CHILL OUT

When temperatures fall, winter spa visits provide unique wellness benefits, from stress relief to boosted circulation and immune responses

- EILEEN FALKENBERG-HULL

SERENITY NOW The sustainable Forestis Dolomites spa in Italy is designed to work with the natural rhythm of the mountains.

PICTURE THIS: TREES GLISTEN WITH new-fallen snow. The calming silence is pierced only by a single birdsong. And steam rising from the heat of a pool creates an atmosphere of absolute serenity where Microsoft Teams is quickly forgotten. If this sounds perfect, a wintertime spa visit is for you.

Spas deliver relaxing, recentering and holistic treatments year-round, but often, they're considered warm-weather destinations. However, cold weather and wintertime treatments have many advantages.

In winter, changes in barometric pressure, decreases in blood circulation and reduced physical activity are common, leading to muscle and joint pain. Winter sports put pressure on your body's systems in different ways than summer pastimes. And routine activities, such as snow removal, require tiring physical exertion.

The list of benefits of wintertime spa treatments is long. Tight muscles and sore joints can be soothed by massage while also improving circulation. The warmth of a spa can also assist with blood flow.

White blood cell counts can be boosted by treatments, which can aid in warding off sickness, while the heat from a sauna can mimic a fever, triggering your body's immune system and enhancing its ability to respond to germs and diseases when they present themselves.

Heading into 2026, spas are looking to attract guests by emphasizing their benefits as year-round destinations. “Spas are evolving into holistic wellness hubs that blend personalization, technology and nature to support long-term health and, crucially, emotional balance,” Joe McDonnell, director, WGSN Insight, the world's largest trend forecasting company, told Newsweek.