How to Take 23 Treatments in 48 hours without breaking a sweat; well, sorta.

By Dr. Marcus Coplin, Medical Director and Naturopathic Medical Doctor at The Springs Resort

The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colorado hosts not only the namesake thermal mineral water of the town, but robust hospitality offerings providing a comfortable, relaxing, and health promoting vacation. Overlooking the San Juan River, the Mother Spring of Pagosa Springs flows into many smaller soaking tubs around the property. The pools are kept at a variety of temperatures, and guests are invited to move from pool to pool, finding the soaking experience of their choosing. “Balneology” is the science of using mineral spring water for health. It is researched around the globe and recognized as a distinct medical discipline. The practice of Balneology is alive and well at The Springs Resort. I should know, I am their Medical Director. I work to educate our guests on exactly what the science says about the experience they are having, and help them get the most out of their stay.

You may be unfamiliar with the idea of a Health Vacation. Maybe you have been to a spa, have dived into the world of relaxation and wellness, or even have a personal fitness and nutrition practice. But at The Springs Resort the elements of how to use a focused vacation to rebuild your health and well-being are more subtle and pervasive than you first thought. From the heartbeat of the Mother Spring, the world’s deepest hot spring according to Guiness Book of Records, to the artisanal geothermal water rock pools sculpted into river banks of the San Juan River, the only decision guests need to make is when to show up. The rest of the revitalization happens through the natural flow from moment to moment during their stay. So let me walk you through exactly how we turn a 48 hours hot spring retreat into 23 distinct revitalizing treatments.

A lot of what comes next will sound familiar, and maybe you even have tried or regularly do aspects of a Health Vacation in your regular life. What is special about the stay at The Springs is that each of these individual treatments are happening back to back or on top of each other, synergistically affecting the cumulative outcome of your experience. Packing all of this into a focused stay creates an amplification effect to each individual practice. The feeling of vibrancy that many of our guests report leaving with is not something that should be seen merely as relaxation, but rather an experience of vitality returning to the body through programmed activities with measured and understood mechanisms.

So with that in mind, I would like to walk you through the health promoting experience of an immersive 48 hours of resort based health practices.

The 23 Therapies

1. Vibe:

After checking into our room, we were told there was a special sound bowl ritual happening under the night sky… We began our trip by dusting off the road, donning our swimwear and slipping into a hot mineral tub (more on that later) in which a variety of singing bowls were expertly played while being immersed in the water. The different vibrational tones lulled me and my weekend group into a state of semi-sleep while the physical sensation of the vibration moved through the water and surrounded my body. From that moment on, I was in a healing space.

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2. Steam:

I maybe should have started with this, because it is one of the first things you notice when you arrive that lets you know you are somewhere special… The visual of a plume of steam rising in the crisp autumn air awakens a sense of adventure that is promptly met with the distinctive smell of the health promoting water. The light scent of sulfur in the steam can be a surprise to the uninitiated, but to those of us who regularly use hot springs, it is the comforting smell of the promise of vitality.

Though the smell has been described as “eggy”, after the initial experience the warm earthy smell of the steam, blending with the mountain pine air creates a unique and enjoyable atmosphere. The steam from springs like The Mother Spring in Pagosa Springs have been shown to alleviate inflammation, reduce bacterial growth, and promote healthy immune function.

3. Soak:

As promised, we must talk about getting in the water. After all that is the reason we are here. It began with the immersion paired with the sound bowl, but with 24 hour access to the springs I found myself easily slipping in and out of different pools throughout my stay. Sometimes it would be a quick pre-dinner soak, sometimes a longer afternoon meandering through the different pools, sometimes a starry night soak when it seemed like the pools were there just for me, and I even caught the sun rise through steam while my body floated in a half dreamed state.

The benefits of the minerals in the water are undeniable. Balneology research often compares tap water soaking to natural mineral water soaking and the results are certain, the minerals in the water add (among others) an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune regulating, and pain relieving effect.

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4. Sip:

Though The Springs Resort does not have guests drink the mineral water, Health Resorts around the world are built around the process of prescribed mineral water drinking during your stay. Typically these highly mineralized waters, much higher than your grocery store variety, are taken in 1-2 ounce doses at specific times during the day. The timing and planning of this would be prescribed by a resort physician.

