Many women and an ever-increasing amount of men often visit spas for treatments and relaxation. They are a place to escape from hectic daily lives to have a moment of calm and pampering. But just why are spas so popular? In this article, we explore the history of spas and how they have changed over time.
Where did spa therapy originate?
It was way back in Ancient Greek times when baths and spas were first used for healing and restoration of the body and mind. Before then, baths were considered solely for keeping clean and hygienic. It was the Romans who first created special thermal baths using natural hot mineral water, which led to spas popping up all over the world gaining popularity in places to enjoy the healing benefits of spa therapy.
When the Roman Empire fell around 476 ad, there was a decline in popularity of spas temporarily. It wasn’t until 1326 that spas made a reappearance after an ironmaster from Belgium discovered a natural hot springs in a town called ‘Spa’- hence where the word came from!
The start of the 19th century saw the development of spa treatments such as soaking and relaxing in hot water, drinking hot spa water, steam rooms and eventually massage. Fast forward to today and we have all sorts of beneficial spa treatments that we can choose to help us relax and rejuvenate.
What are the benefits?
We have established that spa therapy has been popular throughout the centuries and all around the world. But why are they so beneficial and who first discovered their potential healing properties? Hippocrates Asclepiades, a physician from Greece, first put forward the idea that diseases were caused by a disproportuon of bodily fluids. He advised that bathing and massage can restore the body and help prevent disease. Today many more benefits have been discovered such as: promotes better quality sleep, improves blood flow around the body, helps with mnetal health, supports weight loss and much more.
Have you visited a spa yet?
So there you have it. Spas have been around almost since the beginning of time and their benefits have been well known for centuries. Today the spa industry is bigger than ever and continues to grow in popularity. Looking after your mental health and well-being is more important than ever and visiting a spa may be a good place to start.
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