MENTAL HEALTH-HOT TUB SOAKING OUTSIDE IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT

October 24, 2008 By 2 Comments

Dr. Jules Pretty, at the Center for Environment and Society in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex, in England makes a strong case for “being in nature”. “Irrespective of where we come from in the world, it seems that the presence of living things makes us feel good. There are three levels of engagement with nature.

*The first is viewing nature, as through a window, or in a book, on television or in a painting.

*The second is being in the presence of nearby nature, which is incidental to some other activity, such as walking or cycling to work, or reading on a garden seat, and (we’ve added this one) soaking in a hot tub outdoors.

*The third level is active participation and involvement with nature, such as gardening, hiking or running.

There is now strong evidence that all these levels deliver mental health benefits. The levels with the most involvement deliver the most benefits.

A recent survey of Olympic Hot Tub Company’s Hot Spring Spa owners echoed Dr. Pretty’s research most strongly in regards to his second point of engagement with nature. All of the Hot Spring Spa owners surveyed reported immense pleasure, increased mental relaxation and peace of mind from soaking in their hot tubs outside. They all said that being in the presence of nature was the “frosting on the cake”, the “cherry on the sundae” that capped the experience and took it from the mundane to the sublime. It was the reason they rarely missed a night’s soaking. It was the reason why their own yards gained a bigger place in their lives. Outside soaking opened up a new appreciation of the previously unseen natural world. People mentioned owls, squirrels, raccoons, the wind, stars, the trees and far vistas. So in addition to the great physiological benefits, the mental/spiritual benefits were the most deeply moving.

 

From my own experience, I, too, have been profoundly moved by soaking in my roof top Hot Spring while viewing the stars and satellites (!), feeling the wind and the rain on my face and just letting go of all daily cares and worries. Plus I get my best ideas in the hot tub!

Res est severa voluptas-Pleasure is a serious business.

Filed Under: Heart Related Benefits, Hot Tub Health Benefits, Hot Tub Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HOT TUBBING IN THE DARK

October 22, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Dealing with stress-or not dealing with it as the case may be is a serious issue right now. The media reports devastating news on the hour and many of us are in a state of constant mental turmoil.

Dr. Jeromone E. Garanato, Medical Director of the Coranary Care Unit of Allegheny General Hospital and author of “Living with Heart Coronary Heart Disease” has a wonderful suggestion: take a bath in the dark! I know he meant bath as in bath tub, but think of the benefits of hot tubbing in the dark. He says that hot water plus silence and no visual stimulation equals relaxation. He recommends breathing deeply and letting your mind wander to pleasant thoughts.

Most hot tubbing is at done at night. Being in the dark in the natural world adds a deeper level of relaxation than ordinary bath tub soaking. Hopefully you’ll have a Hot Spring Spa, the ONLY hot tub with no noise operation. Only with a Hot Spring will you experience complete silence even while the tub is filtering and heating. After you’ve let the jets have their way with your stiff neck and shoulders, turn them off. Close your eyes. Let the utter stillness and hot water rejuvenate you. A deep sense of gratitude will be your only thought. “It can’t get any better than this.”

Res est severa voluptas.- Pleasure is a serious business.

Filed Under: Heart Related Benefits, Hot Tub Health Benefits Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

CUSTOMER SERVICE-HOT TUB WATER CARE AFTER THE SALE

October 20, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The following email from Olympic customer, Matt Tucker of Black Diamond, Washington reminds me once again that WHERE you buy your hot tub is as important as WHAT brand you buy. Service after the sale is a vital component of your ongoing pleasure!

“This is just a note to say how much I appreciate the knowledge and helpfulness of Jon Hutter. As I was cleaning my hot tub yesterday, I was reminded of how much time he took in the Issaquah Olympic Hot Tub Company store and at various time on the phone to walk me through set-up and trouble shooting of a used Hot Spring Spa we bought on craigslist. Honestly, if all customer service was like Jon’s, there would be no need for a complaint department! You have a real gem there with Jon working for your company–I hope that he received due accolades for going above and beyond the call of duty.”

Thanks to Matt for writing. Yes, Jon has received many words of praise from customers for his knowledge of water care and willingness to share it. It’s our pleasure and our goal to help every hot tub owner enjoy his tub to the fullest. Water chemistry is the not so secret basis for a lifetime of hot tubbing enjoyment. If your hot tub doesn’t keep itself in good chemistry and present you with crystal clean water every time you lift the lid, call us at Olympic if you live in the Puget Sound area. We’re here to help.

Res est severa voluptas-Pleasure is a serious business.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.