The benefits of using certain varieties of mineral spring waters to aid in digestive issues, metabolism, anemia, and kidney ailments is well documented. I can neither confirm nor deny the reports of a doctor shaped individual dipping a small cup into the Mother Spring for a little sip.

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5. Sleep:

The benefits of a good night sleep are well understood, and with the help of the new Sleep Tray and Sleep Guides provided to all guests, we were ensured a quality night in bed. With blackout curtains and noise reduction in the rooms, I followed the instructions laid out for me (which I had a hand in writing) and drifted off to a deep sleep peppered with water filled dreams.

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6. Stretch:

On our first morning we were led directly to a soaking pool overlooking the entire property and the river beyond. We were guided through a yoga sequence that utilized the heat and buoyancy of the water to ensure a unique experience of what my body is capable of.

Afterwards, my crew of new friends and I were sharing notes on how deep the practice was able to go. For those with a regular practice it was a deeper expression of the positions, for those without a practice it was a safe and embracing space for an introduction, and even for those with injuries that prevented regular practice the suspension in hot mineral water made it possible to get back into their flow for the first time since their injury.

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7. Hot Soaking, 8. Cold Plunging, 9. Contrast Hydrothermal:

Now this is where the things really take off. If soaking is the primary focus of our stay (and of course it is!) exploring the different temperatures of water provides us with distinct benefits.

The way we talk about water temperature in the world of Hydrothermal medicine is in 4 main categories; Very Hot – Over 105℉, Hot – 101-104℉, Warm – up to 100℉, and Cold – under 64℉. Each temperature category is a distinct treatment type and what is so special about understanding water in this way is that you can mix and match your soaking temperatures and times to get certain benefits. So when I said earlier you can take these treatments without breaking a sweat, it is important to realize that the sweating the waters induce is actually PART of the therapy.

Soakers and guests at the Springs Resort are given a “Science-Based Soaking Guide” upon arrival that explores the multiple benefits in detail. A highlight experience for our group was going from a hot soak directly into the cold “Warrior Plunge” in the San Juan river. Though many in the group were voicing trepidation, everyone got in the bracing river water, and most stayed in for two whole minutes! If we weren’t feeling vibrant before, you could barely keep us on the ground afterward.

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10. Exercise:

One of the greatest benefits of being at a resort steeped in the deep nature of southern Colorado is the accessibility to hiking trails and, of course, snow trails in the winter. After soaking and a light lunch, a quick trip to a local pine forest studded ranch afforded us with the ability to get our heart rate up, and our steps in.

Pretty much everyone can tell you the benefits of exercise, but one that I particularly like is that when you include a walk like ours after a meal, the exercise curbs your blood sugar from rising too high regardless of what was eaten.

Over the course of the weekend there were multiple opportunities to include nature based exercise into my stay. Even without my ski gear the variety of nature based activity kept my time out of the pools soaked in nature. Make sure to take a quick waterfall hike, or a meandering river walk, or even a docent guided pilgrimage to the ancient Puebloan astronomical watch tower at Chimney Rock. (Ask for Mike, tell him the Doc sent you)

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11. Forest Bathing:

Beyond exercise the Forest of Colorado has another benefit to offer up. Immersing ourselves in the pine forest has an added effect, what the Japanese who research this phenomenon call Shin-rin Yoku or Forest Bathing. The science of Shin-Rin Yoku is fascinating because not only do we know that being in nature feels good, we can now show why it feels good.

Even one session of Forest Bathing will lower stress hormones in the body. But not only that, it keeps them lower for hours after leaving the forest. The pine scented air also transmits an antimicrobial and antioxidant aromatherapy. Enjoying these elements suspended from a hammock in the middle of a pine meadow not only elevated my mind, but dissolved areas of tension in my body I hadn’t been aware of previously.

