Spas: From Ancient Ritual to Modern Self-care
Why We Have Always Been Drawn to Water
There is something deeply instinctive about stepping into warm water, feeling the body soften, the mind quieten, and time slow down. Long before the modern idea of “self-care” emerged, cultures across the world understood that water heals, restores, and reconnects us to ourselves.
Today’s luxurious spa culture is, in fact, rooted in ancient traditions that were far more than beauty rituals. They were social, spiritual, and medicinal practices, woven into daily life.
The Greeks: Water as Medicine and Philosophy
The ancient Greeks were among the first to formalise bathing as a healing art.
Bathing was closely linked to temples dedicated to Asclepius, where water treatments were part of holistic healing. These sanctuaries combined hydrotherapy, rest, diet, and spiritual rituals, a concept strikingly similar to modern wellness retreats.
The ancient Greeks connected cleanliness to inner harmony and water restoring balance and health to the body, preventing disease. This early connection between body, mind, and nature echoes strongly in today’s holistic lifestyles.
The Romans: The Golden Age of Bathing Culture
Across the empire, grand bathhouses—known as thermae—became the heart of social life. The famous Roman Baths still stand today as a testament to this culture.
A typical Roman spa experience included:
- Tepidarium (warm room) to relax
- Caldarium (hot bath) to open pores
- Frigidarium (cold plunge) to invigorate
But these thermae were more than just bath houses; they were social hubs and places to exercise, read, and reflect. Sometimes, even to make business deals or shape political events.
The Middle Ages to Modern Spas: From Water Cures to Luxury
After a decline in bathing culture during parts of the Middle Ages, spas re-emerged in Europe by the 18th and 19th centuries. Towns built around natural springs like Baden-Baden or Bath became once again fashionable retreats, places for cures and social meeting places for the elite.
Fast forward to today, and spas have evolved into a global industry focused on beauty treatments, mental wellbeing, and relaxation. In countries like Austria, workers are eligible for a 3-week retreat once or twice in their working life called ‘Kur’(cure). This is paid for by the Social Services or health care provider, and the philosophy is to keep people in good working shape and to prevent burnout. I think this is a very enlightened way to treat a working population.
Modern science now confirms what ancient cultures knew intuitively:
- Warm water reduces stress hormones
- Mineral baths support skin and body health
- Quiet environments restore mental balance
And perhaps most importantly:
They give us permission to pause and restore.
Create your own spa ritual:
Here is an easy way to create your own spa ritual.
- Set the space
Dim the lights, light a candle, and create a calm atmosphere. Silence your phone. - Prepare a bath
Add a handful of Dead Sea salt minerals to the bath, followed by a few drops of lavender or rosemary oil. Make sure your bath is warm, not boiling hot! You can always top up with hot water if the temperature drops. - Before you go into the bath
Take a small handful of dead sea mineral salt and rub it into your body. Start at the feet and work up to the shoulders, front and back, leaving out the face and genitals, as salt can sting. Massage your body in circular movements with the salt, and add a tiny bit of warm water to spread it more easily. Before you enter the bath, sit on the ledge and work the salt into the soles of your feet and between the toes. - Soak mindfully (15–20 minutes)
Then get into the bath, and the salt will wash off, leaving your skin beautifully soft.
Close your eyes. Breathe slowly.
Let the water hold you, unwind to some relaxing music, or simply bathe in silence. - Nourish your skin
After 15-20minutes, come out and pat your skin dry and apply a nourishing oil. I particularly love the Weleda body oils.
Rest for a few minutes—don’t rush back into activity.
Spa routines with the moon cycle:
- New Moon: cleansing, letting go, detox bath
- Full Moon: nourishing, longer soak, oil baths, self-care focus
- Waning Moon: calming, stress relief
- Waxing Moon: energising, uplifting scents
Spas are not a modern trend; they are a timeless human need. We seek something deeply restorative, and that’s perhaps why we keep coming back, no matter which era.
You can (almost) recreate this relaxing spa experience at home. Buy a bag of Dead Sea bath salts and use around ¼ to 1/2 a cup for a full bath. Soak for about 15 minutes until the water cools down. But of course, you can also top up with warm water.
Have you ever been curious about this longstanding detox aid, but not quite sure how to use it? This article is for you. Today we are talking about Epsom Salts. 
Bathing: One common method is to add Epsom salts to a bath. Magnesium can be absorbed through the skin and helps to reduce inflammation, is beneficial for muscle and nerve function, and helps to prevent the hardening of arteries (a cause of stroke and heart disease). It will leave your skin very soft but dry and it is therefore important to finish your bath off with a good body lotion or body oil to lock in these salts. You should not use it every day, but best once a week or 2-3 times per week during a fast/detox. And as mentioned before a good body oil or moisturiser after the bath is a must! If you have access to a sauna/steam room use these in-between baths.
If you have read other articles on the LWTM blog you will be familiar with the biodynamic principle that days have not only dates but also varying qualities. I think most of us would agree that we don’t feel and act the same every day. On certain days we feel energetic and sociable, on others more emotional and withdrawn. Just look at the natural world. Plants are not in bloom all year round. There needs to be some rest between busy times to regenerate. It is therefore a logical conclusion that we should not treat our skin the same every day.
A new approach to skincare
