Monthly Archives: September 2019

Saunas are a great addition to a wellness routine for both your body and mind; but they can be dangerous if not used properly!

Don’t Overcook Yourself

The longer you stay in your sauna, the bigger your risk of dehydration and other effects. If you’re new to saunas, start off small – about 5-10 minutes at a time. No matter your experience level, try and cap your time at 15 to 20 minutes.

Or, take your advice from the godfathers of saunas – the Finnish. They advise that saunas are for relaxing, not just counting down the minutes. Leave the sauna once you feel hot enough – easy enough to remember!

Rest After Exercise Before Your Sauna

After strenuous exercise, you need to let your heart rate come down to resting levels before going into the sauna – generally about 10 minutes.

Avoid Where Alcohol is Concerned

If you’ve recently been drinking alcohol, avoid the sauna. Alcohol increases the risk of dehydration, hypotension, arrhythmia, and sudden death syndrome – not worth it!

Stay Hydrated

You’re purposely increasing your body temperature – meaning you’re going to sweat. Prolonged exposure will result in lost fluids, so it’s important to keep yourself topped up by drinking water before, during and after your sauna session.

Be Aware of Other Conditions

If you’re ill, avoid the sauna until you’re recovered. Pregnant women or those with medical conditions such as low blood pressure or history of heart attacks should consult their doctor before using a sauna.

Bring a Friend

Not only does this make the sauna session more sociable, you have someone there if problems do occur.

Take off Jewellery

Metal jewellery will heat up in a sauna, and can cause irritation or even burning!

Cool Down Afterwards

The risks of saunas don’t disappear once you step out – you need to lie or sit down for at least 10 minutes, and then take a cold shower or dip in a plunge pool to bring your body temperature down to normal levels.

By following just a few simple steps (and some common sense!) you can safely enjoy the health benefits that comes with regular sauna sessions! If you’re deciding whether a home sauna is for you, Download our Free Sauna Buyer’s Guide and view the full range of indoor and outdoor saunas available online now!

No matter which way you look at it, Hot Tubs are a major investment. They require thought, planning and research to make sure you get the right one for you, at the right price. So, what should you think about when deciding how much to spend on a Hot Tub?

Set a Budget – And Stick to It

Do some research here. Look at your finances and decide how much you can realistically spend. Many reputable companies offer 0% Finance over 3-5 years which could be an option – if you can afford it.

Another Hot Tub cost that should be called into consideration is ongoing costs – how much it costs to run, any repairs, maintenance, chemicals and services. Hot Tubs have different running costs depending on features you add on as well as the quality of the spa itself, so is worth bearing in mind.

Decide Your Dream Features – and be Willing to Compromise

Your Hot Tub will become your little slice of luxury heaven – if you’re planning on investing, why not get everything you want on it?

Do you want full-foam insulation, to keep running costs minimal? What about a luxury 24” waterfall for an unparalleled shoulder massage? What about seating, do you want all seats or a lounger for full relaxation?

Adding on extra features will of course come at an extra cost. If your dream model won’t fit in with your budget, be prepared to drop or swap out some features.

Be Realistic

Cheap Hot Tubs are currently flooding the market, usually imported from China and are of sub-par quality. Unfortunately, these spas appear to be all-singing all-dancing, with every feature imaginable for under £5,000. These may seem like a great deal on paper but will usually cost you more than the Hot Tub is worth in running costs, repairs, and eventually disposal.

We are huge advocates of the Coast Spas brand, for their incredible build quality, warranties and running/maintenance costs. While you may invest more up-front, you will save more in ongoing costs while enjoying your spa for years to come.

Pay for the Warranty

This is more important than features – so if you’re deciding between extra jets or a longer warranty, go for the warranty! This ensures you can relax knowing that your Hot Tub is covered.

You also want to research the company to see how long they have been operating – make sure they’ve been around long enough that they’re likely to be able to honour the warranty should anything happen!

Consider Pre-Owned

If you cannot get the features and warranties you’re looking for in your budget, it may be a good idea to look at pre-owned or ex-display Hot Tubs. Showrooms are always rotating stock, and we run a buy-back scheme so there is always a discounted deal! To see the ex-display and pre-owned deals we currently have, check out hottuboffers.com!

Buying a Hot Tub is something that needs a lot of research and thought about your situation – no two Hot Tub customers are the same! If you know ahead of time what you are looking for in what budget, you can start your exciting Hot Tub shopping adventure to find your dream model!

Award Leisure have showrooms in Staffordshire, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Lincoln, London and Cheshire. They all have a large range of Hot Tubs on display and expert staff on hand to answer any questions and help you find your Hot Tub. Get in touch with us to book an appointment or Download a Brochure!

Teaching your kids to swim is an important skill they need to learn as early as possible. Learn when you should start their swim training to keep them safe.

Benefits of Early Swim Sessions

Swimming sessions with your infant or toddler are a great way to get your child to enjoy being in the water and can teach them some valuable drowning prevention skills from an early age.

If you have your own pool or Swim Spa, you can teach your children the basics from the comfort of your own home, being great quality family time while teaching your kids valuable life skills.

What Can you Teach Them in a Swim Spa?

There are loads of fun and easy games you can play with your kids to get them used to the water, including getting them to blow bubbles under water (acclimatising them to having their head under water), through to using a front float to get them used to the horizontal position they will take when swimming.

This article from Today’s Parent gives 5 great games you can play with your child to prepare them for swimming – and enjoying it!

No Substitute for Safety

Even if your child has swimming lessons, they are not a substitute for supervision.

If you opt for a Swim Spa over a swimming pool, it may be easier to reduce the risk of accidentally falling in if your Swim Spa is not sunken.

If you have a social gathering around the pool or swim spa, take turns in watching the kids. Ensure that you have a barrier or gate around the water to avoid them accidentally wandering in and getting themselves into trouble without you knowing.

Teaching your kids to swim early means they are more confident in the water, and you can all enjoy quality time as a family in your swimming pool or Swim Spa!

If you’re looking at investing in a Swim Spa, we have a range of 15 different models, ranging between 13 and 21ft long. With fully customisable features, you can create the perfect model for your home. View the whole range online or Download a free brochure!

Think Saunas are just for the Winter? Think again! There are benefits to using your sauna throughout the year, even in Summer!

Acclimatise to Summer Heat

The heatwave that hit the UK in July saw temperatures of almost 40 degrees – many people (myself included) just couldn’t function in the heat! Ice cream sold out everywhere and desk fans became a sought-after commodity.

Using a sauna regularly can help your body acclimatise to the Summer heat. There must be something to it when sports teams have been known to train in saunas to prepare them for overseas competitions in hotter climates!

Year-Round Benefits

The benefits we’ve outlined previously on sauna use don’t go away just because it’s Summer – you will still burn calories, lose weight, improve cardiovascular & respiratory function in the Summer! Regular sauna sessions will also relax tension in your muscles and contribute to stress relief all year round.

Are There Any Differences Between Summer & Winter Use?

Obviously, as the weather outside is hotter in the Summer, you’re more likely to dehydrate faster. Make sure you drink plenty of water before, during and after a sauna session to keep yourself hydrated.

You should also take a cooling shower or dive into a plunge pool to bring your body temperature down after a sauna session – which is incredibly refreshing in Summer!

Don’t close the doors on your sauna just because the weather is warming up – in fact, do the opposite! Saunas are a great addition to your wellness routine all year-round. See our huge range of indoor and outdoor saunas available online now!

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