How to Use Your Sundance Spa to Relieve Migraines

migraineMigraines are more common in women than men and generally last 4 to 72 hours during which time the sufferer may experience pain on one or both sides of the head, photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound) and nausea.  However, if migraines are caught early, they can be avoided by using hot tubs and alternating hot and cold therapy.  Read on for a few tips on how to use your Sundance Spa to alleviate migraines.

1.  Soak Your Feet: If you just place your feet in the hot tub, this can have a beneficial effect because it dilates the blood vessels in your feet and draws the blood away from your head towards your feet.  Another way to increase this effect is by placing a cold compress on your head at the same time.  Once you’ve relieved the headache, you can put on thick socks so that the effect continues.

2.  Use the Massage Feature: Turn up the jets in your Sundance Spa as high as you can take them.  Many migraines are brought on by tense muscles and a massage relaxes those muscles, relieving stress.  Try to use this massage feature for at least twenty minutes.  When you get out of the hot tub, apply a cold compress to your head for fifteen minutes.

3.  Alternate Massage and Cold Pack: This is similar to the previous method but, instead of getting an entire twenty minute massage at one go, you alternate it with a cold pack on your head.  So get into the hot tub and turn on the jet streams for about five minutes.  Then, turn them off and apply a cold compress for five minutes.  Continue to do this three to four times, until you feel that the throbbing in your head has stabilized.

So the next time you feel a migraine coming on, don’t just settle into a dark corner of the house and avoid everyone and everything.  Take matters into your own hands and use your hot tub to combat the pain immediately.  You’ll feel the relaxation of your muscles right away and the alternation of hot and cold therapy will draw the blood away from your head to other parts of your body, giving you relief.  Contact us for more information about the beneficial effects of hot tubs.

 

Fibromyalgia Relief with Jacuzzi Hot Tubs

attractive woman relaxing in a whirlpool jacuzziIf you experience the pain and life-limiting discomfort of fibromyalgia, you’re not alone. The American College of Rheumatology estimates that between 3 and 6 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia. But some recent studies suggest that for many fibromyalgia sufferers, Jacuzzi hot tubs can provide therapeutic benefits and relief from pain.

One such research study treated one group of fibromyalgia patients with five sessions in a heated pool per week for three weeks. These patients reported less tenderness and pain than the control group which had no such treatment. In fact, the pain relief lasted up to six months after the study had ended. Another study involving exercise in heated water yielded similar results.

And it makes perfect sense that bathing in warm water would be beneficial for fibromyalgia sufferers. Stress, which has been known to exacerbate fibro symptoms, just melts away in a jacuzzi. The warm environment and gentle jets massage muscles, relieving the “clench” that fibromyalgia patients often experience in muscles when they spasm.

According to WebMD, many factors which contribute to the worsening of fibromyalgia symptoms can be alleviated by soaking in a jacuzzi.  Restless sleep, emotional or physical stress, and anxiety can all be improved with rest and relaxation – and there’s no better place to relax than in your own heated Jacuzzi hot tub.

In addition, the warmth and gentle massage in a hot tub increases overall circulation which can relieve joint and muscle pain. The buoyancy of the water takes the pressure off of tired joints and makes exercise easier and more comfortable.

Fibromyalgia patients have a chronic condition that causes overall pain and can often interfere with work and other daily activities. Getting effective relief for the pain and tenderness of fibromyalgia can mean a greatly enhanced quality of life for fibromyalgia patients.

If you would like more information on installing your own Jacuzzi hot tub, contact us.

Need The Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift, Bay Area? Hot Tubs Are It!

Nordic-Hot-Tub-Amore-Toasting-400x268

Amore Nordic Hot Tub

Regardless of whether you’ve been with that special someone for a month or a decade, you’re in search of the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.  If you’re like most people, you’re probably trying to out do your gift from last year.  Actually, nothing makes a better Valentine’s Day than knowing you are truly cherished and loved.  If you’re in the Bay Area, hot tubs can be combined with flowers and a lovely dinner to create a Valentine’s Day date that you’ll never forget.

