If you’re searching for a space to slow down, restore energy levels while enhancing your mental and physical wellbeing, a magnesium pool could be the perfect addition to your wellness routine. These pools are filled with high quantities of magnesium salt, with these unique properties helping to unlock a range of benefits.
Unlike traditional pools that are filled with harsh chlorine, magnesium pools are gentle on the body, with no lingering chemical smells or nasty irritation. They also nourish the skin instead of drying it out, strengthening the outer layer and calming any inflammation. Magnesium also has other powerful effects on the body, playing a vital role in supporting muscle function and aiding recovery.
Discover why magnesium pools are becoming a favourite for those seeking wellness, and the many ways they can support you physically and mentally.
What is a Magnesium Pool?
A magnesium pool, or magnesium mineral pool, uses magnesium chloride and lower levels of chlorine than saltwater or regular swimming pools. The extra minerals added can all be naturally found within the environment and the human body, crafting water that feels noticeably different on the skin.
These minerals work together to create a softer, more therapeutic experience than traditional chlorine pools. Many describe it as feeling silky or soft, with no sharp chemical scents. With lower chlorine levels, you also won’t suffer from any stinging eyes or dry, uncomfortable skin. It’s water that feels gentle on the skin and deeply restorative to benefit your overall wellbeing.
Historical Roots of Magnesium Pools
The practice of bathing in mineral-rich waters traces back to the wellness traditions of ancient cultures. More than 2,000 years ago, natural hot springs in Greece were associated with healing, and were believed to ease muscle pain, soothe skin conditions and restore energy levels. While they may not have been aware of the mineral content, many Greek hot springs were naturally rich in magnesium salt and other beneficial minerals. In Ancient Rome, bathing culture became central to everyday life, with bathhouses built over hot springs which were believed to carry natural restorative properties.
For centuries, civilisations have sought out one of the most magnesium-rich bodies of water in the world, the Dead Sea. People are drawn in by its high mineral content, including large amounts of magnesium, potassium and calcium salts, to support an invigorating environment for deep relaxation and skin rejuvenation.
Today, people still seek out the benefits of magnesium pools at spas and bathhouses, honouring one of the oldest forms of wellness in human history.
Physical Benefits of a Magnesium Pool
Provides relief for skin conditions
Unlike traditional chlorine pools that leave skin feeling dry and stripped, magnesium can be deeply reparative, meaning it can gently nourish your skin as you soak. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also help soothe common skin conditions. If you carry eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, you find that magnesium-rich water can ease any redness, irritation and dryness to leave your skin feeling softer and more comfortable.
Relaxes your muscles
Immersion in magnesium-rich water may ease any chronic muscle tension and cramping to encourage a profound sense of relaxation. Magnesium helps regulate calcium and potassium levels, allowing muscle fibres to gently lengthen and release. It can be especially welcome after exercise, supporting muscle recovery and easing any post-work stiffness.
Boosts elasticity in skin
Through your body’s exposure to magnesium, this may help to build and maintain the biological processes needed to support healthy skin. Many people find that regular exposure to magnesium-rich water has improved their skin’s texture and elasticity, helping them reach a more youthful and healthy appearance over time.
Benefits to hair health
It's not only your skin that can benefit from magnesium, but your hair follicles too. Exposure to magnesium-rich water may help to strengthen your hair shaft and encourage a healthier scalp. While chlorine can strip away the natural oils and lead to unfortunate hair breakage, magnesium may leave it smooth and conditioned. Many people may find their hair feels softer and less dry after swimming in magnesium-rich water compared to a heavily chlorinated pool.
Improved circulation
When you immerse yourself in warm magnesium water, this can naturally encourage the blood vessels to dilate, promoting healthy circulation throughout the body. By increasing blood flow, this aids the delivery of oxygen and valuable nutrients to your muscles and tissues, leaving you feeling warmer and more at ease. Especially for those who spend long hours sitting down or on their feet, a simple soak in the magnesium pool can be a welcome relief and a gentle reset for the body.
Arthritis relief
For anyone struggling with arthritis or joint stiffness, a magnesium pool could offer the gentle, low-impact form of relief to ease any long-held symptoms. The natural buoyancy of water can reduce the burden on your joints, soothing pressure and allowing for a greater freedom of movement. When combined with the warmth of magnesium water and its natural anti-inflammatory properties, a soak can soften stiffness and feelings of discomfort. If you're navigating chronic joint conditions, a magnesium pool could be a powerful addition to your wellness routine.
Great for asthma and allergy sufferers
Many people with asthma or respiratory sensitivities may find magnesium pools more inviting than heavily chlorinated pools. With its anti-inflammatory properties and fewer harsh chemicals, magnesium can offer a gentle, soothing environment to quell allergic reactions and irritation. For swimmers with sensitive respiratory systems or allergies, a magnesium-rich pool could be a healthier alternative to benefit their wellness routine.
Reduces chemical odour
We’ve all experienced the sharp chemical smell from a chlorine pool, especially when it lingers around all day. This is caused by the formation of chloramines when chlorine binds with contaminants. Magnesium pools are less likely to leave any strong chemical smells on the skin, especially when compared to heavily chlorinated pools. Many swimmers find they feel fresher and lighter following a magnesium dip, free from any sharp chemical smells.
Exceptionally gentle on the body
Magnesium pools have fewer harsh chemicals, meaning they can feel softer and gentler on the body. You’re less likely to suffer from any lingering chemical scents after a soak, with no stinging irritation that chlorine can bring to the eyes. Because magnesium-enriched water strengthens the skin’s outer barrier, it leaves no dryness or residue, just skin that feels calm and properly cared for. For anyone seeking a gentle soak that’s suitable for people of all ages, a magnesium pool can be a rejuvenating experience that’s kind on your body.
Mental Health Benefits of a Magnesium Pool
Calms the nervous system and helps you de-stress
Magnesium pools are sought-after treatments across the health and wellness spaces for their relaxing effects. Magnesium can support the stress-response systems in your body to encourage the release of calming neurotransmitters. Through regular immersion in magnesium-rich water, a sense of ease can settle in, dissolving any long-held tension and quieting the mental noise that accumulates over time.
Improves sleeping patterns
Getting good sleep is one of the most important foundations for a healthy mind and body. Magnesium pools can help guide your body toward a deeper, more relaxing sleep by calming your mind and soothing your nervous system. Especially when you soak in warm magnesium water, the heat can help to slow your heart rate and breathing to ease your body and mind into a more relaxed state. As your body cools down afterwards this drop in temperature signals to your body that it's time to wind down, making it easier to drift off into a deeper sleep.
Improves mood
By gently calming the body's nervous system, magnesium pools can promote greater mental clarity and a more balanced emotional state. For those navigating the demands of a busy professional life, incorporating a magnesium soak into your wellness routine can offer a valuable moment of calm and restoration.
Boosts energy levels
Magnesium is favoured for its calming qualities that may improve sleep and ease any undue stress. However, it can also play a gradual role in boosting energy, supporting the circulation of nutrient-rich blood to your heart, muscles and brain. By soaking in a magnesium-rich pool, you can feel naturally focused and revitalised.
If you're seeking relief from tired muscles, a natural remedy for dry, sensitive skin, or a simple way to relax from the demands of everyday life, a magnesium pool can be immensely helpful. With benefits across both the mind and body, it can be a thoroughly restorative experience and the perfect addition to anyone’s wellness routine.
At About Time, you can indulge in our state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor magnesium pools, with expert-led treatments and a commitment to holistic revitalisation of the mind and body. Please contact us here for more information on our services and to book your first appointment.