(ARA) - There's no time like the present for a soothing soak in a hot tub.
Really, who isn't stressed these days?
But a hot tub is more than just a place to relax and unwind. There's a noticeable
trend in hot tubs toward integrating sensation, sight and sound to achieve a
total sensory experience that is extraordinarily easy to enjoy.
Smart innovations -- massaging jets that target tired muscles, the surround
sound of your favorite tunes, changeable lighting and hands-off water-care techniques
-- make hot tubs hotter than ever.
Bob Hallam, owner of Dimension One Spas, Inc., says there is a movement toward
a more sophisticated product. Adjustable colors, new chemical systems, lights
and waterfalls all "allow the hot tub to not be put into a corner of the
backyard," he says. "Hot tubs are becoming more of a focal point in
the yard."
Catch the Feeling
According to a survey by the National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI), an international
trade association of more than 5,300 manufacturers, distributors, retailers,
service companies and builders in the pool and spa industry, there are 6 million
hot tub owners in the United States alone. Another survey, this one in "Arthritis
Today," found that 49 percent of these owners use their hot tubs four to
six times each week.
What they know (and enjoy) is this: Hot tubs provide a perfect, private venue
for relaxing and renewing your spirit. The combination of warm water and massaging
jets provides hydrotherapy to soothe body and soul. And you can even exercise
if you want.
Hot tub manufacturers and designers are constantly coming up with new and
attractive ways to get the water moving. They do this with powerful -- but not
punishing -- jets that target specific muscles from back to neck to calves and
even wrists. Directional and rotary nozzles create a variety of sensations,
allowing you to customize your soak. There are foot wells to ease aching feet
and clusters of jets to relax lower backs; and these are housed in sleek, smooth,
comfortable units with seating to accommodate various body types.
Master Spas takes in-water therapy a step further with a patented Master
Force Bio-Magnetic Therapy System. Powerful magnets strategically placed in
the hot tub's molded seats apply magnetic therapy to pressure points on the
neck and back. This technology grew from practical application. Master Spas'
president Bob Lauter was having problems with a shoulder. His massage therapist
recommended magnetic therapy. "It worked for me," he says. When his
daughter, who plays college soccer, hurt her knee, the surgeons placed her leg
in a knee brace outfitted with magnets to promote healing. That was good enough
for Lauter who then set about incorporating the therapy into his company's hot
tubs.
Most of the people buying spas today are aging baby boomers, he points out.
"They want relaxation, but they also want the ability to have therapy,
too."
Surround Sound
The very sound of water is calming. Some hot tubs are equipped with a "tranquility"
mode for the hushed and gentle sound of moving water. Others have waterfalls
built right in, and the relaxing sound of water isn't all you get to enjoy.
The serious audiophile can find hot tubs that come with amplifiers embedded
inside the tub's casing. The SpAudio System offered by Hot Springs Portable
Spas lets you feel the music. This accessory sends sound waves through the spa
shell, essentially transforming the spa surface into a giant high-fidelity stereo
speaker. There's sound enough to overpower even the strongest jets without disturbing
the neighbors.
The amplifier's components are coated to protect them from damage by water,
heat and the elements. A close-at-hand dial on the edge of the tub controls
volume and equalizer settings. Playing music is easy. Just place the CD/FM/AM
player into a weather-resistant carrier, take it to your hot tub and plug it
into the receptacle on the spa cabinet.
Some hot tubs also come with pop-up, flat-screen, digital televisions as
entertaining choices.
Illuminating Ideas
Today's hot tubs have water features that look as good as they sound because
many incorporate lights. They can, in effect, transform your spa into functional
art.
There are illuminated water arcs as well as gently flowing backlit falls.
These water features look magical at night, and they create a nice white noise,
Hallam says.
There are practical lights such as automatic daylight-sensing (photocell-controlled)
step lights that come on when needed. Other spas have lights that can be positioned
on the steps or around the top edges of the spa, depending upon what you want
to illuminate.
Still other hot tubs can change colors. Color-changing bulbs or colorwheels
paired with fiber-optic lighting make it possible and easy to do.
Easy to Love
Convenience starts with construction. Today's hot tubs are made of tough,
impact-resistant materials designed to weather the elements and look good doing
it. Manmade cabinets, with furniture details, cut down on maintenance. There
is a trend toward natural-looking finishes including some that mimic granite
from around the world. Colorfast materials won't fade or dull in sunlight, and
chemical- and stain- resistance keeps common household stains (lipstick, ink,
crayons) from permanence.
Automatic heating and cleaning cycles eliminate any worries about programming
your hot tub. You decide what water temperature you like, then set it and forget
it. Master Spas has a digital panel to display functions with scrolling text
-- reminding you of when to do the most basic of spa care such as checking water
chemistry and cleaning filters.
And easily retractable covers that are UL classified in accordance with ASTM
safety standards do double duty. They feature child-resistant safety locks and
in addition to the safety factor, these covers help hold heat and water in and
keep dirt out. Cover-removal systems, such as those made by Sunstar Spa Covers,
Inc., work like a "garage-door opener." When removal is easy, it's
easier to enjoy your spa.
The very idea of a hot tub can be soothingly attractive; these trends toward
a spa-focused living space just offer more to love.
For more information on what's hot with hot tubs, visit www.hottubliving.com,
www.poolandspaliving.com, www.nspi.org, or contact NSPI at (800) 323-3996.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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