Biohacking Spa Designs: Transform Your Space into a Recovery Haven
our concept design for a new wellness club with cold plunge and infrared sauna
Creating a Recovery Haven
A well-designed recovery spa space can be exactly what you need to unwind and rejuvenate. As we see it from the perspectve of wellness design consultants, the latest spas go beyond mere relaxation however; they now take on a more practical function, aiding in physical and mental recovery, whether from an intense workout or the stresses of juggling relationships, kids, and work.
Effective spa design today has to transport users from their daily routines to a tranquil environment, promoting rejuvenation, improving mood, and reducing muscle soreness while also leveraging the latest biohacking and longevity knowledge to incorporate therapies such as an infrared sauna, ice bath or floatation tank.
Additionally, by leveraging the mood enhancing benefits of natural elements with biophilic design and earthy colors, you can significantly enhance the relaxation experience.
Understanding the Importance of Internal Space
The internal space of a spa plays a crucial role in shaping its ambiance and atmosphere. A thoughtfully designed internal area created explicitly to provoke a sense of calm will likely include a range of wellness therapies such as a steam room, sauna, and ice bath.
We also consider the flow of traffic or customer journey, as well as the placement of feature walls to ensure a seamless experience, with visual highlights at strategic points in the guest journey.
Incorporating natural light (or smart lighting systems if underground) and enhanced ventilation can further enhance the internal space, improving indoor air quality and offering the benefits of lighting that is in tune with the body's daily flow.
Spa Design Principles
An effective spa design project requires a harmonious blend of interior architecture, wellness design, and biohacking equipment selection. A well-structured spa prioritizes both the visual and tactile experiences of its spaces so we adopt a multi-sensory, 360-degree experiential design approach here.
When designing a. recovery spa area, we consider the preferences of the guests and the target audience of the brand we're working for, especially with the rise of new trends in longevity and athletic recovery, which require specific biohacking equipment, therapies and facilities.
Key Elements of Effective Spa Design
Interior design is critical in spa design, setting the tone for the entire experience. The architecture and design must work together cohesively to create a relaxing environment.
Incorporating natural materials, such as wood and stone, enhances the ambiance while adding ceramic tiles can add a touch of colour, biophilia can help to bring the outside world in and soundscapes help refine the mood.
Designing for Relaxation & Recovery
A calming ambiance and soothing colors are essential for creating a functional and relaxing environment. Use a neutral color palette complemented by natural textures to evoke a sense of calm.
Lighting significantly impacts the ambiance, particularly in spaces like floatation tank rooms, where soft, low-intensity lighting is key.
Calming Ambiance and Soothing Colors
Creating a calming ambiance involves the use of soothing colors, such as blues and greens, along with natural elements like plants and water features. Aromatherapy and scented candles contribute to a relaxing environment, making your spa a true haven for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Innovative Biohacking Spa Designs
Consider incorporating unique and creative biohacking features to set your spa apart. Elements like ice baths, infrared saunas, IV drips, and red light therapy beds can attract a broader audience interested in anti-aging and athletic recovery. The integration of technology, such as sound and light therapy, enhances the overall experience.
Bringing the Outdoors In with Biophilia
Utilizing natural materials, like reclaimed wood and stone, helps create a cohesive and relaxing environment. Incorporate plants and green walls to foster a calming ambiance, and consider unique features, such as a living wall or water installation, to add visual interest.
Incorporating Nature into Your Spa Design
Incorporating natural elements can dramatically enhance the ambiance of your spa. Consider features like a water installation or a living wall to evoke tranquility. Using natural materials, such as wicker and rattan, contributes to a cohesive and inviting space that promotes relaxation.
Spa Layout and Functionality
Designing for comfort and convenience is vital in creating a relaxing environment. Pay attention to the flow of traffic and the distribution of equipment to ensure a seamless guest experience. A well-planned layout that incorporates pools, steam rooms, and saunas can improve the functionality of your spa while keeping costs manageable.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, a thoughtfully designed spa reflects the art of creating a recovery haven for your guests. By understanding the importance of internal space, integrating natural elements, and focusing on innovative designs, you can develop a spa that serves as a retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Elevate Your Spa Experience
Investing in the right elements can elevate your spa to new heights. Collaborate with professionals who understand the complexities of wellness projects and the market trends in spa design.
