If you’re having problems falling asleep at night and want to stay away from medications as a cure for insomnia you may want to consider taking a soak in your hot tub before heading off to bed. A relaxing session in your tub will help you to relax, but there’s also a bit more to it than that. Medical studies conducted over the past two decades by the National Sleep Foundation have shown that the human body temperature falls naturally during the night and typically reaches its lowest point between 4am and 5am.
Fall Asleep Faster
If you’d like to fall asleep quicker your body temperature should be raised before going to bed. When your body starts to cool down it will begin to relax you. One of the best ways to raise your body temperature is to enjoy a 20-minute soak in a hot tub a couple of hours before trying to fall asleep. Experts state that if a person’s body temperature rises by one or two degrees it results in a steeper drop while they’re in bed. And this typically results in a deeper state of sleep.
Of course, there are a few there things you may want to try in combination with a soak in your hot tub if you’re aim is to sleep better. You may want to turn off the lights, turn down the thermostat, and avoid drinking caffeine. While soaking in a hot tub may help you fall asleep it’s very important that you don’t doze off while in the tub. It can be extremely dangerous do fall asleep in a spa and spend too much time in the hot water.
Feeling Relaxed Is Key
It’s hard to get a good night’s sleep if your body isn’t relaxed. Hydrotherapy can help to ease tension while relaxing your body and mind. The heat of the water will loosen the constricted blood flow in your body and the buoyancy of the water can reduce your body weight by up to approximately 90 per cent. This helps to relieve pressure on your muscles and joints while the massaging effect of the water helps to work out soreness and stiffness in the joints and muscles.
In addition, hydrotherapy can help to stimulate the production of endorphins. This is a natural way to block stress and pain from reaching your brain. The effects of the endorphins can also last after your hot tub session has ended and this may help you fall asleep. If you decide to try soaking in a hot tub before going to sleep you may also want to experiment with aromatherapy since certain fragrances can have a calming effect on your body and mind. Some popular scents that can be added to a hot tub include vanilla, lavender, chamomile, jasmine, and clary sage.
Proper Sleep For Your Health
The proper amount of sleep can affect your overall physical and mental health as well as things such as weight gain and your immune system. To get the sleep you need you may want to soak in the spa for up to 20 minutes an hour or two before going to bed, but don’t forget to drink plenty of water to keep yourself properly hydrated. Also, it’s recommended that the water isn’t any hotter than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Sleep Foundation also recommends that you don’t try to sleep when you’re still sweaty and/or hot.
It’s definitely worth taking 15 to 20 minutes out of your evening to soak and relax in your hot tub before bed as it can make a world of difference how you feel and function the following day.
Have a question about hot tubs? International Pool & Spa Centers has hundreds of hot tubs and can help you select one that is right for you. We have locations throughout Ontario.
