There are few better ways to relax and recover after a workout or simply enjoy some much-deserved downtime than by relaxing in the serene surroundings of a spa. But it’s not just about relaxation — it’s also about investing in your wellness. Regular spa usage, alongside a varied, active lifestyle, provides some important health benefits.
With saunas and steam rooms in every David Lloyd Club, now is the perfect time to learn more about our spa facilities and how to get the most out of your spa experience.
Step by step: A full day of wellness
While there are different ways to spend time in the spa, such as using the sauna to supercharge your workout, we generally recommend a routine that involves heating the body and then cooling the body before resting and relaxing once more. This can be repeated, especially if you’re planning on spending a full day at the club. So, leave your phone, tablet and other distractions behind and immerse yourself in the spa.
- Start by taking a quick shower, just to rinse your skin and help you to feel fresh and clean before you enter the main spa rooms.
- Follow this by enjoying a gentle swim, or by sitting on comfortable beds next to the pool to unwind and settle into your spa experience. Likewise, in some David Lloyd Clubs specialist relaxation rooms infused with aromatherapy can be the perfect place to close your eyes and take some deep breaths as you transition towards a state of calm.
- Once you’re suitably relaxed and ready, head into a heat experience room. Whether it’s a steam room or a sauna, heat rooms will stimulate circulation, open up your pores to draw out dirt from your skin and soothe your muscles and joints.
- We advise that you spend no longer than around 10 minutes in a steam room or a sauna, and to ensure you drink plenty of water before and after you enter to make sure you replenish the fluids you’ll lose whilst in the hot conditions.
- Once you’ve finished in your chosen heat room, you’ll then want to cool yourself down to bring your body back to a regular temperature. Depending on the spa facilities available in your club, you can jump into the cold plunge pool, douse yourself with ice from an ice fountain or enjoy a refreshing rinse under a feature shower. You’ll quickly feel invigorated and energised. The cooling effect is also beneficial for circulation, skin tone and muscle recovery.
- After bringing your body temperature back to a normal state, sit back and relax on a comfortable bed or spend some time chilling out in a whirlpool. The warm water and bubbles will help to relax and gently soothe your muscles, whilst reducing the symptoms and sensations of fatigue.
- If the sun is shining and you’re at a club which includes a spa garden or an outdoor pool terrace, this is the perfect time to head outside to enjoy some fresh air, especially during the summer months. Bathe in the sunshine, rest your body and soak up some vitamin D to boost that feel-good factor.
Four key differences between steam rooms and saunas
- The main difference between the two is the type of heat. Saunas use dry heat from heated rocks or a stove, while steam rooms use damp heat created from the steam of boiling water. If you’re new to these rooms, you’ll notice the contrast in the atmosphere immediately when switching between the two.
- Saunas are usually much hotter than steam rooms, but because the humidity of steam rooms is so high, your sweat will not evaporate so you’ll feel much hotter than you would in a drier climate.
- Steam rooms can be great for those suffering from congestion in the chest or sinuses.
- Saunas are better for people with ailments that can be aggravated by humidity.
The Spa Retreat at David Lloyd Clubs
Available at selected David Lloyd Clubs and coming to many more in the next 12 months, our Spa Retreats take you to a whole new level of peace and tranquillity. Whether you want to pop in for a quick 20 minutes after an exercise class or spend hours in a state of bliss, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for with our experience heat rooms, salt water hydro pools, Spa Gardens and more.
However long you want to spend relaxing, spa facilities are an important part of each and every David Lloyd Club. Your membership is more than access to a gym and tennis courts — it’s your passport to head-to-toe wellness. Contact your local David Lloyd Club for more information.
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