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Finding bliss in the warmth of hydrotherapy
ADOBE STOCK
When Winter
Takes a Plunge
Hydrotherapy thrives in the coldest months, as travelers lean into hot and cold waters for a seasonal wellness reset.
By Amity Moore Joyce
When the weather outside is frightful, for many travelers, the last thing that sounds delightful is taking a dip. Nevertheless, across the country, people are trading their parkas for bathing suits in pursuit of wellness. Strangely enough, hydrotherapy peaks in winter.
Astoria Hot Springs features man-made soaking pools with natural thermal waters, Wyoming.
ASTORIA HOT SPRINGS
“It’s our busiest season,” says Christine Mychajliw, manager of communication at Astoria Park Conservancy, which maintains Astoria Hot Springs near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. “There’s something extraordinary about experiencing contrast therapy with snow on the ground. The steam rising, crisp mountain air and the invigorating cold plunge all heighten the sensory experience.”
Hydrotherapy isn’t limited to cold water. The practice dates to ancient Greece and Rome, where thermal bathing was recognized for its restorative benefits and popularized through public bathhouses. Aire Ancient Baths brings that Greco-Roman practice to life in cities around the world. Its Chicago location inside a former 1902 factory channels a temple-like feeling, with tall ceilings, brick arches and wooden beams. Hushed voices mingle with burbling ripples as you pop in and out of pools of varying temperatures, a saltwater flotation pool and steam rooms scented with eucalyptus.
Heated loungers provide further relaxation between thermal experiences
CARILLION MIAMI WELLNESS RESORT
Some hydrotherapy venues follow a circuit, like the options at Florida’s Carillion Miami Wellness Resort, which cycle through thermal to cold to rest. At this Miami resort, guests move between thermal loungers; experiential rain showers that mimic a polar mist, an Atlantic storm or a Caribbean monsoon; vitality tubs; a sauna; an “igloo” with cool air infused with menthol, eucalyptus and mint; and two styles of steam rooms.
Omni Grove Park’s relaxation pool, North Carolina
OMNI GROVE PARK INN
It’s a different vibe than the hydrotherapy offered at Kohler Waters Spa in Kohler, Wisconsin, and Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. Both are indoors, like Carillion, but Kohler integrates Vichy showers and thalassotherapy baths into body treatments. The Grove Park Inn’s contrast pools, massaging waterfalls and relaxation pool dot a subterranean, 43,000-square-foot grotto with rock walls, arches and tunnels.
Guests enjoying geothermal waters at Iron Mountain Hot Springs, Colorado
IRON MOUNTAIN HOT SPRINGS
Out West, much of the water therapy unfolds outdoors, thanks to naturally occurring geothermal waters. At Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, guests are encouraged to follow “The Mineral Method,” an integrated hot, cold and rest model that is self-guided and flexible. Visitors can customize their water therapy journey.
“Alternating between hot and cold stimulates circulation, reduces inflammation, supports muscle recovery and helps regulate the nervous system,” explains Aaron McCallister, general manager at Iron Mountain Hot Springs. “By incorporating intentional rest between each phase, guests experience deeper mental clarity alongside physical relief. This balance of calm and rejuvenation is especially appealing during winter months.”
This year, Iron Mountain plans to expand its outdoor pool and sauna mix.
VIDEO IRON MOUNTAIN HOT SPRINGS
Wyoming’s Saratoga Hot Springs Resort in Saratoga and Astoria Hot Springs and Alaska’s Alyeska Nordic Spa also present outdoor hydrotherapy without a strict water circuit. Saratoga stands out for its teepee-covered soaking pools, hot spring-fed pool and rustic-style resort so guests can stay overnight instead of stopping by for a quick soak. Astoria, meanwhile, features both thermal pools and cold plunges that can be followed in a hot-cold-rest pattern.
“We see guests of all ages engaging with the contrast instinctively, and kids, especially, are often the most eager to rise to the challenge, darting between warm water and cold with joy and curiosity,” says Astoria Park Conservancy’s Mychajliw.
She is proud of the conservancy’s programming, which goes deeper than a dip in the hot springs. She notes the upcoming “Redefining Wellness” event on January 24: “In a world where ‘wellness’ is often tied to products, perfection or performance, the simple act of soaking in mineral-rich water invites people to redefine wellness on their own terms, as rest, presence, connection and care,” she explains.
Alyeska Nordic Spa, Alaska
alyeska resort
Alyeska Nordic Spa on the grounds of the Alyeska Resort spreads among the rainforest of the Chugach Mountains near Girdwood. Its circuit follows a European plan, complete with hot and cold pools, wooden tubs, steam rooms, fireside rest areas, saunas, and relaxation cabins.
Whether in a candlelit urban bath or a snow-dusted mountain pool, hydrotherapy proves that winter isn’t something to endure. Instead, it’s a season to dive into for warm (and cold) restorative rewards.
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