Flowers are a great Valentine’s Day gift.  The only problem is that their beauty fades away.  Unless you take a picture of them, you’ll never be able to remember the fabulous gift you received for very long.

As our gift to you, we’d like to create a beautiful Valentine’s Day scenario that your sweetheart will love.

Imagine that the love of your life comes home from work on Valentine’s Day.  Exhaustion is written all over their face.  Nothing would be better than a quiet, relaxing evening at home.  You’ve taken the liberty of enlisting Grandma for child care duty on this special night, so the two of you really do have the house all to yourselves.  You pour a few glasses of wine and excuse yourself to tend to the home-cooked dinner you’re preparing.

After a quick change of clothes, dinner is served.  Tonight, you dine on the patio.  However, there’s something different about the way your back yard looks this evening.  Could that be a…hot tub?  Tears, disbelief and amazement are the reactions that follow.  Just what you were hoping for.  You really did it.  After after being asked for so long…this is what perfect Valentine’s Days are made of.

This Valentine’s Day, why not do something extra special for the special person in your life?  You’ll give the one you love a license to relax every day of the year with the gift of a hot tub.  What better gift could there be?

For more information about our Bay Area Hot Tubs, contact us today!

Sundance Spas May Lower Your Blood Pressure

lowering-high-blood-pressure1Sundance Spas have a wealth of benefits but one that you may not be aware of is the ability to lower your blood pressure.

People with high blood pressure are aware of the benefits of anything that can help the natural way and how it works by using a hot tub is two fold.

For one, you are getting the relaxation you need, which is the first way of lowering your blood pressure naturally. The stress of everyday life can heighten a person’s blood pressure and by taking the time to relax and unwind, blood pressure is lowered naturally; it’s as simple as that.

The other way that a spa helps is a little more complex but basically the blood flow is increased by sitting in a hot tub. When the blood flow increases, toxins and other problem factors are helped to be carried away, thus decreasing a blood pressure rating.

When using hydrotherapy in your hot tub, the blood vessels are opened up or “dilated” and this allows your heart to not have to work as hard pumping the blood; the heart rate can be lowered to as much as 20%.

The heat works in a way that the body thinks you are getting too hot and opens up the vessels. This also increases your oxygen levels and allows the oxygen to travel to the places you need them most, which allows the nutrients you need to get where they need to go to promote lowering your blood pressure. While you are having the nutrients circulated, the wastes are also being cleared away.

Sundance Spas have a number of benefits but lowering blood pressure is just one that you can take advantage of. Along with being able to relax and enjoy yourself, the health benefits are numerous. If you’re ready to check out a hot tub for yourself and start feeling better, simplycontact us and we can help you choose the perfect hot tub.

Bay Area Hot Tub Maintenance: Hassle Free Spa Ownership

spa_maintenanceDo you want the luxury of owning a spa or hot tub but are wary of complicated maintenance and repairs? By using Paradise Valley Spas Bay Area hot tub maintenance service you can enjoy a hassle-free hot tub experience.

Hot Tub Maintenance

You want your spa to be a source of relaxation, not another item on your already crowded to-do list. By using a hot tub maintenance service, your spa is always clean and ready to provide you with relaxation and relief. You can create a spa maintenance program that fits your needs exactly. Use the Passport Service package to

  • maintain water balance
  • keep your filter functioning properly
  • ensure that your hot tub stays clean and beautiful

You can also allow the team at Paradise Valley Spas to give your hot tub a full makeover with the Refresh Service package. This includes

  • draining and refilling your spa or hot tub
  • complete inspection of all systems and plumbing
  • complete cleaning of all surfaces

With these services you can keep your hot tub looking and performing like new.

Hot Tub Repair

Take the mystery out of hot tub and spa repairs by contacting one of Paradise Valley Spas’ experienced service professionals. Each of our factory certified Sundance and Jacuzzi technicians can diagnose and correct problems in a snap. Our online service request form makes it easy for you to solve your repair problems, or you can call our toll free number and speak to one of our customer service representatives.

We look forward to helping you enjoy hassle-free hot tub ownership. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

The History of Hot Tubs

Original Jacuzzi Jet

Original Jacuzzi Jet

Hot tubs have been used for therapeutic purposes since 2000 B.C. when the Egyptians created them by putting hot stones in a caldera.

