Natürlich erfrischt in den Heilbädern und Kurorten Baden-Württembergs

A spa experience for the whole family in Baden-Württemberg

People often associate thermal spas with peace and relaxation. However, they have now become a place where many families can enjoy some time together. While the youngest children have their first experiences in the water, older children explore the slides and play areas or take part in swimming lessons. Many thermal spas in Baden-Württemberg have tailored their offerings to this, making it possible to combine the different interests of different generations.

First encounters with water

The joy of being in and around water often begins in the first few months of life. In Bad Boll, for example, babies can gain their first impressions and get to know water in a playful way during baby swimming sessions with their parents. Over time, interests change. Then shallow pools, play areas, and slides become appealing. At the Bodensee-Therme Überlingen, there’s a toddler area as well as two water slides for children ages six and up: Carl’s Wellenflitzer and Übi’s Silberblitz. Ideal for that first thrill in the water.

The Leuze in Stuttgart also caters to its youngest visitors with its “Kinderland.” Spanning about 600 square meters, it offers swimming facilities for children up to about seven years old, including a wading pool and a non-swimmer pool for slightly older children. An interactive aquarium, a quiet corner, diaper-changing stations, and other family-friendly amenities are also available.

Family days and short breaks

Many spas supplement their offerings with special activities for families. The Keidel Therme in Freiburg, for example, offers a children’s sauna that gently and playfully introduces kids to the sauna experience. There’s also an outdoor playground where kids can run around to their hearts’ content after swimming or using the sauna.

Regular family days also provide welcome opportunities for spending time together. At Solemar in Bad Dürrheim, a family day is held every second Saturday of the month. The program includes water play equipment, a variety of child-friendly activities, and special sauna infusions. Accordingly, families with children are, of course, warmly welcome in the sauna area on these days.

A similar concept lies behind Family Saturday at the Balinea Therme in Bad Bellingen. Here, parents and children can spend time together in the thermal waters. The experience is complemented by the Family Dead Sea Salt Cave. Children ages four and up can play in the soothing Dead Sea salt there while a storyteller reads stories aloud.

Learn to swim and try new things

For many children, the first few meters they swim on their own are among their most special and formative experiences. These moments create memories that last a lifetime. That’s why programs that support learning to swim or provide a space to practice are so important.

At the Solymar Sports and Family Pool in Bad Mergentheim, there is a 55-square-meter parent-child area, a lap pool, and two slides for children and teens ages six and up. This provides a variety of opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the water. Children’s swimming lessons are also offered at the Solebad Bad Wimpfen. In addition, Saturdays are Family Days there; admission is free for your own children up to age 16.

Special program days add further highlights. These include the “Splash-Splash-Splash Day” at the ThermalBad Überkingen, which takes place twice a year. The program features, among other things, aqua bingo, a kids’ sauna, adventures on a small slide, and various water games.

© Uwe Ditz – Photography // Kurverwaltung Bad Wimpfen GmbH & Co. KG

Water fun meets well-being

From baby swimming classes to special children’s areas, family days, and swimming lessons: Baden-Württemberg’s thermal spas show just how varied family time in the water can be. They create opportunities to enjoy time together, discover new things, and leave everyday life behind for a few hours.

Their particular strength lies in their diversity: While children can experience the water in their own unique, age-appropriate ways, adults can enjoy moments of relaxation. This makes thermal spas places where adventure and relaxation, fun and well-being come together.

Sources:

https://rehaklinik-bad-boll.de/therapie-erholung/mineraltherme/schwimmen-fuer-babys/

https://www.keideltherme.de/angebote/kindersauna/

http://www.balinea.de

https://www.thermalbad-ueberkingen.de/index.php?id=24

https://www.solebad-badwimpfen.de/preise-oeffnungszeiten/preise

https://www.solebad-badwimpfen.de/unser-solebad/kurse-weitere-angebote

http://www.solemar.de

https://www.solymar-therme.de/sport-familienbad.html

https://www.stuttgarterbaeder.de/leuze/kinderland

https://www.bodensee-therme.de/familien

From boxing champ to sauna chef - Toni Sabery

Tohid "Toni" Sabery no longer heats up opponents, but guests: Swinging the towel instead of throwing in the towel. In the 66 boxing matches he has won, he has never thrown in the towel. And even now he only swings it elegantly to spread the fizzing infusion throughout the room. Beforehand, "Toni" Sabery welcomes his guests with a short speech:

"Welcome to my aroma journey. Peppermint, orange and lemon in combination with menthol clear the nose and cool the skin. If it gets too hot for you, take a seat one floor down. You can also leave the room at any time. Outside, please take a few steps to stimulate your circulation and then pour yourself from bottom to top and from top to bottom with the cold water hose. My infusion lasts 8-10 minutes. And now have fun and sweat well!"

