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.

1.   Set the space
   Dim the lights, light a candle, and create a calm atmosphere. Silence your phone.
2.  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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.