About wellness in general
Wellness tourism is one of the oldest forms of tourism, especially if we consider the ways in which the Greeks and Romans pursued well-being, then the journeys of medieval pilgrims, as well as the seaside holidays of the wealthy European classes in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Over the last two decades there has been a growing number of wellness service users, as shown by the increasing number of wellness & spa centres of various types, led by countries with a rich spa tradition, such as Hungary. The causes behind the popularity and mass appeal of wellness tourism are numerous and wide-ranging. Advances in medicine and the extension of the human lifespan, and with them innovation in preserving human health, have helped to curb many diseases, while at the same time new ones keep appearing, along with the eternal conspiracy theories about the pharmaceutical industry, which we would certainly leave aside here. However, it is an irrefutable fact that, despite many diseases having been curbed, the mental, psychological and emotional problems of modern people are also on the rise and significantly affect quality of life, as a constant hotbed and trigger for the onset of other diseases.
According to the findings of many studies, depression and illnesses that are a direct consequence of stress are among the most common illnesses of the 21st century. Naturally, in most cases, with psychiatric help, the way out of the problem is then sought in pharmaceutical psychomotor drugs, whose use certainly has other health consequences, slowly leading into a "vicious circle" of a lesser or greater evil for the person. Precisely for this reason, more and more people are seeking an escape from the modern, stressful and fast-paced way of life in wellness & spa tourism, a term increasingly used alongside the traditional name "spa" or "spa tourism", with its own new particularities. Besides the many physical benefits that the services of quality wellness & spa centres bring, the psychological ones also play a significant role, as a form of psychological and mental relaxation, encouraging the well-being of the whole organism and bringing it into a natural psychophysical balance.
Wellness should be a way of life, aimed at improving our own quality of life, so that we can achieve a balance of body, mind and spirit, while respecting our own choices and the possibilities available to us. Achieving such well-being in today's fast-paced life, with business and financial stress and an eternal lack of time for ourselves, is something of a challenge. However much we may think that this psychophysical well-being is a luxury, practising it no longer requires enormous financial investment, especially considering the growing availability of quality spas and wellness and spa centres, led by the cultures of certain countries, precisely because this segment is increasingly becoming a need of modern people rather than a kind of luxury.
Also, if we look more closely, wellness is all around us; we only need to notice it, practise it and find a little time for ourselves instead of eternal excuses. Besides the wellness tourism already mentioned, it can also be found in spiritual growth, healthy food choices, a morning walk, physical activity, socialising and good, positive thoughts.
For those who give themselves over to the experiences of wellness tourism, these become much more than classic, clichéd trips, bringing the tourist greater satisfaction and making them happier, more content and more rested. Besides the benefits of visiting a wellness & spa centre, such a tourist will surely perceive the destination itself better, so the entire impression of the trip will be remembered more fondly and will give them greater satisfaction.
Precisely because of the need imposed by modern stressful life and the growing number and better quality of tourist destinations with an abundance of wellness facilities, more and more people attach importance to this tourism segment, because after their very first visit they feel better and strive to continue practising their experiences. Also, competition between the cultures of certain nations and the natural predispositions of their regions with a developed wellness & spa offer leads to constant mutual competition in terms of quality, thereby improving their facilities, which certainly benefits the end user. For this reason, one should always choose destinations with a rich wellness & spa offer, among which certain countries lead the way, Hungary surely being one of them.
Wellness & spa — basic terms
In what follows, we will try to give people who have not visited wellness & spa centres so far, or who have little experience in this respect, a concrete picture of the most common facilities of wellness & spa centres and spas and their importance for human health needs. Namely, many would say at the outset that "wellness & spa centre" is certainly a synonym for a modern, contemporary spa, which took root overnight in the languages of other nations, including ours. The term causes much confusion among people, especially those who have not been in the habit of visiting such places, which makes them rather uncertain. There are also frequent debates about this term and how to define its meaning, with different views being expressed, even though it is regularly used wherever possible. In the literal translation from English, the word "wellness" means health, and "spa" means a bath, a mineral spring and the like. However, in use the word "wellness" has taken on a broader meaning, and we would sum it up as the essence of a healthy way of life, including a healthy diet, movement, visits to spas, physical activity, spiritual growth, socialising, positive thoughts and the like.
The word "spa" is most often used for everything related to health and involves the use and enjoyment of water or with the help of water, which may be swimming, various hydromassages, tropical rain showers, Kneipp (walking alternately in warm and cold water), a steam bath, healing thermal and mineral water and the like, so the meaning of the term "wellness & spa centre" can be translated as "health water centre". However, there is something that essentially distinguishes the meaning of the word "banja" (a traditional spa) from the borrowed term "wellness & spa centre" in our language, and that is healing spa water. Namely, wellness & spa centres are very often built on their own or as part of an accommodation complex, at a chosen location; they have health and water facilities, but they do not have officially declared healing spa water or the characteristics of a spa resort based on other parameters, whereas spas as a rule have officially certified natural healing water or some other certified parameter. Spas are usually also accompanied by a spa tradition.
We would point out that spas very often include specially built or added wellness & spa centres which use healing spa water in some of their segments. This difference should not put us off wellness & spa centres, because they are also very beneficial for health, mostly built to modern standards, and it all depends on one's actual needs. For example, people with cardiovascular problems should not use healing thermal (warm) spa water, so the very concept of a spa does not mean much to them, whereas for someone who has problems with joints, rheumatism and the like, but no cardiovascular problems, a spa with healing thermal water means more than a classic wellness & spa centre. In the last decade there has been a noticeable trend of building entertainment water facilities, popularly called aqua parks, alongside or together with wellness & spa centres, created to meet the needs of the younger population and children, so that a family stay satisfies different needs. More broadly focused centres do not overlook sports and recreational swimming pools either, nor a wider range of sports facilities alongside the wellness & spa centre.