Tohid Sabery has remained involved in boxing as a trainer for children and young people. However, he has found his true calling in the sauna. Following further training with the German Sauna Association, the qualified pool attendant has been able to call himself a sauna master for several years now. Today, he "heats up" sauna users three to four times a day with special infusions and is one of the best-known faces at the Aqualon Therme in Bad Säckingen.

Interesting facts from the sauna master

Before the sauna: what are the benefits of a warm foot bath?

Many people don't even know why you should take a warm footbath before going to the sauna - it's already hot enough, isn't it? However, warm footbaths are an important part of a sauna session and help to prevent dizziness caused by overstrained circulation.

A warm foot bath before the sauna prepares the circulation for the heat and activates the sweat glands. But it also helps you cool down: The "cold shock" from the splash shower or plunge pool also causes the blood vessels to contract. This makes it more difficult for the blood to circulate and dissipate the heat. The warm footbath causes the blood vessels to dilate again, improving circulation and thus cooling. This reduces prolonged sweating after the sauna.

What happens during the infusion?

The stones hiss, the steam rises and then descends as a hot mist, causing the perceived temperature to soar. The sauna master waves his towel or a fan using a special technique that distributes the aromatized mixture of scented oils and water throughout the room. The steam settles on the skin, penetrates deep into the pores, expands the lungs - and after the first heat shock, you simply feel healthy.

What is the best way to cool down?

Jumping into the plunge pool straight after the sauna is not a good idea. This can easily lead to circulatory collapse. I recommend taking a few leisurely steps through the sauna area first and then slowly cooling your body from the bottom up. Whether you reach for the classic "Kneipp" hose or pull on the waterfall shower, dive into pools at different temperatures or take a dip in the ten degree cold natural bathing pool is a matter of taste. Do what makes you feel good!

Aqualon Therme

The Aqualon Therme in Bad Säckingen awaits you with five different saunas and temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees Celsius. Beautifully designed relaxation rooms invite you to unwind, and you can cool off in the outdoor area with its natural bathing pool. The Aqualon Therme has been awarded five stars by Wellness Stars Deutschland GmbH.

Natural Biohacking – made in Bad Dürrheim

Breathing health, resilience and burn-out prevention are particular strengths of the health town in the Southern Black Forest Nature Park. Biohacking here inspires people to strengthen their own potential on a very individual basis - preferably as a preventative measure.

In the term biohacking, "bio" stands for biology and "hacking" for clever, creative tinkering and self-optimization of one's own biology. The motivation behind biohacking is to get the best out of your body and mind and sometimes achieve peak performance - using traditional knowledge and cutting-edge science.

From an ice bath to warm hands and feet

"Cold is not my world", Andreas was convinced of this not long ago. Like many others, he would never have thought that cold water could give you warm hands and feet, or even a great mood. And that the cold experience in the group would be a fantastic shared experience. But the operations manager of Bad Dürrheimer Kur und Bäder GmbH was curious: unusual things have been happening around his office since summer 2020 under the name "Biohacking Bad Dürrheim".

© Biohacking-bd.com/ Blickwinkelfotografie Sarah Mochar

400 liters of water and 100 kilos of ice

Under experienced guidance, he then ventured into the new outdoor ice bath tub on a golden October day - a challenge for all participants. The group had signed up for the "Ice bathing and mastering stress" workshop. A new series of offers as part of the young #Biohackingbaddürrheim project. A very dynamic project team led by Beate Proske, a passionate biohacker, is building a home for biohackers in the health city.

In the workshop, Andreas first learned about a scientifically proven method for dealing better with the normal stress of everyday life. Two trainers with experience of the cold also introduced the group to other physical and mental exercises to help them relax in the cold.

Kältetraining im Eisbadzuber. Links: Leiterin Beate Proske
© Biohacking-bd.com/ Blickwinkelfotografie Sarah Mochar

Preparation in the warm dome room of the Bad Dürrheim Solemar
© Biohacking-bd.com/ Blickwinkelfotografie Sarah Mochar

Mastering stress - scientifically and verifiably

Nature reduces stress - cold plus nature can do it better!
Regular cold training calms our nervous system
Pores close
The blood circulation adapts
As a reward, the happy hormone dopamine is released - 250% more than normal!
With the right mental preparation, we can relax even in the cold. The heartbeat calms down and we can consciously switch from stress to relaxation.

Biohacking tips for at home

The free web service www.biohacking-bd.com provides more information about the biohacking project in Bad Dürrheim. There are also practical hacks with clever solutions for body, mind and spirit. Of course also for the home office and against the winter blues.