Some seasons can be more stressful than others, and when you are deep in a busy season of life, such as the holidays, it is important to find ways to relax, improve your health, and help your body recover. Creating a backyard spa sanctuary can shift the energy of your whole day and give you a new way to center yourself.
At Wind River Spas, we help people in Denver carve out a little serenity every day by finding the right hot tubs for their homes and back yards. We have everything from small tubs that can fit into a compact backyard to large tubs for those who love to host parties. If you live in Denver, our setups can turn your evenings into something that you look forward to every day.
A Closer Look at Stress
When you encounter a stressor, your body reacts by releasing two hormones called cortisol and adrenaline. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone that regulates your blood pressure during stress and replenishes energy stores, while adrenaline is the body’s “fight or flight” hormone that immediately increases heart rate, makes you more alert, and prepares your muscles for movement. Both demand a lot from your body, especially if cortisol continues to stay elevated long after the stressful event.
Without counteracting cortisol with a relaxation response, you can experience long-term effects from chronic stress, such as sleep problems, changes in mood, a lowered immune system, cardiovascular problems, and elevated blood pressure. It is important to find ways to counter chronic stress to keep your body healthier. Strategies can include deep abdominal breathing, exercising, and hydrotherapy.
Why Hot Tubs Work for Countering Chronic Stress
The warmth of the water and the natural buoyancy your body feels in the water help your body to shift out of its stress response. When you relax in a hot tub, your tight muscles can begin to loosen, your circulation improves, and your nervous system starts to become calmer. Warm water lowers cortisol and raises feel-good hormones that can counteract stress.
Dilating your blood vessels and lowering blood pressure help contribute to this sense of calm. A soak in hot water an hour or two before bed can also help improve the quality and quantity of your sleep so that your body can recover from the stress of the day.
How to Create Your Backyard Spa Sanctuary
Choosing the Right Tub
You should always start by choosing a hot tub that fits your space, your climate, and the way you like to relax. We want to contribute even more to the health of our clients by enabling them to enjoy the benefits of hydrotherapy without the downsides of soaking in chemicals. We keep the water in our hot tubs clean with an ozonator system that allows you to have a chemical-free soak.
If you have a smaller backyard, you can consider a two or four-person model that fits neatly into your space without taking up too much room. Other tubs can seat up to seven or eight people at a time and can be perfect for a larger yard or a bigger family.
Choosing the Right Location
A good location for a hot tub is one that has privacy, fast and easy access from your home, and enough room to move around the spa to perform any maintenance that is needed throughout the year. You can place the hot tub on the deck or patio outside your back door so it is convenient even when the temperatures drop. Consider factors such as the amount of direct sunlight you will receive at different times of the year, privacy from neighbors, and protection from elements like wind and rain.
You will also need to make sure your hot tub has the right foundation. The base that you choose will depend on whether the hot tub will be placed on the ground, on a patio, or on a porch. We will walk through all of your options and recommend the right one for your situation.
Designing Your Landscaping
You can choose from a wide range of colors for the interior and exterior of your hot tub to help it blend in with the landscaping and decor that you already have, or you can design a new space at the same time to make it cohesive. We recommend thinking about the type of lighting you will have since soaks are often beneficial in the evening. Soft lighting along walkways is important for safety, and overhead lighting can make the experience more relaxing. If you don’t have privacy in your yard already from plants or fencing, you can install privacy screens at the same time as your hot tub.
How to Fit Your Hot Tub Into Your Day
Morning Routine
Morning is a good time to set the tone for the day and to help your body come into the day feeling more relaxed and prepared. You can use this time to gently stretch your muscles before a workout and loosen any stiffness that may be present after sleeping. You can also use warm water for gentle exercises that are easy on the joints.
After Work
In the evening, your body may have a greater need to counter cortisol and come down from elevated stress. The heat can ease tension in your shoulders and help signal to your brain that it is time to relax. Warm water also helps to draw heat to your extremities and cool your core for more restful sleep.
Social Enhancement
Once you design your backyard well, it can become a relaxing gathering spot for family and friends. This type of atmosphere encourages people to put down their phones and spend more quality time together. Finding time to connect with your friends and family can also lower your stress levels and help your mood be more balanced.
Make Your Backyard Your Retreat With Hot Tubs in Denver, CO
Having a stress relief hot tub in your backyard can give you a break from the tension of everyday life. By choosing the right tub and planning your space carefully, you can enjoy your backyard sanctuary during any season of the year. If you are looking for a hot tub that fits your Colorado lifestyle, contact us at Wind River Spas to find out more about our spas. You can call us at (303) 789-2656, visit our Englewood showroom, or reach out online.