For those who still do not know, going to a wellness & spa centre is very simple and can be enjoyed by anyone who wishes to feel better, so in the text below we will try to bring the essence of wellness & spa facilities closer and simplify it, whatever others may call it, and free you of any prejudice. To begin with, all you need is a swimsuit, a towel, slippers and the wish to feel good.
Just before entering a wellness & spa centre
For those going to a wellness & spa centre for the first time, besides slippers, a swimsuit and a towel, in most cases you also need to think about personal hygiene products (shampoo, soap, shower gel and the like), so that you can shower after your stay and use of the facilities. In some wellness & spa centres, especially those that also include accommodation, guests/clients are provided with a bathrobe, a towel and personal hygiene products, while in most wellness & spa centres the guest/client also receives a cotton sheet to be used when going into the saunas. In most wellness centres, on entering and after buying a ticket, the guest/client receives a waterproof magnetic wristband, which is also the key to the locker in which the guest/client keeps all their personal belongings locked after changing, i.e. while using the wellness & spa centre. Some wellness & spa centres use wristbands with small keys attached and the locker number written on them, or classic keys, which are gradually being superseded as technology develops, while the magnetic wristbands described above are becoming more and more common.
After changing and locking their personal belongings in the locker, the guest/client goes to the wellness & spa area. We would point out that in most wellness & spa centres it is common practice for the standard ticket (admission) price to include the use of all wellness & spa facilities, except those that require the direct involvement and expertise of staff with the client, such as massages, medical treatments, beauty salons and the like; this certainly depends on the business policy of the centre itself, and it is up to the guest/client to choose, when buying, whether they want additional services or not. In most cases, existing wellness & spa centres are arranged so that the only way from the changing room to the wellness & spa area passes through a washroom with hot and cold water, separate for men and women, which is also the way back to the changing rooms; just before entering the wellness & spa area, the guest/client walks through a small, shallow foot-disinfection pool. Throughout your stay in a wellness & spa centre you need to pay attention to the slippery and wet floor, which can be a real danger of slipping and falling; however, in well-equipped wellness & spa centres, non-slip strips are provided at critical points and the tiles are made of slip-resistant material, but regardless of this, we certainly advise extra caution in this respect.
Facilities of wellness & spa centres
It is well known that not all wellness & spa centres have the same facilities, which of course depends on the size of the centre and the number and quality of its facilities. Our task is simply to show the potential user what wellness & spa facilities there can be, what they are good for and how they are used. The wellness & spa facilities we most often come across are the following:
- Finnish sauna
- bio sauna
- infrared sauna
- aroma sauna
- chromotherapy sauna
- steam (Turkish) bath
- ice-water pool (after the saunas)
- ice cave
- salt room (halotherapy)
- Kneipp path
- tropical rain shower
- tepidarium
- hydromassage tubs (Jacuzzi)
- pools with hydromassage and warm water
- salt-water pool
- quiet relaxation room
- healing thermal water for bathing (spas)
- healing mineral drinking water (spas)
- massage salon
- beauty salon
- recreational swimming pool
Saunas
There are different types of saunas, which will be discussed separately. Before describing each individual type, we would deal with the general benefits of using saunas and the precautions. It is widely believed that the sauna originates from Finland, as confirmed by the very name "Finnish sauna"; however, this is only partly true, given that a large number of peoples around the world, including of course the Finns, have since ancient times used various forms of saunas for the healing properties they provide.
The use of saunas since ancient times is well known in the Scandinavian countries, in the baths of the Russian lands and in the Arab countries, so spending time in saunas is nothing new. In ancient times people regarded saunas as sacred places. The sauna was a place where the whole family gathered and where tradition was kept, a place of recovery and healing, but also a place where women gave birth and where the dead were prepared for their journey to eternal rest.
The fact that saunas have existed for centuries speaks volumes about how serious their positive effects are for the users whose needs gave rise to them and kept them alive all this time, while they gain ever greater importance for modern people. The benefits of spending time in a sauna are felt very quickly. If the people using them are in satisfactory health, time in a sauna can only do them good.
Benefits of using a sauna
Saunas are used all over the world for enjoyment, relaxation and improving one's health. During a stay in a sauna, the heat stimulates blood circulation, which leads to a large amount of sweating. Sweating allows the body to rid itself of harmful substances and improves blood circulation, which is nowadays a common problem faced by people of all ages and a precondition for the development of other diseases. The sweating of the body that occurs during a sauna session frees the organism of harmful substances and toxins, strengthens the immune system, releases tension from the body and relieves the organism of stress. Time in a sauna will make you feel healthier and lighter. The benefits for the sauna user are manifold, and the effect achieved is both physical and psychological.
People who play sport recreationally or professionally, or those under great physical and mental strain, often spend time in the sauna after training or other exhausting activities. A sauna very easily removes annoying muscle soreness. In the Scandinavian countries, in some large factories, employees can use saunas within the factory during their breaks in working hours. Those with less physical activity compare time in the sauna and its effects to a good workout, which is the wish of many — to have their body in excellent condition without physical exertion, just by spending time in the sauna. Before and after using the sauna it is essential to take in as much fluid as possible, given that using the sauna causes a considerable loss of fluid through sweat, which must be quickly replenished to avoid dehydration of the organism. Besides being able to relieve the symptoms of some milder illnesses, such as the common cold, time in the sauna certainly ensures muscle recovery after strenuous exercise and exposure to great physical and mental strain.