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12. Climatotherapy:

As hot springs have been researched over the last many decades it has been clear that one cannot easily remove the water from the source in order to study the effects. This has led to researchers looking at other site-specific phenomena that are having a healthful effect on the people staying at hot springs. The elevation, the temperature, the humidity, the sun, the fog, the mists… all of this will have a measurable effect on an individual.

Prescriptions for Health Resort stays used to be written based on the individual’s needs, matching the patient to the climate that would be most beneficial for the condition. Pagosa Springs boasts conditions of a “mediterranean continental climate” or a 6a, 6b for those in the know, and this in addition to the elevation of over 7000 feet combined to create a distinct feel to our stay.

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13. Manual Therapy:

After returning from our nature adventure, ahem therapy, another dip into the springs was in order to prepare for the next event – our manual therapy. Manual therapy, or massage as it can be known, can take on many forms and styles.

At its core however, when the body is touched, passively moved, and areas of tension and restriction are addressed, the effect is broad reaching. Manual therapy is understood to help with muscle pain, reduce stress, improve immune function, move the lymphatics which aids in detoxification, and improve circulation.

But none of that is in the front of the mind when getting a treatment from the expertly trained staff at the Springs. Sharron Holtz, the Spa director at the resort has an impeccable pedigree in the spa world, and has brought her expertise to the programming, therapists, and ultimately guests of the Springs Resort. Through her guidance, and the healing hands of the skilled therapists, manual therapy at the Springs is an essential element of the healing environment.

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14. Aromatherapy:

Beyond our pine air immersion, signature blends of aromatic essential oils are used during the spa treatments to drive the effects of the oils directly into the treatments being applied. This synergy has guests floating from the bathhouse back into the tubs or to their rooms for a much needed spa nap. Multiple times a day essential oils are poured onto the hot stones of the resort saunas to create a therapeutically infused environment.

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15. Dry Heat:

The Sauna offered us another type of bathing experience. The dry heat of the sauna was so much hotter than the pools we had been in, yet we were able to enjoy the space comfortably. After a day of contrasting, the slow and gentle heating of the body not only got a detoxing sweat going, but also calmed my nervous system taking me to a truly zen place.

Sauna bathing applies a gentle but deep heat to the body, stimulating cardiovascular health and helping to promote longevity. Just as we were heating up, a rich floral rose essential oil infused snowball was placed on the hot sauna stones. The sauna filled with herbal steam and we were guided in some gentle breathing. After spending some time in the deeply meditative and herbaceous space, I took a bracing bucket plunge to cool off.

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16. Terrathermal:

A special blend of clay from the Mojave desert and mineral water from the Mother Spring creates this silky, silty, grayish/green/beige mud that gets handed out right on the bank of the river where a special spring bubble up right in the water, making for a cool dip with a hot bottom.

Taking the mud we generously applied it to ourselves and to each other and let it bake in the sun and the heated benches of the Thermal Studio. Known in the research world as peloid therapy, applying even a thin layer of mineralized mud has been shown to create a heat locking effect in the tissues deep to the mud.

This in combination with the mineral absorption leads to enhanced pain relief, reduced inflammation and easier movement. In addition, due to the Mojave clay, impurities are drawn from the skin into the mud which is then washed off in the riverside spring.

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17. Heliotherapy:

On day two, the constant flow of incredibly shaped clouds that had been making whimsical appearances retreated to the horizon which allowed for a new player to make themselves the star. Well, that star is our star, the Sun.

Heliotherapy is the exposure of sunlight to the skin for its beneficial effects. In the era of skin cancer awareness and SPF 50, the therapeutic benefit of the sun is often overlooked. However in appropriate doses sun exposure can activate Vitamin D through special receptors in the skin which can have systemic effects on immune function and inflammatory control.

Sun exposure has also been used for decades in the treatment of chronic skin conditions. Being half dressed in bathing suits for most of the day afforded a great opportunity for therapeutic time in the sun.

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18. Nutrition:

The many on-site food options at The Springs Resort give options for everyone. I was particularly fond of a fresh wrap with organic chicken, crisp greens, and a delicious light dressing. The burgers also looked mighty good!

