Visiting The Thermae Spa in Bath – A Brief Guide

Bath Spa, Featured

The Thermae Bath Spa is Britain’s only natural thermal spa, located in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath within the picturesque county of Somerset. Bath’s unique underground springs are the warmest geothermal springs found anywhere on the British Isles.

For anyone wanting to experience an authentic and unique spa complex, the ‘Thermae Bath Spa’ is the perfect way to enjoy the naturally occurring heated geothermal waters while you relax in one of the many treatment rooms. This is now become one of the city’s main attractions on offer to visitors, making Bath famous for its warm spring waters.

Although this is a unique building with its mix of Georgian and contemporary architecture, the city Bath was known for its spa waters long time before the Thermae Spa was built. As you would have to travel back in to time to 836 BC to Ancient Britain at the time of British king Bladud who is reputed to have first discovered the warm springs and warm mud around them.

Later during the occupation of ancient Britain by the Roman Empire, the city of Bath was given the Roman name of Aquae Sulis (meaning “the waters of Sulis”) and a Roman temple was constructed on the spot where the spa waters occurred. This temple became a Roman Bath house and was used by the Romans for rest and recuperation during military campaigns.

This led to the city of Bath to rise to prominence during the Roman period, which later saw the development of Bath as the country’s leading spa health resort during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Jump forward to the ‘present day’ and the city of Bath is renowned the world over the number one spa break destination in the United Kingdom. The Thermae Bath Spa is essentially a day spa where you can enjoy a range of spa treatments, bathe in the relaxing warm natural mineral-rich waters and if you want to indulge yourself you can choose from a wide range of spa treatments which have been designed to ease the body and soothe the mind.

Another unique feature of the modern Thermae Spa is the roof-top spa swimming pool. This is also utilizes the heated geothermal which are pump up to the pool, there also the addition of the pressured jets in certain areas of the pool, so you can enjoy a massage with the warm waters on your body.

You can also partake in one of the four specific aroma steam rooms that again utilize the warm spring waters, which have the addition of essential oils like eucalyptus or frankincense, which also leave you refreshed and relaxed.

Is It Really A Good Time To Pamper Yourself With Luxury Weekend Breaks?

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In the current financial climate, you might think it strange that I’m suggesting you look at taking luxury weekend breaks.

The fact is that it’s precisely because of this state of affairs that you need to consider taking time out for a spa weekend, a city weekend break, or to just pamper yourself at home with a few luxury items you’ve purchased locally.

Because of the downturn and all the associated doom and gloom, there is less interest in luxury items (whether that’s cars, holidays, weekend breaks or clothes and accessories). But this is where it benefits you!

This lack of interest due to people being more conservative means that many luxury weekend breaks are now being offered at reduced rates. Which means that you can now afford to take a quick break to re-charge your batteries without it breaking the bank.

If you look at a weekend break as a necessity rather than a luxury, and weigh up the benefits versus the cost, you’ll soon realise that it’s an investment in your future and well worth spending money and time on.

A weekend break will give you a chance to escape from the daily grind of your job and will also help to ease any build-up of stress from your working week. Spa breaks in particular offer a haven of peace for you to relax and unwind away from the rat race.

If you take the time to relax, you’ll find it can considerably reduce the chance of developing depression or other illnesses such as anxiety and eating disorders, substance abuse and even schizophrenia, all of which can be linked to stress and unhappiness.

You’ll find that a weekend break will benefit you in many ways:

You’ll feel more relaxed – once you get away from your normal hectic surroundings, your body and mind will have a chance to rest and re-charge – ready for any new challenges you have in store.

You’ll fin you have sorted out your problems – once you’ve relaxed, you’ll find your mind will automatically find solutions to problems on its own.

You’ll get on better with your partner – if you’re under pressure at work, your partner is usually the one who suffers most. A break will give you both a chance to be together without those outside pressures.

You’ll be refreshed & revitalised – just being refreshed can give you a whole new outlook on life in general and problems in particular.

And you’ll be better prepared to tackle whatever is thrown at you – a break will give you the R&R you need to set you up to face the world with renewed confidence.
So pencil in some time to pamper yourself and, with a little creative thinking and some research, you’ll find that taking time out for luxury weekend breaks won’t cost as much as you imagine and will benefit you in more ways than you would expect.