Besides the physical benefits, time in the sauna stimulates the release of serotonin (the happiness hormone), making a person feel more content and happier, which directly affects a person's mental state, thus achieving a positive psychophysical balance of the whole organism. Many people fight depression and anxiety precisely in saunas. After a sauna session they feel that their mind has been relieved of everyday worries and stress, and a sense of life and strength passes from the mind to the body. In addition, proper use of the sauna visibly cleanses the complexion and makes the skin smooth and beautiful. The first effects of the sauna are seen precisely on the skin. Profuse sweating cleanses the skin better and more naturally than any pharmaceutical product.
It opens the pores and allows dead cells and impurities deep in the skin to come to the surface. Macro- and microcirculation improve, and the skin gains a healthy glow, tone and elasticity. The sauna has an extremely favourable effect on chronic respiratory problems such as bronchitis, asthma and allergies. Blood flow in the airways improves many times over, the lungs are hydrated, and the mucous membranes of the lungs, throat and nose are cleared of mucus and allergens. Although the sauna has a positive effect on people suffering from asthma and makes their breathing easier, the sauna is not recommended in the case of acute asthma problems. The recommendation is to use saunas as often as you can, preferably 3 times a week and no more than three cycles within one session. Between sessions when using saunas, it is essential to take a break and rest for at least 20 minutes.
Precautions when using a sauna
Too long an exposure to heat in the sauna can lead to loss of consciousness due to overheating of the body, so while in the sauna you certainly need to listen to how you feel and not force the time if you do not feel well. If you feel dizzy or have trouble breathing, leave the sauna immediately. Using the sauna is certainly a kind of training too, and longer stays must be practised over time so that the organism gets used to them, so beginners are advised to stay for shorter periods or to use saunas with lower temperatures and sit on the lower benches. Using saunas is by no means recommended for people who have consumed alcohol or who are under the influence of narcotics. Also, it is not advisable to eat a meal before going to the sauna.
Children must not stay in the sauna without the supervision and presence of an adult, and the use of saunas with temperatures above 60 °C is not recommended for children under 8 years of age. Wearing contact lenses or any jewellery in the sauna is not allowed. Avoid the sauna if you are receiving therapy consisting of sedatives or if you are taking stimulants. Saunas are not recommended for people with high blood pressure, a "pacemaker", heart patients, or people with extremely low blood pressure, varicose veins or venous thrombosis, acute infections, pregnant women and small children. Slippers, jewellery, watches and the like are never taken into the sauna. In wellness & spa centres, the various saunas are usually grouped within a separate area called the "sauna world", "sauna place", "sauna park" and the like.
Instructions for the proper use of saunas are described in more detail for the individual types in the following content.
Finnish sauna
It is widely believed that this type of sauna originates from Finland, as confirmed by the very name "Finnish sauna", and although there are different opinions about the place and time of its origin, we focus on the essence of the importance of the Finnish sauna and the way it is used.
A Finnish sauna is a smaller or larger wooden room with an air temperature of 70–100 °C and low air humidity of 10 to 15 %, which is why it is also called a dry sauna. Saunas differ mainly in their heat source, so there are electric, gas and solar saunas, as well as those heated by burning wood. The latter are rarely used nowadays, except in traditional saunas that preserve the original values of their origin. If water is poured over the hot stones, the humidity increases. The water poured over the stones can be enriched with natural aromas and essential oils of mint, orange, lemon, birch, lavender, pine and the like. This gives an additional positive effect by engaging the sense of smell. Inside there are wooden benches at different heights.
If you sit on the higher benches, the air temperature is a few degrees higher. One usually starts by lying or sitting at the lower level, so that the organism gradually gets used to the temperatures. A stay in the Finnish sauna should last from 6 to 15 minutes, depending on the person and their tolerance of high temperatures.
Today's wellness & spa centre is unthinkable without a Finnish sauna among its facilities. This is the most frequently used sauna and it is found in almost all wellness & spa centres. The size of the sauna itself is not defined, so larger or smaller ones are used. Wellness & spa centres that host groups of guests, such as national sports teams, or centres that hold sauna sessions, tend to include larger Finnish saunas that can be used by a larger number of people at once. There are also small Finnish saunas that take up to three people. Quality as such should not depend on size.
Using the Finnish sauna
Before using any sauna, the body needs to be clean and dry, and you should not enter the sauna after using the pool without first showering thoroughly, so that no traces of chlorine remain on the skin, given that the pores of the skin open during sauna use, so chemical substances and impurities on the skin are certainly not desirable.
The sauna user's skin needs to be dry so that sweating begins sooner. Proper use of the Finnish sauna involves the use of cotton, non-transparent sheets (wraps), since it is assumed that the swimsuit is taken off before entering the sauna and that one wraps oneself in a cotton sheet. This rule of taking off the swimsuit is based on the assumption that the swimsuit is wet and full of chlorine, which evaporates as it heats up and is inhaled by users, and also on the need for complete comfort and for the skin to "breathe" properly.
In practice, however, this is not always the case and depends on the policy of the wellness & spa centre itself. In practice, taking off the swimsuit is usually not required, but regardless of this, when using the sauna it is obligatory to use a cotton sheet, which is usually provided on entering the wellness & spa centre, or your own dry, clean towel, which is placed where you sit or lie so that it absorbs sweat and so that you do not sit with bare skin in a place the previous user has made wet with their own sweat. Given that a lot of fluid is generally lost through sweating due to the high temperatures when using the sauna, before entering the sauna it is essential to drink at least two decilitres of water, or more depending on how thirsty you feel, and to repeat this after use. It is not advisable to sip water in the Finnish sauna during your stay; this should be done before and after use. After using the sauna, a thorough shower with somewhat colder water is a must, followed by entering a pool of completely cold water, which in better-equipped wellness & spa centres is usually located right next to the "sauna area" or near the Finnish sauna itself, and then going out into the fresh air for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the outside air temperature, i.e. the season.
