A Little History of Spa
The first UK Aqua Sana opened in 1987 at Sherwood Forest as a Hair and Beauty concept salon within the village consisting of four Treatment rooms, two Thalasso therapy rooms, three Flotation rooms, and a Hair dressing salon.
For over 5000 years Spa Therapy has been used to relax, revive and restore wellbeing. Here’s a short summary of just some of the key developments in spa.
The ancient civilisations such as the Babylonians in 2000BC are some of the first to appreciate the benefits of the application of hot and cold compresses and bathing in rivers. Water rituals at that time were very much dedicated to Gods and Goddesses, and water was seen as a purifying element against sins.
In the 5th Century BC the Greeks believed that water had the power to heal because of its physical properties, and Hippocrates the physician advocated both hot and cold bathing, resulting in the general understanding of personal hygiene and health.
The Romans however took this a step further and bathing establishments became a centre for their social lives. They invented the Frigidarium (with cold plunge pool), the Tepidarium, which was milder, and the hot bath or Caldarium; the best example of Roman Baths can be seen in the city of Bath today.
By the 8th Century, the Muslim world developed its own styles of the Roman Baths in western Asia.
The Middle Ages saw the spread of hot baths and mixed bathing which soon led to their disrepute following the immoral behaviour exhibited by the bathers! Religious beliefs that this profaned the gift of God’s water led to the closure of many baths and the covering up of bathers! However the custom of visiting healing wells continued nevertheless. The most well-known example being Spa in Belgium
Spa, Belgium, became the centre for English Catholic dissidents, and so history then played its part as the reigning English Protestant monarchy feared plots of an overthrow and so reduced visits by enforcing licences to be issued for every visit. In its place, steps were taken to promote Britain’s medicinal wells not tainted by Catholic religion; hence the promotion of Bath, Buxton and Harrogate.
By the end of the seventeeth century the royals had popularised the taking of the waters. Each spa was said to have its own unique properties and special healing powers for certain illnesses. Those wishing to improve their health were advised to take exercise and cold baths, thus for the first time the emphasis was placed on exercising both body and mind as practiced in the modern day spa.
