Predictive and preventative maintenance procedures can work hand in hand to assess, monitor and address any issues which could lead to breakdown or failure if left unattended and for most spa operators this is a key consideration throughout the year. To keep your Klafs equipment running smoothly, here’s a quick rundown of those things to consider when planning for winter ready spa checks and maintenance:

Look at things from a different perspective

If you get the opportunity out of normal operational hours, take time out to use the spa equipment in exactly the way a spa goer would, using an objective eye to assess areas for maintenance.

• Check doors to establish if they open smoothly, that the hinges are properly tightened and that the rubber seals, where fitted, work correctly.
• Assess whether the lighting systems operate fully and if any of the bulbs require replacement.
• Sit on the benches within each cabin to feel where maintenance or repair may be needed.
• Think about the environment and the actual feel within the cabin checking temperature and humidity on each bench tier to assess the need for replacement sauna rocks or steam generator maintenance.
• If essences are used take notice of the strength of fragrance and response it prompts noting the need for alteration or changes in frequency, quantity or fragrance change requirements.

Take stock, be prepared

The busier colder months requires longer operational periods and increased wear and tear so ensuring replacement parts and sundries are on-site and available will mean any unexpected occurrences can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

• Servicing your Klafs equipment now will keep things operating well and creates an opportunity to check the stock you already have on site and re-order any spare parts for use during or after the busy winter period.
• Keep at least one complete set of replacement bulbs on site at any one time to ensure cabins are fully lit at all times.
• The requirement for Essence increases and so too generally does the need for more herbal based, head and nose clearing fragrances such as peppermint and eucalyptus. Order ahead to maintain stock levels as demand and use increases.

Our team offers servicing, support, technical advice and spare part provision to help you assess and address the particular maintenance requirement of your spa environment. Call our technical team today on +44 (0)845 833 6381 and we will be happy to help you get things on track for the winter months.

Our olfactory system is finely tuned to detect volatile chemical components in the air, translating them to chemical and electrical signals within the brain. Forming part of the limbic system, our olfactory bulb communicates these messenger signals directly to both the emotional centre (the amygdala), and the hipocampus (associated learning) to create either a new smell association or works to trigger a conditioned response to a scent previously encountered.

It is these conditioned responses which have us responding either positively – inducing feelings of pleasure, enjoyment, relaxation, happiness etc or negatively creating a sense of repulsion, dread, unhappiness. The memories associated with scent can be subliminal in nature producing only a perceived emotional response but in reality, it is the subconscious mechanism tying emotion, association and conditioning together to create the physical and psychological responses we encounter.

The link between memory and odour is incredibly strong as demonstrated when we encounter smells from childhood; the ever familiar scent of lavender may remind some of us of a much loved great aunt whilst others a strongly disliked distant relative, the emotional response experienced is created by the conditioned responses encountered much earlier in life. Our brain processes odours in such a way as to be indelibly printed, never to be lost, even when the source of conditioning to such odours has long been forgotten.

Scent is in itself a powerful tool for inducing a state of calm relaxation or for delivering an energy boosting pick me up when needed, so it no surprise that our use of herbs, flowers and oils to enhance the sauna and steam bathing process has a long standing history.

High quality naturally derived essences and oil concentrates used within the sauna and steam room create not only a mood enhancing environment but can have physiological benefits too.

With Autumn now in full swing essences such Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint and Eucalyptus will be beneficial in staving off cold inducing germs whist clearing foggy heads and stuffy noses. However, if you are looking for alternatives to the usual seasonal essences try Sandalwood, Chamomile, Orange and Mandarin which will soothe tight chests and calm those frazzled Christmas planning nerves.

The use of essence as a tool within the bathing environment will create a welcoming and inviting space helping to enhance the mood and physical wellbeing of the bather. Talk to your clients to discover odour biases and tailor the environment to meet the needs of your guests in turn helping to create positive, mood enhancing emotional responses and those feel good connections!