In some wellness & spa centres there are showers which, instead of a classic shower head, have a bucket of water in a wooden container overhead, from which the user pours colder water over themselves by pulling a rope. The effect of cold water after using the sauna is of great importance for circulation, and going out into the fresh air after that helps deliver oxygen to all the organs of the body. Namely, after warming up in the sauna, the blood vessels in the human body dilate, and on entering cold water they contract, which significantly reduces the volume of the blood vessels and stimulates blood circulation throughout the organism. For many, this very effect is the most important and, once it is done, gives the greatest satisfaction. After this, the user's body and face are flushed, and the user feels very good. Even if we do not feel thirsty at that moment, we need to drink water. There are different theories about the order of things after leaving the sauna. Some of them say that after showering and drinking fresh water you should go out into the air and then enter the cold water, and vice versa; either way, you cannot go wrong with one procedure or the other — what matters is to complete the routine after using the sauna: drinking water, showering, a few minutes in cold water and fresh air.
From what we have seen so far in practice in various wellness & spa centres, we would point out to users that many, after using the sauna and still wet with sweat, carelessly go straight into the cold-water pool without showering first, which, besides being dangerous, is certainly very impolite and unhygienic, given that other clients use the same cold water; we therefore urge everyone to shower thoroughly after using the sauna and before entering the cold-water pool. Besides the hygienic reason, showering is also necessary to prepare the body for the colder water.
We would point out that while using the Finnish sauna, water can be poured over the heat source, the hot stones, which increases the heat and the humidity of the air. For this purpose, saunas usually have a wooden bucket of water and a large wooden ladle for pouring over the heat source. The water can be enriched with natural essential oils of various plants, such as cinnamon, birch, pine, orange, lemon, lavender and the like, as well as combinations of them, which awaken the sense of smell and have a positive effect on the respiratory organs, help neutralise the effects of bacteria, and act as a psychological stimulus in the fight against anxiety, depression and the consequences of stress.
Sauna sessions
In wellness & spa centres that take care of their image, holding sauna sessions is an increasingly common trend, to make the clients' experience better and more complete. Sauna sessions are held exclusively in Finnish saunas at high temperatures above 90 °C, led by a specially trained sauna master who conducts the session for the sauna users. They last from 10 to 15 minutes, and wellness centres usually have a timetable of sessions, held every hour or every two hours, depending on the policy of the wellness & spa centre itself. At the time set for a session, all interested clients gather as a group in front of the Finnish sauna and, when the sauna master arrives, take their places.
During a session, for the whole time spent in the sauna, water enriched with natural essential oils is used to pour over the heat source, i.e. the hot stones, whose vapours fill the sauna and generally increase the humidity of the air. Also, besides pouring water over the heat source, the sauna master leading the session takes care to periodically let in fresh air by opening the door, and circulates the air in the closed space using a towel and a cotton sheet, which at certain moments further increases the temperature and stimulates sweating, while the vapours of the natural essential oils have a positive effect on the users' psychophysical state through the sense of smell. Also, depending on the type of session, honey, milk, plain sour cream, beer and similar natural products, provided by the session organiser, are often used to rub onto the skin. In the sauna, the pores of the skin open and the natural healing ingredients of the products applied are better absorbed, making the skin more beautiful and healthier.
To scent the water poured over the hot stones, essential oils of lemon, orange, pine, lavender, mint and the like are usually used, alone or mixed in a certain combination, and each of them has a particular effect on the users' health. Some are good for fighting depression and anxiety, some against bacteria in the throat and nose, some for the skin and so on, which the sauna master usually talks about while conducting the session. Water with essential oils, and pouring water over the heat source and hot stones, can generally also be used outside sauna sessions if it does not bother other users present at the same time, whom you should ask first. You should be aware that pouring water over the heat source and stones generally increases the humidity of the air and the feeling of heat. The routine before and after sauna sessions is the same as with ordinary sauna use. Sauna sessions are usually not charged extra; however, this is not always the case and depends on the policy of the wellness & spa centre itself.
Bio sauna
The bio sauna is similar in description to the Finnish sauna, only with a lower temperature than the Finnish sauna. The air temperature in a bio sauna is between 55 and 60 °C, and the air humidity is 35–50 %, which has a beneficial effect on the body, opens the pores of the skin and is above all suitable for people who have problems with water retention in the body and people who are particularly sensitive and find the high temperatures of the Finnish sauna harder to tolerate. This sauna is a combination of the Finnish sauna and the steam sauna and imitates the climate of a tropical forest. A longer stay is intended in the bio sauna than in the Finnish sauna, up to 45 minutes. A rest between individual stays in the bio sauna is obligatory. The sauna is used in the same way as already described for the Finnish sauna, with the difference that it is possible to drink water while using the sauna.
Infrared sauna
The temperature in an infrared sauna is from 50 to 60 °C, and the recommended stay is from 20 to 30 minutes. Only one cycle without repetition is needed.
Infrared heat is a form of energy that is essential for the health of all living beings. If the body does not receive a sufficient amount of infrared rays from the sun, over time we become ill and depressed. All life on earth needs a larger amount of infrared light to be completely calm and healthy. Infrared radiation penetrates deep into our joints, skin, muscles and tissues, speeding up circulation and improving the supply of oxygen to tissues and organs.
The heat of infrared therapy dilates the capillaries, which begins the removal of hidden toxins. Infrared heat is a balm for a positive state of the nervous system; it regulates digestive disorders, helps burn fatty tissue and normalises blood pressure. Thanks to its deep action, sweating occurs from the inside towards the surface of the skin, and the amount and intensity of sweating is up to three times greater than in classic saunas, even though the temperature of the infrared sauna is lower. Because of its lower temperature compared with the Finnish sauna, the infrared sauna is easier to tolerate and does not put too much strain on breathing, yet it certainly stimulates profuse sweating. This energy is completely safe and natural, without the effect of harmful rays. The same heating technology is used in incubators for newborns as well as in many physical rehabilitation procedures.
