Long before spas became weekend escapes and weeklong wellness retreats, humans instinctively turned to warm water for comfort, healing, and connection. Ancient Romans created public bathhouses, which ultimately expanded into complexes with gyms, gardens, pools, and social areas. Over time, spa towns were established in areas with hot springs. Towns such as Bath, England, Vichy, France, and Baden-Baden, Germany became sought-after spa destinations. Kings, queens, and members of royal families flocked to these thermal retreats to heal ailments. During the 19th century, bathing grew in popularity, and many famous bath houses—still in operation today—were created. Bath houses even made their way to the United States and still exist, like Bath House row in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
While modern spas look different than ancient ones, the concept has remained the same—people continue to seek out spas for therapeutic benefits. At the crux of this concept is the use of heat and water, and cold therapy if you’re up for it, to benefit the body. Spas provide rest, recovery, and vitality. The warmth from a sauna session instantly quiets a noisy mind. A dip in a warm pool relaxes our muscles and finally lets your jaw unclench. An experience shower brings a moment of clarity.
Recently, wellness clubs have been on the rise. These clubs not only provide the typical heat, water, and cold therapies, but also provide a social aspect to wellness where individuals can meet like-minded people and where groups of friends can practice wellness together. Instead of spending Sunday over bottomless mimosas or doom scrolling from your couch, you can reconnect with friends over a cup of tea before hitting the sauna and cold plunge.
Wellness resorts provide the ultimate escape. These resorts offer individuals, couples, or even groups an opportunity for deep attention to physical and mental health through spa and medical treatments. An on-site medical team will tailor a program to your needs and goals. Some people choose to spend a couple of days at a wellness resort for a quick fix, while others choose 7-10 days for a deeper reset. These resorts also offer a fitness center and daily activity program to ensure your days are filled with movement in addition to rest.
Your wellness experience is out there. It’s time to find it.