August is nearly upon on and so too the first anniversary of the competition (which has been cancelled with no future events planned) so it seems an appropriate time to take a brief look at sauna safety hints and tips to help you enjoy healthy and safe bathing sessions.

If you are sick, have a virus, cough or cold don’t sauna bathe until you are feeling better. It is better to take the preventative approach, bathing regularly to boost immunity long-term and rest if and when you do pick up the odd germ or two.

Not all chronic illness will mean that you should avoid sauna bathing, indeed many people see no change or an improvement in their symptoms with regular and careful bathing. If you suffer with high or low blood pressure, have diabetes or other long-term chronic condition talk to your GP about whether, given your own personal medical history, sauna is a safe option for you.

Bathing when pregnant is another area where there is often conflicting advice so it advisable to have a frank and honest discussion with a clued up GP. In the main, healthy pregnant women do and can bathe regularly, choosing to stay in the cabin for much shorter periods and at lower temperatures than usual. Do your research, know your own limitations and take professional advice to ensure safety for you and baby.

So, if you are healthy and well and ready for the sauna, the following should be remembered;

• Ensure that you take, and consume, plenty of fluids such water, juice or herbal teas to stay hydrated throughout your sauna session.
• Alcohol should not be consumed before, during or immediately after bathing to avoid an excessive drop in blood pressure, dizziness or more rapid inebriation.
• Avoid eating a heavy meal before bathing, instead opt for nutritious snacks beforehand and a light meal afterwards.
• Remove all jewellery, rinse your skin thoroughly and dry off before entering the sauna.
• Protect your hair with a towel if you are prone to dry and damaged locks.
• Observe bathing rules relating to mixed bathing sessions and swimsuit policy. This will differ from country to country and will depend on the facilities.
• Stay in the cabin for a maximum of 20-30 minutes each cycle. Listen to your body and leave if you feel uncomfortable, dizzy or unwell.
• Cool off in between sessions by taking a cold shower or dip in the plunge pool.
• Rest adequately before returning to the sauna.

Sauna bathing offers space and time to relax, de-stress and improve our overall sense of health and wellbeing. When following these simple, common sense rules we can all enjoy the benefits of the sauna in a healthy and safe way.

If you are a spa operator and have not yet dipped your toe in social media waters, you may just be missing an important trick where your marketing efforts are concerned.  You only need to take a peek at the top 100 most visited sites by UK internet users to see that Facebook (topping the list at number 1 with 26 million new visitors daily), Youtube (number 2 with 18 million new visitors daily) and Twitter (number 21 with 3.1 million new visitors daily) could become vital communication tools.  Couple this with the much sought-after discount offerings made accessible via Groupon (number 25 with 2.8 million new visitors daily) and it’s easy to envisage the transition to more enriching and value added customer relationships.

There really couldn’t be a better time to start using and engaging with social media but if you don’t know where to begin, here are some quick points to get you on the right track:

Do your research

Knowing who your customers really are will help you to find and effectively utilise the right social media platform to suit your audience.  GoogleAdPlanner is a useful resource for exploring the statistics behind each individual social media brand but, lucky for us, the lovely people over at Xposure Creative have already done some of the work and compiled ther annual list of statistics highlighting key user information such as age and income. Understand your customers and you can establish how and where they may use social media to engage further with your services -  meaning a more intuitive, communicative and customer driven offering.

Develop a strategy

It sounds obvious but having clearly defined goals and a consistent approach is key.  Social media, much like other forms of marketing, takes time to establish and to produce the results you seek.  However, the key difference with social media marketing is the ‘social’ aspect, it offers a method of two way communication instead of the usual one way sell, providing an invaluable personalised approach to user engagement enabling higher levels of customer service and more immediate feedback mechanisms.  Once you decide to use social media, use it -  don’t dip in and out when results are slower (or far quicker) than expected. Instead, develop clear and open communications, be consistent and think more in terms of conversations rather than conversions – look after your client relationships and they will be happily shouting your brand from the rooftops!

