing, an additional way to love and respect one’s own body. Try and follow our suggestions: the water will make any movement simpler.
Legs: Immerse yourself completely in the bath, leaning against the back rest, lift a leg, bend it and bring the knee slowly towards your body, stretch the leg and repeat the exercise three times, first with one leg and then with the other. You can carry this out up to five consecutive times.
Abdominals: Immerse yourself completely in the bath, leaning against the back rest, breathe in deeply, and while you breathe out, softly contract the abdominal muscles. Do this exercise calmly, trying to do a series of five exercises. You can gradually increase up to ten consecutive exercises.
Shoulders and neck: Immerse yourself completely in the bath, leaning against the back rest. Assure that your shoulders are immersed. With a circular movement, slowly rotate the shoulders frontwards and backwards five times. After a brief pause, complete three complete exercises. You can gradually increase up to ten consecutive exercises.
In the same position and maintaining the shoulders immersed, delicately and slowly move your head from one side to the other, working on your neck muscles.
Relaxation: After having completed the exercises, put yourself in a sitting position, close your eyes and slowly do a few complete breathing cycles (inhalation and exhalation).
After a hydromassage session, wrap yourself in a dry bathrobe or towel, and lie down and relax for a few minutes: in this way you will encourage sweating and at the same time you will allow your blood pressure to return to normal level.
THE SEVEN GOLDEN RULES FOR A GOOD HYDROMASSAGE
- position and type of hydromassge jets
- regulation of rate of flow
- directability of jets
- uniform water/air mix
- internal ergonomy of tub
- ideal temperature
- ...the experience of Jacuzzi®
It is inappropriate to give general directions, valid for the entire population. Nevertheless, a few indications are given purely for safety purposes, for individuals making sporadic use of saunas and Turkish baths.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN EFFECTIVE SAUNA
- categorically avoid alcohol before having a sauna.
- categorically avoid taking any medicine which interacts with sweating (consult doctor).
- do not remain in the sauna for more than 20 minutes.
- cool off the body in a cool environment, not in cold water (unlike the practice of Northern populations).
- drink 2-4 glasses of cold water after the sauna.
- do not enter the sauna if not in perfect physical condition.
- do not have a sauna if you have fever, even if it is low.
- exit the sauna immediately if you experience symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, palpitations, fainting.
- it is essential to consult a doctor if individuals have sudden changes of pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, unstable angina pectoris, heart failure, however slight, damage to heart valves.
Individuals who have been having saunas and Turkish baths for years can continue doing so, even in the presence of abovementioned cardiovascular anomalies, provided that their doctor is informed and has given his consent.
RE-ESTABLISH HARMONY WITH ONE’S OWN NATURE (FOR STEAM BATH/HAMMAM AS WELL)
There are numerous essences which, through pleasant sensorial emotions, help us to find a better balance between ourselves and the surrounding world. A small but great help which is given to us by nature... lavender promotes relaxation, cheerfulness and good sleep, whilst rosemary, lemon and mint, are ideal for morning awakening, sharpening the attention and presence of mind. But the possibilities are infinite: it is sufficient to find those which are more in line with our way of being and with the moment in which we are living: marjoram and cypress accompany night’s sleep, the rose brings calm and balance, the tuberose Mexican agave accentuates sensuality, citronella clears the mind and encourages concentration, incense has a slightly calming effect...