Warming the body leads to increased sweating, blood circulation and the breakdown of harmful substances (fats, toxins, cellulite, heavy metals) and their elimination through the skin. Infrared radiation stimulates the release of endorphins (happiness hormones), which leads to a good mood, so it is of great importance in the fight against stress; it relaxes and releases nervous and emotional tension. Treatments in an infrared sauna have a calming effect on the nervous system, help with insomnia and reduce stress and neuroses. The great importance of using an infrared sauna is also seen in relieving muscle tension and detoxifying the organism; it promotes tissue regeneration and has a beneficial effect on the joints and the lymphatic system. With regular use of the infrared sauna, fat and excess kilos are lost, concentration improves, immunity is strengthened and the body fights viruses and infections. It is particularly recommended for speeding up recovery after sports injuries, joint and muscle pain, chronic fatigue, frequent headaches and depression. Women like to use the infrared sauna because, with regular use, it successfully eliminates cellulite.
The infrared sauna is used in a similar way to the Finnish sauna, except that the stay in the infrared sauna is longer. Unlike in the Finnish sauna, it is possible and desirable to drink fluids during the stay in the infrared sauna itself. The heat source is not hot stones but heating panels or rods that heat the sauna with infrared rays and are installed inside the wooden walls of the sauna. Water is not poured over the heat source as it can be in the Finnish sauna. After use, the routine already described in detail for the Finnish sauna is advisable: showering, entering cold water, drinking water and other fluids, and going out into the fresh air.
Aroma sauna
Aroma saunas place the emphasis on fragrant aromas, in addition to the general importance and benefits provided by the sauna itself. Namely, the aroma sauna is a broader concept, so using a Finnish or bio sauna with scented water — natural essential oils poured over the heat source, the hot stones, during the stay — can certainly be called an aroma sauna. The natural aromatic essential oils added to the water are usually based on orange, lemon, pine, birch, St John's wort, mint and the like, and with their beneficial properties they relax the sauna users through the sense of smell; each of them has specific beneficial properties, from disinfecting the airways and fighting allergies to fighting depression and anxiety, all depending on the blend of natural aromas.
Besides plant aromas, beer is also widely used, although the importance of beer is seen more in the deposition of B vitamins on the user's skin as it evaporates and condenses — on which we in fact hold a doubtful view, given that the B vitamin from beer can hardly survive in that form and at high temperatures and be of any benefit to the skin, even though this form of scenting is quite widespread in some sauna sessions. Besides scenting the sauna with aromatic oils, in some wellness & spa centres you can find saunas with dried plants hanging in them, which have a pronounced aroma and make breathing such air beneficial, for example lavender. Due to the high temperatures, the plants release their own aroma, which has a soothing, antiseptic and relaxing effect on the user's organism. In more modern wellness & spa centres there are even specially built aroma saunas (aroma cabins), which have lower temperatures of 30 to 40 °C and, using special devices built into the sauna walls, release the aromas of essential oils, alternating between several different ones. The aroma sauna is used in almost the same way as already described for the Finnish sauna.
Chromotherapy sauna
A chromotherapy sauna is a sauna which, in addition to the general positive effect of the sauna already described, also has chromotherapeutic effects, i.e. healing with the help of carefully chosen colours. Chromotherapy, or colour therapy, is a holistic method of healing. It uses frequencies that create different shades of colour to bring the body back into perfect balance. Colour is light of different wavelengths and frequencies, which make up only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The history of healing with colours has its roots in ancient Egypt, which indicates that colour therapy is connected with ancient civilisations. Around 2500 years ago, Pythagoras applied colour therapy, which was used for healing in ancient Egypt, China and India. There are ancient writings indicating that this type of therapy dates back thousands of years. Colour therapy can be used to treat physical, mental, emotional or spiritual problems, as well as for relaxation. Saunas that use colour light effects as a rule look a little different from classic saunas. These are also smaller or larger wooden rooms, usually furnished with wooden loungers instead of benches, designed so that the legs are raised higher than on classic loungers, with the head of course facing upwards. Carefully chosen light effects that produce colours for therapeutic purposes are installed in the ceiling. There is no clearly defined temperature in such saunas, but they usually work like Finnish saunas with a lower temperature, so that a stay in them can be somewhat longer than in the Finnish one.
Chromotherapy can also be applied independently of saunas, in rest and relaxation rooms, during the breaks between sauna sessions. In relaxation rooms you can find specially designed loungers, while the ceiling and interior change colour according to a special, professionally chosen relaxation programme. Above all, rest rooms radiate peace and quiet.
Steam (Turkish) bath
A steam or Turkish bath is a type of sauna with high air humidity of up to 100 % and a temperature ranging from 40 to 50 °C. Steam baths are an ancient type of bath and date back to Roman times. They help overcome the stresses of everyday life, relax and regain strength, and improve general physical and mental well-being.
The steam bath was popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. Many consider the Turkish bath, or hammam, a true pleasure that is good for the organism, invigorating and refreshing. Because of the high humidity, steam baths are never made of wood, but mostly of small tiles. The space of a Turkish bath is most often furnished in an oriental style. They are particularly recommended in cases of bronchial asthma, bronchitis, upper respiratory tract problems, cough, hoarseness, expectoration (especially with the help of essential oils) and painful joint movement. A steam bath usually also has a tap or a spray hose with cold water for occasional cooling down. During their stay in steam baths, many people use salt to exfoliate the skin after just a few minutes inside.
