Exploring the Power of Hydrotherapy with Compass Pools

A sponsored collaboration with Compass Pools, award-winning pool designers and installers with over 30 years’ experience in crafting beautiful luxury swimming pools.

The relaxation that comes from soaking in the bathtub or enjoying a relaxing swim in the sea is well-known, and it’s been linked to better health for decades. Hydrotherapy offers so many advantages for our health, from calming the mind to reducing pain. Here, luxury pool installers Compass Pools explain why aquatic exercise can help us boost our wellbeing and how to set health and wellness goals that work for your lifestyle.

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is also sometimes referred to as water therapy and is a way of harnessing the healing properties of water to address different health concerns, both physical and mental. From using currents and jets to promote circulation and soothe tired muscles to switching between cold plunges to warm water to detoxify the body, hydrotherapy can be tailored to the individual’s needs, which makes it ideal as a wellbeing tool to enhance your health.

This approach offers numerous healing benefits, in large part due to the buoyancy of the water relieving pressure on the joints and muscles, allowing you to exercise without putting excess strain on your body.

Hydrostatic pressure, which is exerted by warm or cold water around the body, supports us while we work out, and can actually minimise muscle soreness, so it’s ideally suited to those healing from injury or managing chronic conditions. Hydrotherapy sessions have also been shown to stimulate our immune system which boosts overall health and enhances circulation, especially if you’re swimming in a cold water pool or outdoor swimming.

Setting Your Wellness Goals

Before installing a pool, it’s important to define your goals and personal health objectives. Is this pool going to be a place of meditative solitude or a space where the whole family can exercise? Is the focus on relaxation or fitness? Knowing the answers to these types of questions will help you choose a pool that works for you.

Core Pool Design Elements for Wellbeing

There are several ways to design a pool that’s tailored to your fitness and wellbeing goals. The first is to consider the shape and size of your chosen swimming pool—organic shapes naturally lend themselves to tranquillity and calm, while lap lanes are better suited to improving your fitness.

Water depth, temperature and jet features are also important—a swim spa, for example, provides turbine systems that you can swim against to improve strength and endurance. If relaxation is your goal, a hot tub or a pool that gives you flexibility over water temperature may be better suited to allow you to enjoy a range of therapeutic benefits.

Enhancing the Sensory Experience

The overall environment when you’re using your pool helps to create a holistic experience. For example, the sound of water has long been used as a calming technique, so why not add water features that add a dynamic element to your pool for meditative benefits? Similarly, lighting can create the perfect ambiance while also improving safety if you’re using your pool at night. Lastly, heating functionality will allow for year-round enjoyment.

Integrating the Pool with the Landscape

Your pool isn’t a standalone feature, so think about how you’ll integrate it within the wider landscape of your home and garden. Surrounding decking that’s non-slip and heat-resistant will keep you and your family or guests safe when you’re using the pool, while strategic planting of hedges or fencing will keep your pool a private and secluded spot to truly unwind. Likewise, outdoor living spaces like outdoor showers, changing rooms, or shaded areas will provide greater practicality for your pool and improved comfort.

Whether you’re looking to relax and unwind, improve your cardiovascular fitness, or manage pain and discomfort from chronic illness, a swimming pool can offer so much for your health, recovery and overall wellbeing.

Photo by Kristin Lis