Five Reasons to Stay at Warners Thoresby Hall Spa

Featured, Hall Spa

Thoresby Hall is a Grade 1 listed hotel, which offers short breaks exclusively for adults. This Warners hotel also boasts a Spa, meaning you can have a whole range of relaxation treatments to help feel like a new person after your short break. Here are five reasons you should book yourself onto a short break at Warners Thoresby Hall hotel.

Style and Sophistication
The hotel is a Grade 1 listed building, this means you are sure of some elegant surroundings in a hotel with lots of character. Built in 1875, Thoresby Hall still contains much of its Victorian charm – but with 21st century luxury and comfort.

Fantastic Setting
This Warners hotel is set in some wonderful gardens, and is positioned next to Sherwood Forest. The wonderful setting makes the gardens very easy on the eye when you throw open your curtains first thing in the morning.

Exclusively for Adults
If you’re looking for a break exclusively for adults, a Warners holiday is for you. Like all Warners holidays breaks, Thoresby Hall Hotel and Spa, is for adults only, so you know you’ll have a calm few days, without any children running around.

Central Location
Thoresby Hall is in an ideal location to travel to. Only half-an-hour North of Nottingham, and 15 minutes south of Worksop; this hotel has the advantage of being set a quiet location, but still within easy reach of the main road network.

Take advantage of the Spa 
The Spa is set in the magnificent gardens. If you want a little bit more from your Warners break, the Spa is the place to go. You can indulge in such relaxation treatments as the warming rooms, Hamman Steamroom, or mud bathing. There is a multitude of therapies on offer, so you’re bound to find something that suits you. Why not pop into the Spa during your stay, and see what you fancy trying.

Pampered Spa Weekend Breaks

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Treating yourself to a spa weekend break would be all worth it after the grueling race you made in a month’s time of working. Weekend break has always been a welcoming relief to most to ease themselves with the accumulated stress and pressure over the weeks that have passed.

Weekend breaks usually mean spending Friday night to Saturday afternoon/Sunday morning in a hotel or beach resort. These are typically the destination spots of travelers as it is here where you could relax without traces of busy, hectic city life. You can stay the weekend in hotels and beach resort because their relaxed and comfortable environment would ease out all your worries and strains from work; albeit temporarily for just a few days.

A nice, relaxed weekend break is a visit to these resorts and hotels with probably a dinner over candle lit table, and capping the night off with few relaxing moments in a club or by the seaside. On day times, a nice stroll to the beach would be most tempting while fresh air would allow them to completely forget work. Most young travelers would consider these traditional weekend break scenarios ideal enough for them to start with.

Today, resorts and hotels have changed for the better adding luxury and convenient edifices such as a spa room for the travelers to even enjoy their weekend breaks to a maximum. A spa break is today’s what most would look for because it not only takes off your strain and stress during the weeks of working but eases out your anger and depression as well from your different encounters in life.

A spa service or treatment does not mean cheap weekend break but nevertheless would be well worth it to an individual who had been seeking a change in his somewhat routinely and monotonous life, even for just a matter of few days. A spa weekend break compliments your weekend away and once you availed the service you would probably realize that it is all that you need to re-energize your body and mind to get back to work in full shape and condition.

A spa weekend break is offered by practically all fashionable hotels in town and beach resorts by the countrysides. But if you prefer whole body treatment, you might want to spend the weekend away in a spa treatment center where you would be lavished with special services such as dead sea spa treatment, which uses minerals and salts known for beneficial results to human body and mind. You can locate these centers easily through directories in the Internet and usually are just sprawled around the city.

Preventing Skin Aging and Lowering Your Risk of Skin Cancer

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Even though it’s known that taking sun safety measures is a must outdoors, not many people understand they might experience sun exposure indoors, also. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can pass through windows to reach the skin, accelerating skin aging by several years, as a current study demonstrates. One must understand that along with accelerating skin aging, cumulative UV exposure can also increase your risk of skin cancer.

Based on content published in Clinical Interventions in Aging, eight women and two men had considerably more wrinkles and sagging skin on one side of the face, even though they worked indoors. The side of the subjects’ faces that was constantly nearer to a window exhibited more signs of sun damage (“asymmetrical facial damage”), and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays are thought to be the culprit. While both UVA and UVB rays can harm the skin and lead to skin cancers, UVB is effectively blocked by glass. However, at least 50 percent of UVA radiation can pass through windows. (Car windows have been proven to let in more than 60 percent.)