The Ancient Greeks also knew all the benefits of hot tubs and used them for many of the reasons we do today.  They combined hot baths with exercise for complete physical health, accentuating the regimen with massages.  We’ve all heard that story about the Greek scholar Archimedes who went to take a hot bath after working really hard on a problem.  As soon as he submerged himself in the water, he was struck by the answer and rushed out shouting “eureka” or “I’ve got it.”  It’s true that many times, if you’re stuck with a mental problem, taking a physical break from it and relaxing the way you do in a hot tub can actually result in solving the problem.

Another culture that always believed in the healing power of hot tubs is Japan where they have had outdoor and indoor hot tubs since the 8th century A.D.  Their indoor hot tub, called the ofuro, is the precursor to the modern hot tub we now use.

Ancient Rome continued in the Greek tradition to such an extent that they built baths wherever they went.  The town of Bath in England was one of these places and the baths built by the Romans have been preserved there to this day.  The Romans also believed in the healing power of hot tubs, using them to heal rheumatism and for the recuperation of wounded soldiers.

More recently, hot tubs started to become popular in America in the 1950’s.  The first ones were made of oak barrels, wine tanks and olive vats from nearby wineries.  In 1956, the Jacuzzi brothers came up with the idea of using hydrotherapy to treat arthritis; they invented a pump to be used in hot tubs and therefore invented what we now call the jacuzzi.  In the 70’s, wooden hot tubs were replaced by fibreglass and these were later replaced by acrylic shells.

Today, you can reap all the benefits of hot tubs that people have known through the centuries and get yourself one of the San Francisco Hot Tubs with all the bells and whistles.  Contact us to install a hot tub with the features you want.

Ignite Romance in Jacuzzi Hot Tubs

Hot tubs are a great way to bring back passion into a marriage.  So many people these days get caught up in their work life and are too stressed and tired that ultimately the passion in their marriage ends up suffering.  Lucky for them jacuzzi Hot Tubs can reignite the spark.

Hot tubs are sensuous places to relax as it is, so as soon as married couples take the time to enjoy this activity together, the sooner they can rekindle their love for one another.  Everyone should take the time to create a relaxing environment and dedicate some time to spend in the hot tub with his or her loved one.  Here are some ideas of how for making a romantic night of it:

Use Romantic Lighting

Break out the candles and light them up all around the hot tub. Find as many candles as you can and turn all the other lights off. Then just sit back and relax in the warm water with your honey.

Buy Some Bubbly

Put a bottle of your favorite wine or champagne in a bucket of ice by the side of the hot tub and sip wine with your sweetheart.  It will help you both relax and unwind.

Food

Prepare and eat a romantic dinner together to start the night off right. By the time you get in the hot tub, you’ll be ready to relax and enjoy the company of one another. Think aphrodisiac foods like wine, oysters, bananas, vanilla, pomegranate, or chocolate.

Set the Mood with Music

Set the mood with some soothing music playing quietly in the background.  It doesn’t have to be a cheesy love song, and can be any type of music that you both enjoy and can dance or warm up to each other to. Jazz can set a nice ambiance, but make sure you both can enjoy whatever is chosen.

Just Relax

Forget all the stress and just sit back and enjoy the closeness you feel there with your partner.  A hot tub can be a place to unwind from daily stresses by yourself, and an even better place to do it with your partner. Enjoy the moment together.

For any questions about hot tubs or spas, please contact us.

Sundance Spas – Dream & Relax

Stress Relief with hot tubsStress that continues without stopping is physically damaging to your body from the inside out. Studies have shown that stress causes a chemical hormone called cortisol to be released into your blood.  One of it’s primary functions is to increase blood sugar and slow immune function. Prolonged exposure to cortisol may cause you to get sick quicker and gain weight quicker! Avoid stress!

Easy ways to avoid stress are few.  Diet and exercise are great stress reducers but where is your reward at the end of the day?  Try slipping your feet out of those tight shoes and sink them slowly into the relaxing warmth of your Sundance Spa!  Those 10,000 steps you took today will melt away one by one as the water heals your ankles, next your knees, now don’t forget your aching hands and elbows.  Ahhhh… the rewards of work and exercise still remain…but the pain goes away!