In addition to the food we were offered a variety of Non-Alcoholic Tonics, Classic cocktails, and the resort’s very own creation; a Shroom Shrub (no, not like that). These crafted drinks contained superfoods, antioxidants, and concentrated functional mushroom extract. They tasted fresh, unique, and fun, and they left us feeling buzzed and elated without any inebriating additives like alcohol or cannabis.

The dinner options at the resort’s signature restaurant, The Wild Finch, source local ingredients for classic dishes with a bit of an international flair. Chicken Fried Elk with a side of Collard Greens with African spices, a fresh seasonal salad, and the roasted veggies with the Chef’s own tahini dipping sauce left me feeling satiated and happy.

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19. Herbal Therapy:

The thoughtfulness in the food programming of Wild Finch came through in another way. The fresh garlic, mint, and spices made for a delicious and health promoting meal.

The antimicrobial and cardiovascular effects of garlic are well known, and though this medicine was delivered alongside a gastronomically delightful experience, I assured everyone that the balneology effects of the soaking were going to enhance the distribution and circulation of the medicinal compounds from our meal.

After a post dinner river walk and a gentle soak I drifted into a deep sleep, confident that there would be no vampire issues in the night.

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20. Mind-Body Therapy:

What became obvious as we flowed from one activity to the next was that the more I engaged with the activities and opportunities to soak and the more I activated different senses and different areas of my body, the more I became aware of my body in space.

While reflecting on the day’s activities in a warm pool, the external sense of my body began to fade, and areas of internal tension became more obvious. With each breath, my awareness grew and the tensions would fade. There are many types of Mind-Body treatments that are offered in the world, but fundamentally awareness and embodiment are the keys. When we cultivate these things we can see a direct effect on our mental and physical stress and tension. Release of this tension can affect pain levels, immune function, and emotional states.

By continually using the waters at the resort in combination with all the other health activities, a deeper connection of the mind-body is fostered organically and gently.

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21. Social Wellness:

As the weekend continued and we moved through the resort paces, feeling our vibrancy grow and the experience of embodiment take hold, another interesting therapeutic practice was taking place. The more we each released into the flow of the weekend, the easier it was to bring our defenses down.

Laughter came easier, stories were shared, and a sense of camaraderie was fostered. Deeper issues were brought to the surface, and council sought and delivered. The feeling of belonging to a social group has been shown to improve health parameters, reduce stress, and improve happiness. The organic group therapy and the greater sense of being part of a group of more than hotel guests, but vibrant health seekers was born from sharing the soaks, dips, breaths, sips, and steps of our health vacation.

Even beyond my small group, relationships just come easier in the springs. Each pool fosters its own environment; sometimes a meditative internal zen and sometimes a social melting pot. During my stay I met other health seekers who had found their way (or their way back) to the waters in Pagosa Springs.

Multi-generation families on vacation together, retired RV couples, adventure fueled young lovers, girl’s weekend groups and more all with a story to tell of their path to the waters and their experience within them.

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22. Expansion:

Somewhere in the mix of having fun, meeting new friends, and finding a deeply centered sense of relaxation we realized, there are things that we did during this trip we hadn’t done before. Not only that, for some people they would have never thought they could do them.

The inviting and supportive atmosphere of the resort, paired with the expertise of the instructors and staff makes it a safe place to step outside of our comfort zones, and expand our definition of what we are capable of accomplishing.

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23. Gratitude Therapy:

As we gathered around the Mother Spring and partook in the Resort’s guided gratitude practice, the feeling amongst the group was potent. We had been through something, touched a vibrancy and authenticity of self, and shared it with each other. We cultivated a felt sense of health, a feeling different from how we had arrived, and we had been witnessed.

Taking our moment to connect in gratitude put a beautiful punctuation on the previous two days. Holding a small vessel of the warm spring water during the gratitude gave the impression of a living water and a relationship that it had transferred. Knowing that gratitude practice has been shown to alleviate negative emotions, reduce stress, and improve mental health seemed to be only the basics.

Feeling gratitude to the water, the land, my body, and my health I took a deep breath of thermal steam and locked the experience into my consciousness.

As I write this, back home at my desk far from the Mother Spring, the gratitude and the experience linger.

See you at The Springs Resort.

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