The study showed that the people most affected were those who drove vehicles for a living, or had jobs that required several hours of driving daily. In cars, windshields are laminated, and filter out UVA, but side and back windows are not. As expected, the seven people with jobs that required significant amounts of driving had significantly more direct UVA exposure on the side of the face closer to the driver’s side window. This pattern was seen in non-drivers as well: For instance, a shopkeeper had more signs of aging on the side of her face regularly closer to the store window.

The study found that people had more wrinkles under and around the eyes and on the cheeks were worse on the more UVA-exposed side of the face; skin texture was also rougher. The results also indicated that skin on the more UVA-exposed side of persons face may be duller, dryer, and slacker, and the crow’s feet deeper. This study shows that chronic exposure to UVA radiation accelerates the aging of skin five to seven years.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends you to have special UV-protective film applied to your rear and side windows. Other recommendations include using sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher, and to stay away from indoor tanning salons that use a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp as these can cause skin cancers including melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer), basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation also can cause cataracts and cancers of the eye (ocular melanoma).

Preventative Measures for protecting your skin include covering up as much of your skin when possible. Be extra cautious near water, sand or snow as the sun’s rays are stronger when they reflect off these surfaces, even if you’re in what you consider a shady spot. Wearing protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and UV-resistant wrap-around sunglasses can protect your body, face and eyes from the suns damaging rays.

Skin Cancer Cure

Spa Hotels

Bath Spa, Featured

The term spa hotels can be used to refer to two similar but different things. It may refer to a hotel which offers “spa” amenities. Or it may refer to a real total resort destination which centers itself around the idea of providing spa services.

We’ll look at both types of spa hotels throughout this article. Let’s start with the first kind (which is a lot cheaper). A hotel with a spa “attached”, so to speak, will not offer as much as a resort. Nevertheless, it will probably have massage services, mud baths, herbal wraps, and salt scrubs. It will at least have some of these services, if not all of them. All of this information should be available in any promotional material which the hotel has put out. Don’t think that this is a raw deal: you may just find that you have to pay for the individual services which you use. This is a great way to go when you don’t want to really go all out with a spa. Instead of “all you can eat” you are essentially getting “buffet” style selection. In the process the average visitor will end up saving a lot of money.

Now on the other end of the spectrum we have spa hotels that are full-on resort destinations. These offer literally all the amenities there are. They will also typically include all of these services in the price of staying there. So, once you pay you are in! Here you may even get natural hot mineral springs. (Many people don’t know what the original term spa referred to an actual town that had hot springs. Instead of calling it a town they called it a “spa”.) A spa hotel is obviously going to be more expensive than a normal hotel, and for good reason. The Bath Spa Hotel in England is a good example of this latter resort class. It is one of the finest hotels and resorts in all of the UK. It’s a restored 19th century mansion that everyone raves about.

All in all, the customer or visitor is really afforded a diverse amount of choices between these two descriptions. The pampering is something that we just don’t get enough of in this hustle bustle world. Thank God that some ingenious entrepreneurs have realized that humans still have a desire to get away every once in a while to a spa hotel!

Thoresby Hall Hotel & Spa in Nottinghamshire

Featured, Hall Spa

If you’re looking for some rest and relaxation, Thoresby Hall Hotel & Spa could be the place you’ve been looking for. This Grade I listed hotel is a perfect place for a short break, and of course, you can make full use of the spa facilities available.

Where is Thoresby Hall Hotel & Spa?
The hotel is situated in Nottinghamshire, right on the edge of Sherwood Forest. You’ll find Thoresby Hall about half-an-hour north of Nottingham, and 15 minutes south of Worksop, on the A1. This central position of Thoresby Hall makes it easily accessible, no matter which direction you’re travelling from.

Tell me about Thoresby Hall Hotel
Thoresby Hall Hotel is a Grade 1 listed house which sits in some beautiful grounds adjacent to Sherwood Forest. The traditional magnificence of the house is combined with 21st century luxury to give you a fantastic break.

You can book breaks at this sumptuous hotel & Spa through Warner Leisure Resorts; and like all Warner breaks this hotel is exclusively for adults, so you know there won’t be any children running about.