Whether it’s through unique architecture or innovative services, your spa can become a destination that evokes relaxation and rejuvenation in a beautiful environment.
A beginner's guide to CBD for mental & physical health
An introduction to CBD’s mental and physical health benefits.
When you think of cannabis, motivation and mental acuity probably aren’t the first things that come to mind but in recent years, the scientific community has successfully challenged this stereotype specifically in regards to cannabidiol (CBD), a natural compound in the plant with a multitude of health-giving properties.
Medical cannabis
The tide really began to turn with Charlotte’s Web, a strain of medical cannabis that had near-miraculous effects in children with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy.[1] Since then, a deluge of potential health benefits have come to light.
As legalisation spreads across the western world, professionals increasingly look to products like CBD oil as a natural way to upgrade mental and physical performance.
What is CBD oil?
CBD stands for cannabidiol, one of around 400 natural compounds in the plant Cannabis Sativa. It is legal and safe to consume. It is not however to be confused with THC, another chemical compound in cannabis that has psychoactive properties, i.e. it gets you high, CBD does not.
How does CBD work?
Talk about living in harmony with nature: the human body has an entire system designed to interact with cannabinoids.
This system has branches in the brain, thyroid, immune system, digestive tract, and almost every organ in the body. Nerve cells produce signalling molecules called endocannabinoids, which are like those in Cannabis sativa.
CBD vs THC
Unlike cannabis strains used for recreational use, CBD oil does not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). CBD has no mind-altering properties, and actually counteracts the intoxicating effects of THC.
CBD as part of a natural lifestyle
Modern life can be stressful, with anxiety and sleep disruption a painful reality for many, especially those living highly tech-driven, urban lives. Reduced sleep over the course of a few days however has a severe impact on our cognitive and physical performance.
Biohacking for rest and stress
Biohackers are those who attempt to improve their physical and mental performance by manipulating their environment, nutrition, lifestyle and so on; in this case, many of them are going green in the search for new ways to rest and recharge.
Plants as medicine - ain’t nothin’ new!
Plants were, lest it needs stating, the very first medicines in human evolutionary history- nature held the remedy and relief to countless diseases thousands of years before the pharmaceutical industry began to commercialise the space.
So, while CBD may, like so many other plant-based treatments, be an old remedy, modern medicine hasn’t quite caught up, partly due to taboo and confusion over its place within the marijuana industry /drug trade.
This is an exciting time for new scientific studies being published as legislation frees up the industry; data is still in its relative infancy but the signs are positive.
CBD for pain and inflammation
Experts believe that CBD could help with pain relief. The body’s cannabinoid system has a role in pain signalling and CBD could block these signals.[2] [3] Some research also indicates that CBD could be useful in inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease [4]
CBD for anxiety and improved mood
Scientists are interested in the role of endocannabinoids in the fight-or-flight response. CBD could be a potential treatment for anxiety and panic disorders, as well as PTSD.5] One study also showed that CBD had an antidepressant effect in mice.[6]
Improved sleep
If CBD can calm the mind, it follows that it could improve sleep quality. This is supported by rodent studies, which put forward CBD as a future treatment for insomnia.[7] [8]
Addiction treatments
One proven way to improve future wellness is to quit smoking, and CBD may be of benefit in this area too. Endocannabinoids act in parts of the brain that control psychological reward. If CBD can block signals that trigger addiction, it could be useful for drug, alcohol and nicotine dependence.[9]
Neuroprotection
It hasn’t been tested in humans yet, but pre-clinical trials suggest that CBD could protect brain cells. This is relevant to conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke and multiple sclerosis.[10]
Nootropics
For our thoughts on other biohacking supplements in the ‘nootropics’ category, see here and here.
References
[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/epi.12610
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426373
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28934780
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22815234
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6066583
[6] https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/5.2_CBD.pdf
[7] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028390811003467
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28349316