Get everyone on board

Every member of the team should know what your strategy is, how you are using social media to engage users and how they too can be involved.  Make them ambassadors of the brand, they know it inside out after all and should be encouraged to let their personalities shine through (in a professional capacity of course!). Be creative, responsive and engaging. Your customer service representatives could be using Twitter for example, asking customers for feedback, dealing immediately with any questions or complaints and keeping them updated with information and offers. Get closer to your users, ask key questions and really listen to what they have to say (only then of course you can respond to their needs!).

Social media offers a great wealth of opportunity for adding value to the services you provide.  Do you research then give it a go. If you are feeling a little unsure, engage the services of a professional company to help you make the transition.

If you are already using Social Media how are you getting on and what top tips can you give other readers just dipping their toe in the water?

If you have never considered a spa break before, don’t be put off by the idea that spas are not always considered child friendly spaces, in fact, more and more venues are creating a welcoming family friendly space in which you can all relax.  Choosing a suitable place to stay and deciding how long to stay will depend on how many children will be tagging along and of course, their age ranges but here are our top tips:

If you have a mixed age family with differing requirements in order to keep those busy hands happy then Centerparcs (or similar style offering) could be an ideal option in meeting both budget and activity needs.  Although a large commercial operation, the Centerparcs sites will offer a back-to-nature feel, lots of outdoor and indoor activities plus the all important relaxation spaces of the spa. Take advantage of the children only activities to sneak off for an afternoon massage or sauna bathing session.

Where a hotel break is more your style, you can choose from a vast array of places to stay where spa is top of the agenda and not an afterthought.  If you are searching for an idyllic location, excellent spa facilities and a warm family friendly welcome, try Armathwaite Hall situated in the Lake District.  Well positioned to offer a wealth of outdoor activities for all age ranges with designated family swimming times but adult only spa activities, everyone can find lots of ways to relax or expend some energy.

If you are looking for a complete break away head out to one the increasing number of country house hotels that are offering sumptuous bedrooms, homegrown or locally produced food and indulgent spa treatments, all with a family inclusive feel. The fabulous Limewood is boutique at it’s best where style and substance meet to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Herb House Spa welcomes children at designated times for swimming and relaxation with starter treatments for the over 14’s.  This is laid back luxury which will have you all feeling a little more relaxed from the minute you arrive.

Whatever your budget and no matter how many little feet there are in your family,  there is plenty of choice when it comes to finding the perfect spa getaway so if you hadn’t considered it an option before, do a little research and you may just find the perfect fit this summer.

This simple treatment is a cornerstone of most spa menus and in the hands of a well trained therapist you will experience a deep sense of relaxation that lasts well beyond the allocated treatment time. Choosing a suitable massage treatment is a personal decision based on your preferences and desired outcomes but here are the top three most likely to appear on a day spa treatment menu:

Swedish Massage

This full body treatment uses a combination of long rhythmic strokes, kneading, pressure and vibration techniques which warm the skin, increase circulation and helps to ease muscular tension. The treatment can be tailored to your needs offering a spectrum of experience from the lightest touch through to a more intensive muscular workout. If you are looking for additional benefits, talk to your therapist about incorporating essential oils with the swedish technique to offer a different approach to the usual light movements of a traditional Aromatherapy massage.

Ayurvedic Massage

Interpreted in many different ways depending on the day spa philosophy and the experience of the trained practitioner but this particular treatment, having roots firmly in Indian philosophy, will certainly leave you feeling lighter on your feet. You will usually experience an in-depth pre-treatment consultation, a whole body massage delivered by one or two therapists and copious amounts of warm fragrant oils. The heart of Ayurvedic philosophy creates a holistic massage treatment which will deliver deep relaxation physically and psychologically.