Need to relax? Try the Spa
The hotel is fantastic in its own right; but while you’re there, why not make use of the Spa. The spa offers a multitude of treatments. Try the “warming rooms” – which will help you relax. Have a go in the “Hamman Steamroom”, which will leave you feeling refreshed and re-invigorated. Or try the ancient Egyptian treatment of mud bathing. Whatever you need to relax, the spa will have something for you.

Conclusion
All in all, this hotel makes a great place to spend a few nights. Even if you don’t make use of the Spa during your stay, you’ll still have a fantastic time. You can let the nice people at the hotel look after you during your stay, so why not take a few days away from your standard routine, and spend some time in these magnificent surroundings.

Natural Ways to Banish Dry Skin

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Dry skin can be a pesky problem. And sometimes it’s hard to tell whether a certain lotion will help to get rid of the dry and flaky skin. Fortunately there are some great natural remedies that can help you. Here are ten of the best.

1. Olive Oil – Olive oil is great for moisturizing your skin. Dab a small amount of olive oil onto wherever the driest areas of your skin are. Massage it in well so that your skin can benefit from the great moisturizing qualities of the olive oil. To get rid of extremely dry skin, leave it on overnight.

2. Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is so great for your skin because it is high in oils and contains natural emollient properties. This means that you can get the maximum quantity of moisture and the best coverage.

3. Honey – Honey is another good moisturizer as its sticky consistency and the antibacterial qualities help to relieve any inflammation and also nourish your skin. Honey can be used alone or with another kitchen remedy for your dry skin. When used as a cleanser, rub a small amount of raw honey all over your dehydrated skin. For best results, apply by using your fingers or a cotton ball. And when used as a facial mask, do the same as you would for a cleanser. Just leave on for 15-30 minutes.

4. Yogurt – Yogurt is high in lactic acid which is good for exfoliating the skin, tightening pores, and stimulating collagen production. The lactic acid is needed so that you can remove the dry and flaky skin form your body and replace it with smooth skin. When applying in the morning, cover your face in yogurt, then remove with a splash of cold water. At night, your skin can benefit from a yogurt mask made by mixing yogurt and honey.

5. Milk – Like the yogurt, milk has lactic acid in it. The lactic acid can eliminate dead skin cells and make your skin feel moisturized and fresh. Dry areas of the skin are removed because of the fat content in the milk. After applying, make sure you rinse off well.

6. Aloe Vera – Aloe Vera is one of the best ways to soothe dry and flaky skin.

7. Salt – If your dry skin begins to itch, a salt scrub might be the best way for you to get relief from the itchiness. The best way to use this is when bathing. When bathing, just rub the salt all over the areas of dryness. The rubbing of salt will help remove the dead skin cells. Salt can also reduce inflammation.

8. Oatmeal – Oatmeal is one of the best ingredients in removing dry skin. If you were to look at a lotion’s ingredients, you’ll notice that oatmeal is often listed as one of the parts that they use. You can try cooking the oatmeal with water and when cooled, apply to your skin.

9. Avocado – The oil of avocados are rich in vitamins, including vitamins A, E, and D. These vitamins contribute to moisturizing and hydrating the skin. To get the greatest benefit from the avocado, combine it with honey and sugar. Put a small amount on and massage into your skin gently.

10. Water – By not drinking enough water, your skin can get dehydrated. Sometimes, just by drinking a glass of water, your skin can become hydrated again.

Using things from around the house to combat your dry skin is a great money saver. And look at all of the great things they can do.

Ten Foods You Can Use to Exfoliate Your Skin

Hall Spa

Skin can get dry and sometimes you need a quick way to fix that problem. And if you don’t have easy access to lotion, you can just go into your kitchen and find some products which are just as great for your skin as any lotion you can find in stores. Here are ten of the best foods to put on your skin.

1. Strawberries – There are two easy ways to apply strawberries to your face. One way is by smashing the strawberries and placing them on your face as a mask. Another method is to just rub the strawberries all over your skin. Working as an antioxidant, the strawberries will get rid of any oils on your face which will result in brightened skin.

2. Eggs – You can use either the whole egg or just the egg white. The whole egg will offer your skin more moisturizer than the egg white would. The egg whites will tighten your pores, though, and will help you in getting firmer skin. All you have to do is rub the egg all over your clean face and then a simple egg mask will form.

3. Baking Soda – Baking soda is one of the best and most inexpensive ways to get rid of any pesky dead cells on your face. To get the best results, start off with a freshly cleaned face. Gently scrub your face with a paste of baking soda and distilled water for about 10 minutes.

