Tag: Caldera Spas

Will 20 Minutes In My Spa Really Matter?

We truly believe it will. At Caldera Spas, we believe it because we live it, and 20-minute renewal is part of our daily lives.

From personal experience, we believe that 20-minutes a day can help you release tension, relax muscles and let go of all the clutter in your head.

Science seems to concur. Recently, studies have emerged on the effects of spa use—also called warm water immersion—particularly in 20-minute intervals.

Two researchers—Dr. Bruce Becker of Washington State University and Dr. Doreen Stiskal of Seton Hall University—have focused studies around 20-minute sessions. According to Dr. Stiskal, “the body gains the maximum benefit of warm water therapy within 20 minutes.”

What Should I Do Before My Hot Tub Arrives?

Once you’ve decided to buy a hot tub, there are quite a few jobs to complete to prepare for its arrival.

Your local Caldera Spas dealer can walk you through the process in a step-by-step way and provide detailed pre-delivery instructions that will make the task feel completely manageable. Our goal here is not to answer every detail down to the size of the pea gravel you might use as a base, but to outline the things that you may need to consider.

1. Where will I put my new hot tub?

Many people like the idea of locating their hot tub in a remote area of their property. Generally, though, easy, close access translates to more use. Running electrical wiring away from the house can also be more costly.

Once you’ve decided where to place your hot tub, measure and mark off the area so that you can visualize it there. Is there room to move around the hot tub? Is there easy access and adequate space for steps? It’s very important that there’s room to open and work around the hot tub’s access panel. If that side of the hot tub is placed against a structure, the hot tub’s components won’t be accessible for servicing. Also, consider the view; will you want a privacy fence?

Most of all, is there a wide enough delivery path from the road to the space you’ve chosen? Is there enough vertical clearance between the path and tree limbs or the eaves of the house? You’ll need adequate space for the hot tub to be wheeled in on its side. Remember to include the height of the dolly, too. It’s not unusual for installers to use a crane to put a hot tub into place. Your Caldera Spas dealer can help you connect to the right resources.

2. What’s needed to prepare the site? 

A hot tub can weigh from 2,000 to 8,000 pounds when filled (and even more when you add people), so it needs a suitable base. The area where it will be placed should be leveled and a foundation prepared. A hot tub should not be placed on soil. Instead, it will need a concrete base, a crushed stone or pea gravel base, pavers or a deck with adequate structural support. Again, your dealer can put you in contact with professionals who can do all the necessary site preparation.

3. What about electrical?

Most hot tubs run off 220 volts and will require electrical work by a licensed professional. Some hot tubs can run off of a standard 110 outlet, but in those cases, the heater and pumps cannot be used at the same time. It’s highly recommended that you have the electrical work done so that you can enjoy your hot tub to its full potential.

4. Can I put my hot tub on my existing deck? 

Before your hot tub is placed on a deck, you must make sure the deck is structurally able to support the weight of the filled hot tub and the maximum number of people that it holds. Consult a qualified, licensed professional who can assess your deck and add structural support if necessary. Caldera Spas dealers can refer you to contractors they’ve worked with before.

5. What if I’m adding a new deck? 

Make sure that the new deck plans include a load capacity that will support your spa. Your Caldera Spas dealer can provide you with weight specifications and scale renderings of our hot tubs in PDF and CAD formats to help you and your contractor or deck builder with planning and design.

Need help designing a deck? Caldera Spas also offers a 3D Deck Design Tool, an interactive deck planner that can help you design a deck in a step-by-step approach.

Preparing for the arrival of your hot tub may seem like a lot of work at first, but your Caldera Spas dealer will help you through every stage and provide you with the resources to make the process flow smoothly.

  • What’s your ideal location for a hot tub?
  • Are you comfortable designing your deck with help from online tools?
  • What preparation tips do you have?

What Is Hot Tub Circuit Therapy And How Does It Work?

A Caldera Spas Hot Tub serves many purposes, including enhancing family time and allowing you to relax both mind and body.

They also have a physically therapeutic benefit. Hot tubs are often used to release muscular tension or to help in the recovery of overworked muscles.

What Is Hot Tub Circuit Therapy?

A Caldera Spas hot tub takes the idea of actively treating muscles even further with seats and jets strategically placed to deliver whole-body, holistic treatment. We call it Hot Tub Circuit Therapy and it’s based on the approach used by personal trainers, moving you from station to station to help deliver a full-body workout and achieve a balanced fitness routine.