Essence |
Effect |
Lavendar |
Stimulates relaxation, cheerfulness, good sleep |
Rosemary |
Sharpens attention |
Mint |
Awakens and invigorates |
Rose |
Brings calm and balance |
Tuberose |
Accentuates sensuality |
Citronella |
Encourages concentration |
Incense |
Gently calming |
The best time to have a Turkish bath is in the evening before dinner or at any rate on an empty stomach after a warm shower, even if there are no time contraindications for this treatment. It is possible to repeat two or three times a week. As previously described, the main organ involved is the skin, with dilatation of the pores and sweating. This condition leads to a deep skincleaning, removing all those accumulated substances which are considered toxic (water retention from sodium, alcohol, nicotine, metals). This also leads to all those mediators which strengthen the immunity system, ensuring prevention against illnesses or the reduction in terms of duration and frequency of exacerbation of chronic diseases (rheumatic pains, inflammation in general and in particular, that of the respiratory system). It is an excellent remedy for acne and dermatitis. The alternation between hot and cold, thanks to a widespread vasodilatation, improves blood circulation thereby facilitating the so-called vascular work out and increasing the pain threshold, thanks to the blood and lymphatic vasodilatation. In addition, the Turkish bath improves the metabolism, increasing its speed and making it easier to lose weight. As far as the central and peripheral nervous systems are concerned, it relaxes muscles and the body in general.
RE-ESTABLISH HARMONY WITH ONE’S OWN NATURE (FOR SAUNA AS WELL)
Essence |
Effect |
Lavendar |
Stimulates relaxation, cheerfulness, good sleep |
Rosemary |
Sharpens attention |
Mint |
Awakens and invigorates |
Rose |
Brings calm and balance |
Tuberose |
Accentuates sensuality |
Citronella |
Encourages concentration |
Incense |
Gently calming |
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS ON THE VARIOUS ORGANS AND SYSTEMS OF THE ORGANISM
Numerous authors have studied the effects of a Turkish bath on the individual systems. In particular it has been discovered that:
owing to a better circulation induced by the heat, the elimination of harmful substances for the body is increased
the increase in body temperature has positive effects on the central and peripheral nerv ous systems, guaranteeing muscular and general relaxation
an influence on heart and breathing frequencies is recorded
a variation in the urine composition can be found
the composition of the perspiration varies
blood pressure variations are recorded.
It is the combination of high temperature and high humidity rate, which reaches 90100% that produces the beneficial effect.The temperatures vary from the top to the floor: at head level it touches 40-50°C, subsequently reducing, at foot level, to 20°C.We are not faced, therefore, with what could be called a simple aesthetic treatment, but a real curative therapy that can be used not only to improve aesthetics, but also and especially to help a few very common pathologies.The Romans had perfected this type of therapy, with numerous stages: starting with the tepidarium which was the room with tepid air with a temperature between 30°C and 35°C; subsequently one passed on to the calidarium, the room with very hot air with a temperature between 40°C and 50°C; then one reached the laconicum, where the circulating air was dry and at a very high temperature between 55°C and 75°C; finally, one reached the frigidarium, the cold room.
Wise use of the shower helps to improve the organism’s state of wellbeing. What to do in the case of specific needs?
Acne |
Jet on the face |
Cellulitis |
Jet on the thighs |
Lumbago |
Hot jet on the lumbar region |
Haemorrhoids |
Jet on the thighs |
Insomnia |
Jet on the knees |
Hypertension |
Jet on the knees |
Headache |
Jet on the face, arms and knees. Hot jet on the nape |
Low pressure |
Jet on the chest |
Firm the skin |
Jet on the face and chest |
Mental tiredness |
Jet on the face and arms |
Stimulate circulation |
Alternating / integral jet, her on the face, arms, chest and knees |
Stiff neck |
Hot jet on the nape |
Dizziness |
Jet on the arms |
Colours which caress the body.An oriental philosophy says that “One is in Everything and Everything is in One”. Therefore, in that everything, which is our organism, every single cosmic element acts, even colour. Sentiments and emotions live in colour and through colours we can act beneficially inside ourselves, enriching the “feeling capacity” of the soul with shades, bringing new light to our view of life: red is vital energy, orange is enthusiasm and positivity, green is calm and serenity, violet is contemplation, yellow is cheerfulness, blue is relaxation and interior peace... Colours tell us about ourselves, influence our mood and even act at a physical level.