Indian Head Massage

A deeply relaxing massage focussing not just on the head but on the neck, back and arms using a combination of stroking, kneading and pressure techniques to gradually release upper-body tension.  This technique, whilst not treating the whole body directly, delivers many of the benefits experienced with a full body treatment and is of particular benefit to those of us spending long hours hunched in front of our screens!

Massage combines the most basic of principles – touch and time and when expertly delivered will clear the mind and relax the body, helping to reduce the effects of stress in the short and longer-term.

If you only have those short few hours to spare for a day spa visit our top tips for making the most of your time would be to pre-book a massage for later in the day, take time beforehand to relax in the sauna or steamroom, take that ‘must read’ book and leave the phone at home!

The Capital of Culture award served as a catalyst for the creation of annual events, carefully organised and scheduled to reflect each years theme. 2009 delivered a cultural program reflecting the Year of the Environment whilst in 2010 activities and events to highlight the Year of Health and Wellbeing were plentiful. This has rolled out further, continuing  into 2011 and beyond to become ‘2020, the Decade of Health and Wellbeing’ promising to deliver a range of activities to help us all maintain a lasting sense of improved health and wellness across the region by 2020.

We say it pretty often enough but our passion is health and wellbeing , ‘Feeling Well’ is at the heart of what we do and who we are as company and as individuals so, the 2020 philosophy strikes a chord on many levels.  The programme of events began in 2010 and revolved around five key principles: Connecting with others, Getting Active, Taking Notice, Continuous Learning and Giving to others. We happen to think that this is pretty simple but effective formula in helping achieve a balanced, healthy approach to life so here are own top tips on things to try:

Connecting with others

As the saying goes, no man (or indeed woman) is an island and physically connecting with family, friends and members of our local communities gives us that warm fuzzy feeling we simply can’t get from the digital alternatives.  Instead of picking up the telephone, emailing, tweeting or other virtual forms of contact, get out and about and spend time with real life human beings. If cafe culture is your thing, find a local place to grab a coffee and indulge in a happiness inducing face to face conversation. If communal experience is more your thing, get online and see what interesting and crowd drawing events are happening.

Getting Active

We all know that getting active is good for our physical as well as our psychological wellbeing but it doesn’t have to mean hours spent in a sweaty gym (unless of course that’s your particular passion!).  Making it fun and making it regular really is the only thing to remember so instead of heading indoors get outside in the fresh air; cycle, walk, play cricket, kick a ball around, throw a frisbee, ride a horse or whatever else you may fancy. Do a little a bit every day to keep the heart and mind healthy.

Taking Notice

Multi-tasking is now the norm for most of us meaning that rarely does any one thing have a full, undivided attention so we sometimes forget to remember the little but important day to day details that can really improve our sense of wellbeing. When did you last walk to your next meeting with the phone switched off instead preferring to actually look at the impressive architectural detail on the buildings around you! What about lunch, do you savour every mouthful or take a bite in between phone calls and emails? Our team of course, head straight for the sauna for some quiet contemplation but taking even a little time each day to focus on sensory pleasures will give you a little daily pick me up.

Continuous Learning

If you, like our Director Matt, devour books, seminars, webinars, talks, lectures and any other learning experience as quickly as you can get you hands on them, you will already be accustomed to the wealth of psychological benefits they bring.  Learning anything new boosts memory, concentration and confidence so try something new, take a course or brush up those language skills to get that grey matter whipped into shape.

Giving to others

This is something that our team do regularly and which we are particularly passionate about.  Our approach is varied, we give time, money, support and expertise to a wide network of community projects, local businesses and charities which are personal to us individually…… and it feels great!  Whether you are giving your time freely to pass on specialist knowledge, fundraising for local organisations or simply supporting friends or neighbours, you will see and feel the benefits immediately!

It will be interesting to see how 2020, the Decade of Health and Wellbeing will pan out and what exciting developments will evolve. What are you planning to do this year to help boost your health and wellness long-term?

