- What is better: a pool, bath, or shower?
- Home options
- Pool
- Charcot shower
- Underwater massage
- How does hydromassage work?
- Nuances and contraindications
How to lose weight and get your desired slim figure? Most people, of course, resort to diets and exercise. Water massage can make a great addition to this duo when it comes to weight loss. For water lovers, there are water treatments specifically designed for this purpose.
What is better: a pool, bath, or shower?
How can you massage problem areas with water? Let’s look at different methods.
Home options
The most luxurious option, although not the most affordable, is to have a hot tub or bathroom with a hydromassage function. Plumbing stores offer a wide range of such equipment.
Maybe you are planning to renovate your bathroom? Then think it over: maybe it’s worth putting aside some money to get the ability to do water massage at home for weight loss (increase muscle tone, relieve fatigue).
Such plumbing is good because it allows you to control not only the water temperature but also the jet power. This way, you can change how strong the water pressure is on your body.
Recommendations. Water pressure during abdominal massage should not exceed one atmosphere. It is acceptable to воздействовать on the thighs at two to three atmospheres. Higher pressure often causes discomfort or pain.
Is your bathroom designed in a minimalist style? Even then, you can still organize your own independent hydromassage session. Especially if you buy a special shower head. It’s good if it has a special lever to switch between modes.
Hydromassage tub for weight loss
The following rules are universal for any home hydromassage:
- The water should be warm or cool;
- The water temperature should be changed slightly in one direction or the other, without making it too contrasting;
- It’s also recommended to change the water pressure, making it weaker or stronger;
- The procedure should not exceed 20 minutes.
Of course, home hydromassage for weight loss will be less effective than in health resorts (clinics, salons), especially if you don’t have a special bath or shower.
Pool
If you have the chance to visit a good swimming pool, then you have access to one of the best ways to lose weight: swimming. This activity combines both physical exercise and massage.
A modern swimming pool with equipment for hydromassage
Fact. Water is 800 times denser than air (which is why it is easy to stay on its surface, but so difficult to walk deep underwater). Water resistance during swimming provides a little, but noticeable, massaging effect.
Swimming pools in health resorts are often equipped with hydromassage nozzles. Thanks to these, you can alternate swimming and water massage in the pool to lose weight.
If you go swimming and get a massage two to three times a week for a month, you will quickly see positive results, which will be quite noticeable. This option is best for losing weight in the thighs and buttocks (to get rid of extra weight in these areas, you can also do some simple but effective exercises, which we talked about earlier).
Charcot shower
This shower was invented in the 19th century by Jean-Martin Charcot, the father of neuropathology. Like many medical inventions, it was created for one purpose (treating neurological conditions), but now it successfully copes with various tasks.
Charcot shower
The Charcot shower is widely used for weight loss, but should only be taken in medical facilities. The procedure is carried out in a special room:
- The patient stands with their back to the wall (often there are handrails, which are very convenient to hold on to);
- A health professional directs one or two streams to the body and performs certain manipulations with them;
- After the procedure (which usually takes about five to seven minutes), the body should be rubbed with a towel and rested.
A Charcot shower is a rather harsh procedure. Ten sessions with one-day breaks will be enough for you to agree with this statement. Strong jets of water not only help to lose weight but also help to fight cellulite. However, not everyone likes the procedure. Even a relatively low water pressure can cause discomfort, although there should be no pain.
Underwater massage
Another professional type of hydromassage. For this procedure, the patient is placed in a large bath (usually 2 x 1 x 0.8 meters in size), which has nozzles, as well as showers with different tips. The water can be fresh, sea, or mineral (depending on the capabilities of the institution).
Professional type of hydromassage: underwater massage.
The massage is performed by a specialist who uses showers to воздействовать on problem areas. Everything happens in much the same way as in a regular massage: intensive water воздействие alternates with relaxing воздействие.
The length of each procedure and the total number of sessions are discussed with a specialist from the massage center and/or the attending physician.
What should you focus on when choosing a method? The best option is to consult a doctor.
How does hydromassage work?
In general, it works the same as any other massage (for example, for losing weight in the abdomen and sides). Don’t believe the claims that water can “knock out” subcutaneous fat from the body or wash out excess lipids through the pores. However, its ability to activate blood flow, lymphatic drainage, and metabolic processes is beyond doubt. In addition, with a high enough water pressure (Charcot shower), the muscles will automatically tense up, which will further contribute to weight loss.
It is important to remember that hydromassage alone will not help you get rid of significant excess weight. It is effective only when combined with diet and reasonable exercise.
Nuances and contraindications
During any hydromassage, the mammary glands, armpits, groin, face, and genitals should not be exposed to its impact. It is strongly discouraged to overeat before the procedure, but you should not feel hungry either. A good interval between meals and a visit to a health resort is one to one and a half hours. Until the end of the course, especially if the sessions are held every day or every other day, you should completely abstain from alcohol.
Contraindications to the procedure are standard:
- Pregnancy (with the permission of a doctor, it can be done during the lactation period);
- Any acute illnesses and conditions, even the common cold;
- Skin diseases and injuries;
- Oncology;
- Gallstone and urinary stone disease;
- Any diseases related to the heart, circulatory system, or metabolic processes (require mandatory consultation with the relevant specialist).
Hydromassage for weight loss is an excellent auxiliary procedure. Its correct and regular implementation will help to quickly normalize subcutaneous lipid metabolism.