Finally as you sink down further, your lower back, spine, and finally your neck (perhaps the tippy bottoms of your ears too?) begin to loosen and relax.  Stress? Going away.  Aches and pains? Erasing like marks from this afternoon’s meeting whiteboard…Disease? Far away from your relaxed state!

Daydreams have been proven to be stress reducers.  Dreaming of enveloping water will help you through the difficult parts of your day, whether you are having a meeting with suits or a meeting of the minds with your kids about who pushed whom. Something to look forward to like your own spa is a great stress reducer.

Better yet, start your next difficult day with a relaxing stream of bubbles going up and down your back. Then go do your stuff with a relaxed attitude!  It’s easy if you contact us at San Francisco Hot Tubs. Hot tubs are a well known form of relaxation therapy that rivals medical and herbal therapies! No pill can take the place of gently sinking into beautiful bliss, feet first.

Hot Tub Chemicals: How to Keep Your Hot Tub Clean

It may seem a bit confusing first with all the filter cleaners, sanitizers, pH balancers, and minerals. Once you get the hang of cleaning your hot tub, you’ll recognize the different chemicals and tools needed that you’ll be using weekly. Here are a few hot tub chemicals and cleaners to get acquainted with.

Chlorine – This chemical is widely known for cleaning out pools because it strips away dirt and bacteria. Chlorine should be used as the primary sanitizer for your hot tub every week. You can get chlorine tablets and drop them in your hot tub. These tablets will dissolve and clean out the water in matter of minutes. They have a different concentration than pool cleaner and are much safer, making them perfect for hot tub use.

Mineral Systems – These handy cartridges are to be placed on your hot tub filter. These systems have low levels of bromine or chlorine which makes them safe to use even when people are relaxing in the hot tub. Some mineral systems are even 100% bromine and chlorine free for those of you looking for a more natural spa care alternative! These minerals are slowly released from your hot tub filter over time and keep it sanitary. However, note that it should not be used as a total replacement to other sanitation systems.

Shock Oxidizers – Shock products are heavy duty and spruce up your hot tub water. It will get rid of bacteria, murky water, dead skin, and any lotions that come off your body during a relaxing hot tub session. Oxidizers get rid of dead organic matter in your hot tub water that can cause clouded water and scum lines around the tub. Adding shock to your hot tub after each spa use will ensure your hot tub is clean and primed for your next session.

There are a variety of options for maintaining hot tub water quality, and it is up to you to choose which is the best for your hot tub needs. If you have any questions about water balance and how to maintain your hot tub when using chemicals, contact us.

Nordic Hot Tubs

Not surprisingly,  Nordic hot tubs are quickly becoming the most effective weapon against stress and anxiety, according to a new poll. Respondents reported that soaking in Nordic hot tubs relieved stress and anxiety better than taking anti-anxiety medications in one particular poll among online users. Medical literature backs their claims up as well. When you submerge yourself in warm, moving water, your core temperature rises, then falls. This reaction has the potential to release brain chemicals known as endorphins. These endorphins are known as “feel good” chemicals that evoke a positive mood and profound relaxation.

In addition to relieving stress and anxiety after soaking in Nordic hot tubs, users also reported that their minor aches and pains were also less noticeable. This too is backed by medical science. The warm waves elicited by Nordic hot tubs improves circulation and improves blood flow to areas of the body that are injured or painful. This, in conjunction with the stress relieving component of being in the hot tub greatly relieves sore muscles and joints, and may even improve symptoms in those suffering from arthritis.

Spending time in Nordic hot tubs might also prove beneficial to those suffering from skin infections. The warm water washes away bacteria and promotes circulation to the affected area. Although effective in the healing of minor skin irritations, it is important to note that the hot tub should be cleaned and sanitized between uses so that it is safe to use by the next person. What better way to relax after a hard day’s work than coming home to your Nordic hot tub haven to melt away stress. To learn more about Nordic hot tubs, please contact us.