How Does Hot Tub Circuit Therapy Work?

Each seat or position in a Caldera Spas hot tub is intended to provide a deep massage to a different muscle group. As you move from seat to seat, jets focus on those muscle groups one at a time, including your neck and shoulders, the large muscles of your back, lower back, hamstrings, calves and feet.

Should You Follow A Prescribed Course Or Improvise?

Your approach is entirely up to you. You can follow our recommended course through your hot tub or focus on the areas that need the most help. You also have the flexibility to adjust the intensity of the jets in order to specify anything from a deep, penetrating massage to a soothing, relaxing touch. Stay at each station as long as you feel it’s necessary. You’re completely in charge.

What Are The Stages?

The arrangement of seats and jets in different models varies, so our trip through the spa won’t follow a specific map. In your model, you’ll be able to determine which seats focus on the appropriate muscle groups. Typical moves and treatments will include these stops.

  • Start with a massage to your neck, shoulders and middle back in the lounge seat. Two rows of jets work on both sides of your spine, focusing on the latissimus dorsi, the rhomboid muscles and the trapezius. Some Caldera Spas models have jets for your hands and your calves. While you’re in the lounge seat, Sole Soothers® jets massage the bottoms of your feet.
  • Selected models have independently controlled jets above the water level that massage downward, giving additional attention to tired neck muscles.
  • Move and work on the lumbar area of your lower back. A pair of larger jets focuses on the low part of your back where tension accumulates and where many lower back problems develop.
  • Move again and continue to focus on the back as a high-volume jet delivers a swirling effect.
  • Move to one of the other areas where jets focus on the long muscles on the back of the thigh. While jets work on your hamstrings, others are at work on your knees, calves and feet.

Once you’ve experienced the range of massage delivered in the seats throughout your Caldera Spas hot tub, you’ll begin to determine which order works best for you.

What Are The Benefits of Hot Tub Circuit Therapy?

In about 20 minutes every day, you can get a restorative massage that relaxes tense, tired muscles, increases circulation and reduces aches and pains. Try it several days in a row and note improvements in how you feel and move.

Have you tried Hot Tub Circuit Therapy?

In what order do you treat muscle groups?

What benefits did you see from using all stations in your Caldera Spas hot tub?

How Can A Hot Tub Enhance My Fitness Routine? Part 2

This is the second post in a two part series on how a hot tub can improve your fitness routine. Read part one here.

A fully integrated workout strategy should go beyond the actual workout to include important essentials such as nutrition, rest and recovery time.

Can I Stretch In My Hot Tub?

Dynamic stretching is the preferred method of preparing for a workout. But in a hot tub, muscles relax and loosen, allowing for some light static stretching. While hot tubs are not designed as a stretching station, you can perform some gentle stretches and movements to help muscles loosen and elongate.

What Are The Mental Recovery Benefits?

Part of the recovery process involves managing stress and developing a proper mental state. Time in a hot tub can help you relax and clear your mind, allowing you to combat some of the stress factors common to athletes.

By relaxing and creating a positive attitude you’re likely to perform at a much higher level, according to Dr. Michael Roizen, Cleveland Clinic’s chief wellness officer and co-author with Dr. Mehmet Oz of the best-selling YOU series of books.

Time in a hot tub can also help improve sleep which is an essential part of the recovery process.

Do Hot Tubs Help Injury Recovery?

In general, a hot tub can help your body recover from injury in the same way it helps you recover from a workout. Increased circulation helps carry nutrients to an injured area to assist in the healing process. In many cases, alternating ice and heat can help even more.

However, every injury is different and may require a different recovery strategy. If you have an injury, check with a physician to find out how hot tub therapy can benefit your individual healing process.

Remember, a fitness strategy and routine involves far more than exercise. In fact, what you do when you’re not exercising can play a huge part in helping you progress and succeed. Time in a Caldera Spas hot tub can become an essential, daily routine to help you reach your goals, stay limber, avoid injuries and stay relaxed and focused.

Do you currently use your Caldera Spas® hot tub as part of your fitness routine and how does it help you?

How soon after a workout do you use your hot tub to massage tired muscles?

Does the mental relaxation you get from using your hot tub help your fitness routine?

How Can A Hot Tub Enhance My Fitness Routine? Part 1

A fully integrated workout strategy should go beyond the actual workout to include important essentials such as nutrition, rest and recovery time.
This is the first post in a two part series on how a hot tub can improve your fitness routine.