SLYOU Magazine Issue 1 | Page 87

Possible Benefits & Stress Relief The thermal benefits go beyond helping to relieve pain and aches. Researchers from Japan found that soaking subjects who had chronic heart failure in hot springs actually led to a decrease in blood pressure and improved their symptoms. It’s a pretty radical (and small) study, but there are other instances where the thermal and mechanical properties of hot springs can help the body. According to this study in International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, many of the perceived benefits are positively effected primarily by the relaxation you experience. In other words, when you chillax, you’re doing good things for yourself. You can actually relax, you lower your anxiety, stress and can create rippling physiological benefits throughout your body. We all know that stress, the type that keeps you awake at night and messes with your quality of life, is bad news for our long-term livelihood. The researchers responsible for this study in Advances in Preventive Medicine propose that hot springs are effective at reducing stress and improving things like sleep quality and appetite. Most of us probably don’t need much convincing to get into the habit of hot springs, if they’re convenient, but it’s good to know that hot springs are amazing for stress relief. www.slyoumag.com | July-August 2019 Hot Springs As Part of a Healthy Lifestyle We don’t get super strong or fit from just a single workout, nor do we suddenly reverse years of eating crap by eating a single piece of fruit. So it’s probably safe to say the real benefits of hot springs come from habitual use, as part of a holistic approach to health. People enjoy their hot springs for various reasons, beyond health and stress relief. For most of us, though, visiting hot springs regularly probably isn’t convenient or realistic, but any time you can unwind and get away from stress—perhaps some alone time with Mr. Rubber Ducky in a hot bubble bath—can do wonders for your body and mind. SL-YOU | Business, People & Lifestyle 85