The steam bath is entered only in a swimsuit; since the humidity is extremely high and all the surfaces inside are wet, wearing a towel or cotton sheet would be pointless and everything would quickly get wet. The intended stay in the steam bath ranges from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on how well you personally tolerate high humidity combined with a high temperature. After using the steam bath you need to shower and drink plenty of fluids; it is advisable to enter the cold-water pool and after that, if possible, go out into the fresh air, as described for after using the Finnish sauna.
Ice-water pool (after the saunas)
After using the sauna, the blood vessels are dilated and the organism is warmed up; cooling down by entering ice-cold water causes the blood vessels to constrict and reduces their volume, which stimulates better circulation. Many people like to use saunas precisely because of this effect. It is important to proceed correctly after using the sauna and first shower thoroughly with slightly colder water, so that the organism gets used to the temperature difference and is prepared for entering the cold water. Showering is also necessary because after leaving the sauna we are wet from profuse sweating, so it is very unhygienic and extremely impolite to enter a pool used by other clients without first showering, which in practice is actually quite common; we therefore take this opportunity to urge everyone always to shower before entering the pool. As described earlier, after using the sauna you need to drink plenty of water and fluids to replace what was lost through excessive sweating, and then go out into the fresh air.
Better-equipped wellness & spa centres have a small cold-water pool for cooling down after using the saunas, located right next to the saunas. The area containing the saunas is usually combined into a separate unit and given various names such as "sauna world", "sauna park" and the like.
Ice room (cave)
An ice room (cave) is a cold room, which can be stylishly designed to reproduce the setting of a natural cave. The temperature in ice rooms is around 4 °C. Using the ice cave has a positive effect on the organism because it stimulates circulation and strengthens the metabolism. It is usually used in combination with saunas, i.e. after using them. It is precisely the hot–cold combination that makes the blood vessels dilate and contract, stimulating circulation. It is used alongside or instead of the cold pool after using the sauna. It plays a special role in the summer months after using the sauna. Ice rooms can be enriched with aromatic properties. A stay in the ice room lasts a few minutes, i.e. depending on how the user feels.
Crushed ice
In many, almost all, wellness & spa centres you can also see a machine that produces crushed ice. The ice is likewise intended for cooling down after using the saunas, and the extreme temperature difference after the sauna achieved with ice causes the blood vessels to constrict after using the sauna, stimulating circulation. Some prefer to use ice for cooling down because they want to expose certain points on the body more to extreme temperature differences and a stronger effect of blood-vessel constriction, while others do so for hygienic reasons, not wanting to use the cold-water pools after the saunas because of the crowds of people who do so in the same pool, many of whom do not use the showers after using the sauna and before entering the cold-water pool, which unfortunately is not rare in practice.
Salt room (halotherapy)
Salt therapy (halotherapy) is one of the oldest forms of air therapy, based on sick people staying in salt caves because of the healing effect of their microclimate on human health. It all began when the Polish physician Felix Bochkovsky pointed out, as early as 1843, the significant therapeutic effects of rock salt on patients who stayed in the Solotvyno salt mines, located in what is today Ukraine. After that, the use of salt for therapeutic purposes became a practice in many countries across Europe that is increasingly widespread today.
A salt room should be a specially constructed enclosed space whose walls and ceiling are lined with salt in order to imitate a natural cave. The floor should also be covered with loose salt, more than 30 cm deep. Using a special certified device, a halogenerator, dry air saturated with the finest particles of rock salt is blown into the room, creating the desired microclimate. The temperature in the salt room ranges from 18 °C to 25 °C and the air humidity from 40 % to 60 %. Under such conditions, the salt aerosols should as a rule contain minerals that take part in numerous physiological processes of the organism, such as sodium chloride, iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, selenium and lithium. The conditions created in the salt room have properties favourable to the users' health in terms of antiseptic and anti-allergic action. The large amount of salt present improves the quality of the air, because a concentration of negative ions is created, which have beneficial biological effects on human breathing and the cardiovascular system, as well as on the defence system, i.e. the users' metabolism. In addition, a stay in the salt room stimulates the release of serotonin (the happiness hormone), and therefore affects a person's psychological state and the fight against depression and neuroses.
Negatively charged ions improve mood and relieve headaches, general fatigue, poor concentration, insomnia and neuroses, and strengthen immunity. They have a positive effect on breathing and heart function. Salt therapy is used exclusively as a complementary method in treating diseases of the upper and lower respiratory organs and the skin. The salt room is visited most by people suffering from chronic allergies and people with other complaints caused by difficulty breathing, such as asthmatics.
Besides the well-made salt rooms described above, in practice wellness & spa centres most often have simpler, more modestly made salt rooms, which have only salt walls or salt motifs on the walls, and just a halogenerator in a given room, without a large amount of salt. It is assumed that the quality and effectiveness of such salt rooms is far lower; however, to establish the real health benefit of particular salt rooms, a precise medical analysis of them by qualified medical specialists is necessary.
The intended stay in the salt room within one session is from 30 to 40 minutes, and for children a stay of 20 minutes is intended. A salt room made entirely of salt, including the floors, should as a rule be entered wearing special disposable sterile covers pulled over bare feet. After leaving the salt room, the disposable covers are thrown into a special basket located outside the salt room. In salt rooms with no salt on the floor, you as a rule enter without slippers, barefoot.