4. Lemon Juice – Lemon juice is a great thing to add to any mask. It brightens your skin, tightens your pores, and cuts through the oil on your face. You can apply it right onto your face for about five minutes or just add it to an egg white mask.

5. Honey – Honey can be applied just as the lemon juice. It can either be used by itself or be mixed with another mask. It can be used as a moisturizer and will even help control all of those gross breakouts. You can put it on your face and leave it there as long as you would like.

6. Bananas – You will want to use bananas that have some brown in them as these will work the best. Bananas can greatly exfoliate your skin and will give a dull skin a greater complexion. They will moisturize and are great for all skin types. Mash up the bananas and rub all over your skin – adding a bit of honey if you’d like. Rinse off after about 10 minutes.

7. Oats – Grind them into a powder and add water. The oats with the added water will make a great moisturizing scrub. Substituting water for milk can soothe dry and sunburned skin.

8. Yogurt – The lactic acid in yogurt is a great way to leave your skin feeling fresh and exfoliated. Yogurt can be used as a brightener and a moisturizer.

9. Almonds – Like oats, you will want to grind up almonds too. Turn them into a powder. They will moisturize, exfoliate, and cleanse your skin.

10. Olive Oil – Olive Oil is a great moisturizer for your face.

What other foods do you use to exfoliate your skin?

Homemade Sugar Scrubs for Your Face

Spa Breaks

Sugar may be something most of us need to reduce in our diets. But when it comes to facial scrubs, sugar is a highly desirable ingredient. Sugar is a great exfoliant, helping to brush away old skin cells and expose newer, healthier cells. It also draws moisture into the skin and is a form of alpha hydroxy acid, which assists with cell turnover as well.

There are many unique scrubs you can make for your face that are easy and not at all time-consuming. Try some of these sugar scrubs that promise to give you a healthy glow.

Coconut Bar Facial Scrub

Take one half cup of brown sugar, and mix it with 1/4 cup coconut oil and a few drops of real vanilla extract. Mix and apply 1 tablespoon to your face with your middle finger, so as not to push too hard and damage sensitive facial skin. When you are finished, gently rinse it off with a warm wash cloth and then splash your face with cold water to close your pores. This recipe smells good enough to eat.

Soothing Chamomile Oat Sugar Scrub

This is a soothing mixture when your face needs a little extra tender loving care. Oats soften skin and chamomile is known for its calming properties. Simply mix 1/2 cup brown sugar with 1/4 cup olive oil, a few tablespoons of ground rolled oats, and a few tablespoons of strongly brewed chamomile tea. Mix together and apply it to your face, then leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing.

Geranium Clean Pore Scrub

Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar with 1/4 cup hemp oil and a few drops of essential oil of geranium. Essential oil of geranium is known to help prevent acne breakouts, and it assists in regulating oil production. Hemp oil is a non-clogging oil, and actually works in an opposite manner, helping unclog skin pores. The brown sugar gently scrubs away dead and oil-filled skin cells in order to reveal the healthier skin cells underneath.

Scar-Removing Lavender Sugar Scrub

Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar with 1/4 cup coconut oil, one capsule of Vitamin E and a few drops of essential oil of lavender. Each of these ingredients plays a role in removing scars from your face, whether they are caused by acne or other trauma. Coconut oil has healing properties, vitamin E is well-known for healing scarring on the skin, and lavender helps regenerate skin cells.

Anti-Aging Lemon Scrub

Take 1/2 cup of brown sugar and mix it with 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon argan oil, and a few drops of essential oil of lemon. Olive oil contains polyphenols and oleic acid, both of which help to combat aging of the skin. Argan oil has high levels of Vitamin E and saponins, both of which help soften skin and reduce the appearance of aging. Essential oil of lemon is a natural skin toner, giving your face a healthy glow.

Keep in mind that cold-pressed lemon essential oil is phototoxic, which means you should avoid excessive sun exposure for 48 hours after using it on your skin.

There is no need to spend loads of money on expensive facial scrubs that may be filled with chemicals and other unnecessary additives. Why buy sugar scrubs, when you can easily make them at home and tailor them to the individual needs of your own skin on a moment-by-moment basis? Try these homemade sugar scrubs for a face with a youthful and healthy glow.