Filed Under: Hot Tub Care Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

NATURAL HIGH FROM A HOT TUB-RELASING THE BODY'S NATURAL “FEEL GOOD” CHEMICAL

October 13, 2008 By Leave a Comment

There is actually scientific proof that soaking in hot water is not only good for you, but chemically linked to “feeling good!” Numerous studies have proven that soaking in hot, bubbly water simulates the release of endogenous opioid peptides which we know by the short name: endorphins, which are the body’s natural “feel good” chemical. An increase in endorphins can strengthen the immune system, improve sleep, prevent headaches and energize the body. It’s no wonder that in North American, Japan and Europe, hot water therapy comes so well recommended for self-care by naturopathic doctors. In addition to all the physical benefits, you may find that hot water enhances your sense of well being, lifts your spirits and leaves you feeling refreshed and naturally rejuvenated.

Res est severa voluptas-Pleasure is a serious business!

Filed Under: Hot Tub Health Benefits Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Hot Tub in a Treehouse-How Cool is that??

October 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment

When Shara and Scott Di Valerio wanted to build a deck for their hot tub in the woods on their five acres east of Seattle near Poulsbo, they had a 12-by-12-foot platform in mind.  During the planning process, they fell in love with their majestic view of Mount Rainier viewed from a stand of pines.  Their perspective changed. Their original simple platform grew into a virtual treehouse complex: hot tub, living room (with phone, cable and Internet), writing alcove and observation platforms.  It also has a suspension bridge and 100-foot zipline. This is definitely NOT a kids’ tree fort.  A typical evening among the gently swaying firs involves several grown-ups, a dip in the hot tub, Champagne and a few rounds of canasta.  “It’s a way to be in nature, ” Shara Di Valerio said.  “Although it’s a luxurious kind of nature. It isn’t camping.”  So inviting was the concept of  the hot tubbing treehouse that the New York Times featured it on Sunday, October 5th in the Key magazine.

Their luscious at home retreat was built by TreeHouse Workshop, a Seattle firm that built a dozen treehouses last year.  If any single person is responsible for the treehouse renaissance, it’s Peter Nelson who founded TreeHouse Workshop in 1997 with a partner.  “I started more as a builder, ” Nelson said, “but I’ve come to understand that what I’m really after is a place in nature.  To be among the trees is pretty powerful stuff.”  Nelson echos what our customers tell us repeatedly. It just doesn’t get any better than being in nature in your hot tub.  Check out the other treehouses in the Workshop’s portfolio. And, Nelson is the author of four books on treehouses.  Who knows…there might be a treehouse in your future complete with hot tub!

RES EST SERVA VOLUPTAS. Pleasure is a serious business!

Filed Under: Latest Posts Tagged With: , , , , , ,

ONE LITTLE HOT TUB DIP WAS ALL IT TOOK….

October 7, 2008 By Leave a Comment

A reporter from the Tacoma News Tribune thought that was a great lead for a story. Well, that’s how it really happened. One little dip in a hot tub and I was hooked! The reporter, C. R. Roberts, was so much fun to talk with. Who knew we’d have so much in common and so much to talk about? I’m always up for spreading the word about my passion: hot tubs and hottubbing. Two and a half hours flew by. See the story.

RES EST SERVA VOLUPTAS. Pleasure in serious business.

.

Filed Under: Latest Posts, Olympic Hot Tub News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

TRUE BLISS-On The Highest Hot Tub Deck in the U.S.

October 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment

 

Today’s New York Times features a story about Katrine Formby and her husband Bill who have a three bedroom condo in Telluride, Colorado. They have the penthouse floor on a five story building with a view of the San Juan Mountains in all directions from the roof top deck. The view took her breath away she said. The deck is the highest in Telluride. “Last winter, it was six degrees below zero when I thought I’d sink into the hot tub on the deck. All the lights were off. It was snowing a little. And the moon was up. It was pure bliss. I sat there for hours, the spray from the hot tub turned my hair into a frozen helmet.”

Katrine summarizes so perfectly what hot tub bliss truly is…being in nature in solitude looking out on a fabulous view. So many of our customers tell us the same thing that the experience is far more than hot water and jets. It’s the being in nature and the sheer bodily pleasure of sinking into hot water after a day shut up in an office or car. Being, and I mean that in terms of existence rather than in terms of place, in hot water up to your chin gives such an endorphin rush, you can’t help but let out a sigh of relief. You take a deep breath. You’re home in your body at last.

As the Romans said: res est severa voluptas. Pleasure is a serious business!

Filed Under: Latest Posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,