Kneipp path
The German priest Sebastian Kneipp (1821–1897) developed a broader system of treatment with water of different temperatures. He himself was ill with tuberculosis, and he personally felt that occasional short baths in the cold Danube during the winter helped him, and that the temperature difference strengthened his immunity, which is believed to have helped him overcome the disease. The Kneipp path was named after Sebastian Kneipp. His system of treatment is considerably broader and is based on the difference in temperature between warm and cold water, ranging from cold to hot, to stimulate the nerves, blood vessels and internal organs. It is certainly common knowledge that a daily warm shower should end with cold water to achieve better circulation and wake the organism up, and the Kneipp path makes better and more thorough use of this for the human organism.
A Kneipp path (Kneipp pools/basins) with warm and cold water consists of basins arranged alternately one after another — usually two, one with warm and one with cold water — that run in a circle, closing it. The circle can be regular or irregular in shape, shorter or longer. The Kneipp path does not have to be laid out in a circle; it can also be built as a straight path. The depth of the basins ranges from 20 to 40 cm. The temperature of the cold water is 15–20 °C, and of the warm water 40–50 °C. The bottom of the basins is usually covered with small and larger stones with smooth edges, so that the feet are not cut when walking. One of the aims of walking on the stones is to stimulate the reflex zones on the feet. They are used by stepping through the water, lifting the feet out of the water with each step and gently lowering them back in. The effect of walking alternately in this way through cold and warm water stimulates micro- and macrocirculation, which certainly has many benefits for the organism. The blood vessels in the legs alternately dilate in the warm water and contract in the cold water, which directly improves circulation and the delivery of blood to all parts of the body and the organs. Poor circulation is considered to be the cause of many diseases, as well as of the organism's weakness in coping with existing diseases. Improved circulation strengthens immunity, concentration and brain function, and generally makes us feel better and fresher. The effect of using the Kneipp path is especially good for people prone to swollen legs and those who have problems with circulation in their legs. In addition, using the Kneipp path also strengthens weakened leg muscles.
Besides the Kneipp path described above, which is the most common, there are also other forms of Kneipp therapy and ways of improving circulation that achieve a similar effect.
The Kneipp path is used by the user walking slowly over the stones, alternately through the warm and cold water, for at least 15 minutes.
Tropical rain shower
A tropical rain shower, i.e. a directed jet of water with droplets of various sizes onto a particular part of the body such as the shoulders, neck, back, legs and the like, as well as onto the body under a certain pressure, has a positive effect on headaches and migraines, tension in the shoulders and neck, mild depression and dizziness. The effect of tropical rain showers is very often accompanied by chromotherapy (colour therapy) and by sounds imitating the soothing sound of birds and of droplets falling on leaves, which further calms the user. In wellness & spa centres, tropical rain showers are found individually in the form of specialised showers (shower cabins) or above warm-water pools, combined with hydromassage. Stylised caves enriched with chromotherapy combined with tropical rain showers can also be seen. The intended time spent under tropical rain showers is not defined, so they should be used for relaxation at the user's own discretion and according to how they feel.
Tepidarium
A tepidarium is a calm and quiet room with loungers heated to 37 °C to 39 °C, i.e. to a temperature close to body temperature. As a result, the body gives off as much heat as it receives, with minimal use of energy. The body warms up without sweating, the blood vessels dilate due to the heat and blood flow improves, thereby strengthening immunity. The heat coming from the loungers has a very pleasant effect on the nervous system and brings the organism back into natural balance. Because of its positive and calming effect on the organism, it is recommended for people of all ages. The tepidarium is otherwise intended as a place to prepare before entering the steam bath; however, in practice it is also used independently for resting between sauna sessions. The pleasant temperature, close to body temperature, spreading under the user's body, frees the body of negative tension and cramps caused by everyday stress. The warm loungers are made of hard material, usually covered with small tiles, and designed to be kind to the spine when lying down. The legs and head are usually at a higher point than when lying flat.
Hydromassage tubs (Jacuzzi)
Hydromassage tubs, popularly called Jacuzzis, can be found in some wellness & spa centres; however, instead of hydromassage tubs, wellness & spa centres mostly have professionally built smaller and larger warm-water pools with various forms of hydromassage that replace classic Jacuzzi tubs. Jacuzzi tubs are usually found in smaller, more modest wellness centres, where there are no hydromassage pools, or as an extra feature in a separately isolated VIP area. Today, centres are increasingly expected to have larger stylish pools, where one can swim gently and move about, with hydromassage facilities taken for granted. The water temperature in hydromassage tubs is around 30 degrees. It is used to relax the muscles, against stiffness and for relaxation. It has a positive effect on relieving stress. The intended time in Jacuzzi tubs is not defined and depends on individual needs.
Pools with hydromassage and warm water
All larger wellness & spa centres usually include stylishly designed hydromassage pools with warm water, whose temperature ranges from 25 to 35 °C. Depending on the wellness & spa centre, these pools can be smaller or larger, with separate or mixed hydromassage features within the pool. In hydromassage pools you can usually move about and swim gently, which of course depends on the size and features of the pool. Some of them have sections that lead into a separate space, within the same water facility, with tropical rain showers (described earlier) and colour therapy (chromotherapy) and sound therapy. In practice, hydromassage pools are the places where, after the sauna park, visitors spend the most time, relaxing and enjoying themselves. Hydromassages can vary in content and are intended for different parts of the body, from jets rising from the pool floor for the feet and calves, through jets coming from the walls for the legs and back, to those that release water in a stream above the pool at various intensities for hydromassage of the shoulders and neck. There are also parts of hydromassage pools where you lie on jets that relax the whole body. The features of hydromassage pools vary between wellness & spa centres; recently the trend is for them to be ever richer and of higher quality, and visitors are becoming ever more demanding in this respect. Hydromassage is very useful for rheumatic conditions and venous circulation disorders, as well as for relieving physical and mental fatigue and tension. There are special medical hydromassage therapies, carried out in specialised hydromassage tubs under expert supervision and in a separate part of the wellness & spa centre; such services are usually charged extra and booked separately.
