Soaking Up Wellness at the Thermal Baths in Aachen
A few months back, having recently arrived in Germany, I had the chance to visit Aachen with some of my newly made friends. However, with some basic research we found that it is a small town and after visiting the famous cathedral, we would need something else to do. With few options at hand we found that Aachen had their very only thermal baths. As an American, I had heard of hot springs and such but I never knew thermal baths were so common in Germany and across Europe.
Upon arriving in Aachen, we first made our way to see the beautiful cathedral. However, after about 20 minutes we were ready to go somewhere else. We decided to check out the thermal bath house that we had found online. Little did we know this experience would be well worth the 18 euros. As pictured above for visual reference, the Aachen thermal baths were basically just hot tubs the size of pools. These tubs were of varying temperatures and they even had a heated outdoor tub even though it was the middle of the winter. By the time we put our bathing suits on, we were pretty cold so finally getting in the hot baths was a great feeling. We spent over an hour wading throughout all the different tubs and comparing which one we liked the most. We also spent time exploring the sauna and steam room that were adjacent to the baths and included in our purchase. You know you enjoyed yourself when your one regret was going too close to closing time; we would have wanted even more time there! Eventually the baths closed and we went to the changing rooms.
Now it may seem as if this blog post doesn’t have much meaning behind it besides the description of a good experience I had. However I think that thermal baths being all around Europe actually has a great impact on public health infrastructure. When most people think of public health they think of good food and gyms. However, as most of us know, managing our stress is also one of the most important things we can do for our health. Thermal baths help with stress and much more. Thermal baths can help improve blood circulation due to the heat and mineral content of the water. They are also known to reduce muscle tension, ease joint pain, and promote relaxation, which can benefit both physical and mental health (Mayo Clinic, 2023). Additionally, regular visits to thermal baths may help lower stress levels and improve overall well-being. From my experience at the thermal bath I can say that I definitely felt a sense of tranquility after leaving the baths. Actually, I enjoyed my experience so much I would definitely want to go back more often. However, there are not many thermal baths in the US, but there is also a reason for this. Thermal baths are significantly more common in Europe primarily because of geological and cultural differences. Europe benefits from more abundant geothermal activity, which naturally produces more hot springs suitable for bathing (Lund, 2018). Additionally, the long-standing traditions and historical integration of spa culture in European life contribute to the continued creation of man-made thermal baths. In the U.S., such practices have not been historically embedded in the culture and thus thermal baths are less common (Johnson, 2022).
Although I had a great time at the thermal baths in Aachen, I think it is safe to say that I will never be back there again. I felt very relaxed at the thermal baths and I wish I could benefit from going to places like this in the U.S., but unfortunately, not very many thermal baths exist in the U.S.. The United States’ public health infrastructure could learn a lot from Germany. Not only does it seem that Germans walk more and eat better food, but they also have great ways of relaxing such as unwinding in the thermal baths.
-Jack G
References:
Mayo Clinic. (2023). Hot tubs: Safety and benefits. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/hot-tubs/art-20048250
Johnson, L. (2022). Cultural attitudes towards wellness and bathing: A transatlantic comparison. Wellness Studies Press. Retrieved from https://www.wellnessstudiespress.com/cultural-attitudes-towards-wellness
Lund, J. (2018). Direct Heat Utilization of Geothermal Resources Worldwide. https://doi.org/10.1016/georesenvj.2021.02.003
