As the weather starts to warm up, your hot tub will start to look less and less appealing. When it’s 90 degrees outside, the last thing you want to do is submerge yourself in a tub of steaming water.
With the right tricks up your sleeve, though, you can enjoy your hot tub from June to August.
Soak in the Mornings and Evenings
Even during the most blistering heat waves, the coolest time of day will be during the early morning and late evening. So, try incorporating a morning or evening hot tub soak into your routine for some extra relaxation minus the intense heat.
For example, you might try hopping into your hot tub first thing in the morning, and then following your soak with a workout. This can help you relax and get limber before the day really starts to heat up (check out more information about using your hot tub before and after exercise). Or, as the heat is starting to dissipate at the end of the day, unwind with a soak in your hot tub.
Turn Down the Temp
Remember, there’s no rule that says you have to keep your hot tub, well, hot.
For an invigorating experience that’s more akin to a swim in a pool than a soak in a hot tub, simply use your hot tub’s controls to turn down the temperature as far as it will go. Then, just take a dip in your cooled-down hot tub whenever the heat is too much. To get your hot tub to cool down faster, turn on the jets for a while. This will circulate the water and help the heat dissipate (just remember to leave the cover off or ajar).
If a truly chilly soak is what you’re after, you can even pour some ice right into the water. Learn more about the pros and cons of ice baths on our previous blog post.
Use Water Circuit Therapy
Even if you don’t have time to use your hot tub during the cooler hours of the day or to turn down its temperature, you can still enjoy it throughout the summer by using water circuit therapy.
Water circuit therapy is also referred to as contrast water therapy (CWT). By switching between water treatments of varying temperatures, water circuit therapy offers a variety of benefits, including:
- Reduced muscle soreness.
- Reduced fatigue.
- Pain relief.
- Improved range of motion.
… And much more.
By ending your water circuit therapy session with a cold shower or bath, you can reap the benefits of your hot tub without overheating.
If you’re just getting started with water circuit therapy, try a routine like this:
- Ten minutes in your hot tub to loosen tight muscles and joints.
- Ten minutes in a cool shower or bath to slowly bring down your body temperature.
- Ten minutes in a cold shower or bath to reduce inflammation and stimulate the nervous system.
If you’re interested in learning more about the science behind water circuit therapy, take a look at our previous blog post on the topic here.
Give Summer Allergies the Boot
In addition to being a fantastic source of stress and pain relief, your hot tub can also help you overcome those annoying summer allergies.
That’s because hot tubs produce steam, which is an effective natural treatment for a variety of sinus ailments, including allergy symptoms.
This was confirmed in a 2017 study published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine, titled “Efficacy and safety of herbal steam bath in allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial.”
This peer reviewed study found that steam baths significantly reduced allergy symptoms such as sneezing, congestion and nasal itching.
So, if you suffer from allergies during the summer, simply enjoy a steamy hot tub soak to quickly relieve your symptoms.
Although the weather may be warming up, there’s no need to worry. Your hot tub can still provide you with plenty of relaxation and refreshment, no matter the weather.