Our passion for sauna and spa means we often get asked for advice on using, designing and purchasing spa equipment outside our day to day work.  A regular question that always seems to pop up at this time of year relates to summer sauna bathing – can you, should you and what are the benefits?

In short, yes you can, yes you should and the benefits are exactly in the same all year round!

The temptation to change your bathing schedule with the changing seasons is there even amongst the most committed and regular of sauna bathers.  When the weather warms up and days stretch out for a seeming eternity, it’s far easier to stay outdoors than head inside for a hot, darkened room!

There are of course many health benefits from getting copious amounts of fresh air, a little sunshine and time to feel the grass beneath your feet but combine this with your regular bathing sessions, and you will be ready for whatever the seasons bring.

For those of you with an established sauna bathing routine, you will already be seeing and feeling the improvements in overall health and wellbeing; fewer colds and viruses of less severity, a reduction in stress, improved circulation with better skin and muscle tone.

If you are not yet a frequent user of the sauna, summer is great time to start.  You can take advantage of the warmer days and take time to cool off outside if space allows, the cold shower is a welcome relief and your body will be better prepared for the downward journey back to winter.

Don’t shy away from taking a regular sauna in the summer months. A weekly or bi weekly session is enough to maintain the health benefits -  just remember to follow a correct heating and cooling cycle and drink plenty of fluids.  If you have spent a little too long in the sun and are feeling sore or have a headache, avoid sauna bathing for at least 48 hours after the symptoms have completely subsided.

So, don’t avoid the sauna this year, as summer heats up grab your towel and head indoors (at least for a short time!).

Get Moving
Sitting is an inevitable part of the daily office routine but you can increase your daily activity easily by doing some obvious and simple things.

Walk or cycle to work.  Matt, our Director cycles in regularly come rain or shine (much to the annoyance of us fair weather riders!) and finds the early morning activity improves mental agility and raises energy levels for the rest of the day.

If you are not up for quite such a strenuous challenge, get up and get outside during the lunch break.  A brisk 20 minute walk or jog will give you a midday boost and help shrug off those mid afternoon slumps.

Simple exercises done at your desk can help you avoid stiffness, improve circulation and stop a pending tension headache.  There is a wealth of online resources to help you get started, find some simple exercises and commit to doing them once or twice a day to see an improvement in posture and mental alertness.

Watch your posture
We all fall into bad habits; slouching, leaning, crossing the legs, holding the phone between ear and shoulder whilst typing.  Daily actions which pretty much go unnoticed but which can have long term consequences for the health of our joints and muscles.

Get a check done to ensure that your desk, chair and monitor are in the correct position for your height.  Have your phone within easy reach and use a headset if spending long hours talking.

Yoga and Pilates are great ways to improve flexibility, core strength and posture not to mention the stress busting,  immune boosting effects of regular practice.  If you have the space, there are a number of companies who now offer classes on site.  Perfect during the lunch break or for an early morning kickstart to your day.

Massage is another pleasurable and measurable way to improve posture, reduce stress and boost immunity. On-site massage is becoming increasingly popular utilising techniques which can be done over the clothes, comfortable on the chilliest of days and in the most crowded of offices.

Eat well, drink well, sleep well
A little of what you like really does do you the world of good -  we all know the pleasure of chocolate, a glass of wine, a mid week late night movie and home baked cakes (our office particularly since Mark’s wonderful wife Laura bakes the most amazing brownies ever known to man!) but too much of the good stuff can lead to us feeling sluggish, over tired and prone to illness.

The trick is to know your own needs, listen when your body is groaning and take action.  Eat enough of the good stuff to counteract the not so good, drink enough liquids to keep you brain functioning well (dehydration impacts massively on concentration) and get the right amount of sleep at the right time of night.

As a team dedicated to spa and wellness we work hard to look after ourselves but our job is certainly made far easier by the on-site sauna, steam and gym facilities!  Let us know your top tips for keeping the workplace happy and healthy.

This second video is just as good as the “10 things not to do in a sauna video”. Very very good!