swim Archives - Go Sunset

06 May 2020

The Best StayCation Pool Games

By Sunset

For our last three posts, we discussed fun Virtual Games, Board & Card Games, and Outdoor Games. This time we want to focus on our favorite Pool Games! Pool Games are great for a party of children, but we tried to tailor these games to a smaller crowd for quarantine. Check them out below.

Invisi-Bottle — First, take a clear bottle, remove the wrapper and fill it with pool water. Then, toss the bottle into the pool and when they hear the splash, the players turn around and try to find the bottle. Once the bottle is found, simply line the players up and repeat. It sounds like an easy task, but you will be surprised at how hard it is to find the bottle!

Pirates — Pirates is the perfect game for 2 players. First, grab an odd number of “sticks,” which can be any item from around the house. Then, line the players up on opposite ends of the pool and toss the sticks in the middle. When someone says go, the players race to find the sticks, and the player with the majority of sticks wins. Kids love the competitive nature of this game and will likely want to keep playing for many rounds!

Categories — Categories is a classic game that is best played with more players, but you could still make 2 players work. The person that is “it” stands on the outside of the pool with their back to the pool. This person selects a category, such as favorite color, and begins to guess items, like red, blue, etc. If the player in the pools selection is said then they must swim to the other side of the pool without getting tagged. The best part of the game is when you trick the person who is “it” and make them turn around thinking one player went!

Air Ninja — With one player on the side of the pool, count down and choose an object for them to mimic. It is a great way to get kids to act silly and will surely have everyone laughing. Some of our favorites are choosing various animals and inanimate objects, but the more creative the better!

Cannon Ball or Belly Flop Competition — This one is pretty self-explanatory and can be played with players of all ages. Cannon ball competitions are our personal preference, but if you have the guts to do a belly flop then more power to you. Just make sure someone has the camera out, so you can go viral!

Submarine Races — Many of you have probably played Submarine Races, but never knew the name. This involves seeing which player can swim furthest off a push off the wall while remaining underwater. The key to success is a strong push paired with smooth flutter kicks.

F-I-S-H — F-I-S-H is essentially H-O-R-S-E for pool basketball, so a poolside hoop is required for this one. However, since this is in the pool, players can get more creative and make up shots that require jumping in the pool. You will be amazed at what awesome shots your kids can think of and also how long they can keep playing this game!

What are your family’s favorite Pool Games?

08 Nov 2017

How Long Should You Stay in the Spa

By Sunset

A few weeks ago, we wrote a blog about the health benefits of your spa. However, in that blog we mentioned that you only receive those benefits if you stay in the spa for the right amount of time. In this blog, we will talk about what we consider to be the right amount of time to spend in the spa and what conditions impact this length of time.

External Temperature

It may feel better to soak in the spa when it’s cold outside, but this is not necessarily the best environment for your body. The transition from a spa to a cold temperature causes the body to cool itself too quickly which can result in dizziness. On the other hand, higher temperatures allows your body to cool itself slower and makes the adjustment back to normal temperature much easier. Thus, you can stay in the hot tub longer when the outside temperature is hotter despite how nice it may feel to remain in the hot tub on a cold winter night.

Spa Temperature

Most hot tubs reach maximum temperatures around 104 degrees Fahrenheit preset by the heater, as any temperature over this heat can lead to concern. 104 degrees may feel great and relaxing for some, but by turning the temperature down just a degree or two you are able to safely stay in the spa for a much longer time.

How Deep You Sit

If you sit with the water up to your neck then odds are you are going to overheat rather fast and want to leave the spa. Whereas if you sit with the water to around chest level then you will be much better off. I personally enjoy alternating my position to prevent overheating thus allowing myself to stay in the spa for a longer, more enjoyable time.

Other Conditions

One of the other main reasons to shorten spa time is alcohol consumption. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a drink in the spa, if you are drinking a lot then you should avoid the spa because it dehydrates you and can lead to dizziness and unexpected increased intoxication. Health conditions like pregnancy or a heart condition are another good reason to limit spa time. Finally, children should spend less time in the spa because their smaller bodies make it harder for their bodies to readjust their body temperature to normal levels.

Final Verdict

As a general rule of thumb, 20 minutes is about the right amount of time you should soak with a maximum of 30 minutes. Beyond this point the spa begins to dry out your skin and overheat your body. Everyone is different, so you can soak for as long as you feel comfortable hypothetically. However, health studies have just suggested that the best time for soaking is up to 20 minutes if you want to receive the best health benefits.