Salt-water pool
In some wellness & spa centres you may also come across a salt-water pool, which in principle is a rare feature of wellness & spa centres. These are usually smaller pools, with a salt concentration in the water roughly equal to that of sea water; it should refresh, strengthen the muscles, stimulate heart function and circulation, tone the skin and make it smooth, relax, and it is a good remedy against stress. However, our opinion is that only real sea water can achieve the best effect, in combination with a maritime climate.
Quiet relaxation room
An indispensable feature of wellness & spa centres is a quiet corner with loungers for resting. Depending on the wellness centre, this corner can be a separate room for relaxation and rest. It may contain classic loungers, beds with waterproof covers or tepidariums, which were discussed earlier. In better-equipped wellness & spa centres, the atmosphere of these rooms is enriched with chromotherapy effects (colour healing), discussed earlier, as well as fragrant relaxing aromas. The essence is that peace and quiet prevail in these rooms, which is not always the case, because many visitors lie in these rooms and talk, thereby breaking this rule, so we also urge you to bear in mind, when staying in the rest rooms, that their purpose is rest and silence, for the complete relaxation of mind and body. The relaxation room is usually used between sauna sessions or as you feel during your stay in the wellness & spa centre. In general, the whole stay in a wellness & spa centre should radiate peace and quiet, which, we note again, is not always the case in practice.
Healing thermal water for bathing
Healing thermal (warm) water for bathing is found exclusively in spas. It is water with officially certified healing constituents, and the chemical structure of the water, as well as its temperature at the source, differs from one spring, i.e. spa, to another. Consequently, the healing effectiveness of this water is not the same in all spas, nor is it suitable for relieving the same health complaints. It can have a different content and ratio of minerals, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese and the like. The healing effectiveness of bathing in the healing thermal waters of spas varies; healing thermal water is usually used to relieve the effects of rheumatic diseases, diseases of the tendons and muscles, peripheral nerve lesions, gynaecological and skin conditions and the like, although the range of health complaints it is used for narrows or widens depending on the spa.
Also, the use of healing thermal spa water relieves the effects of stress, fatigue, irritability, reduced concentration and memory, as well as sleep disorders. Of course, information on the specific effectiveness is obtained at individual spas, based on official certificates. The length of an uninterrupted stay in thermal water is also specified, depending on the temperature of the water and its composition, separately at each spa, and is usually clearly displayed right next to the healing thermal water. In most cases, an uninterrupted stay in thermal spa water is about 15 minutes, and the procedure is repeated during the day. People suffering from high blood pressure and heart conditions should not stay in thermal water.
Traditional spas almost always have additional wellness & spa facilities.
Healing mineral drinking water (spas)
Healing mineral drinking water is mostly available free of charge at spas while using their facilities. Of course, not all spas have it. Given that most spas have built additional wellness & spa facilities, using them combined with the possibility of drinking healing mineral spa water is ideal, especially considering that you need to drink plenty of fluids when using saunas. For a healing mineral water to have that status, an official certificate is certainly required. As with healing thermal waters for bathing, healing mineral drinking water has a different chemical and organoleptic composition depending on the spa and the spring, so its healing properties are also varied and depend on the specific spring or spa. Some of them are good for stomach complaints, improve digestion, relieve constipation and are good for the stomach, while some are suitable for liver and kidney function and the like. For some spa waters there are also limits on the permitted daily intake, and excessive intake can cause additional health consequences. This information is of course available precisely at the specific spas and wellness & spa centres.
Massage and beauty salons
Wellness & spa centres usually include massage and body care salons offering various wellness treatments. Such services are not included in the standard admission price, but are as a rule charged extra and booked separately. Within wellness & spa centres there are separate massage rooms, specialised and equipped according to the type of massage performed in them. Various types of massage are offered, such as relaxation, partial, anti-cellulite, sports, anti-stress, shiatsu and royal massages, foot reflexology, hot volcanic stone massage, chocolate massage and the like, each with its own particularities depending on the type. A massage is the right choice after using the saunas, because the muscles are then soft and relaxed. In addition, wellness & spa centres also offer specialised face and body care treatments, depending on the facilities of the centre itself.
Recreational swimming pool and aqua park
Alongside wellness & spa centres with more facilities, you can usually find recreational swimming pools up to 25 or 33 metres long. If there is a professional Olympic swimming pool next to the wellness & spa centre, then we can already speak of a sports and recreation centre with accompanying wellness & spa facilities, which often also has facilities for children, i.e. an aqua park, where the whole family, i.e. visitors of all ages, can enjoy their visit. Swimming combined with wellness & spa facilities is a real pleasure, given that the full effect of the saunas and other wellness & spa facilities is felt best precisely in combination with prior physical activity, in this case swimming. Using the wellness & spa facilities after swimming relaxes the muscles and brings complete relaxation of the whole organism. Therefore, if you plan to swim or do any other sporting activity, you should always do it before using the other wellness & spa facilities.
An aqua park is primarily intended for the youngest, but older people, i.e. parents, are also very happy to use it. When a centre combines swimming pools, wellness & spa and an aqua park, we are talking about a complete, well-rounded whole that meets all the visitors' needs regardless of age and is ideal for family visits and enjoyment over several days. Such centres of course also include restaurants and cafés, and accommodation is often within the complex or in its immediate vicinity. Aqua parks can vary in facilities and size; they can also be indoor or outdoor, i.e. open all year round or seasonal. Modern aqua parks can open their glass surfaces in summer and are a real attraction all year round. The facilities of aqua parks are of course dominated by larger or smaller water slides of various kinds, as well as diving boards, artificial waves, small children's pools, hydromassages, water obstacle games and the like.
