All about Saaremaa!
Greetings from Saaremaa!
Interesting facts about the history of the spas on Saaremaa:
• In 1824, the first mud baths were established on Saaremaa • In 1840, the first mud baths were opened in Kuressaare • In 2017, there are eight different spa hotels on Saaremaa • In total, the spas offer: 1,100 beds 365 different treatments 55 different saunas and swimming pools • Kuressaare is a member of the Estonian network of healthy towns.
SAAREMAA
The constantly accelerating pace of life, contaminated air, and stressful business days, makes people increasingly value a clean environment, peace and quiet, and relaxation. The largest island and the oldest resort in Estonia - the island of Saaremaa and the resort town of Kuressaare - offer all of this and much more. Enjoyable spa treatments, memorable beauty procedures, active days, or relaxing sauna nights will make you feel completely refreshed. Come and discover the new and fresher you on Saaremaa!
When the mud from the sea became a spa
Saaremaa has the longest resort traditions in Estonia. It was here, on the island’s western coast, where the country’s first mud baths were opened in 1824. The healing properties of the mineral-rich mud that can be found in the shallow bays here proved to be immensely popular. Inspired by the success of the mud baths in the parish, mud baths were also built in the town of Kuressaare a few years later. The first was followed by another. And then another. The mud baths were highly valued by anyone who travelled there, whether from near or far. In a rapidly developing world, the mud baths have also kept up. Today, there are eight different spa hotels operating on Saaremaa. The healing mud is still there, but it is now accompanied by aromatic oils, various massage techniques, and technical aids - in fact, everything that could be expected from a modern spa hotel.
The ‘black gold’ of Saaremaa
The spa culture on Saaremaa began in pretty dirty sea mud which didn’t have the most pleasant of scents. Irrespective of its somewhat unpleasant nature, the mud turned out to have excellent healing properties. A few centuries ago, warmed mud was used for treating anything from rheumatic pain to sexually transmitted diseases. The scope of ailments that have been healed has decreased these days, but the sea mud is still honoured in Saaremaa’s spas. The mud baths offer a good treatment for joint problems. Mud wrappings alleviate muscular tension. Mud soap moistens and nourishes tired skin.
From creams to needles
While mud was the basis of resort tourism on Saaremaa, the modern concepts, such as the removal of toxins, anti-stress treatments, cellulite burning, etc, are the modern day for the spas. World-class creams, oils, and technical solutions are used to energise both body and mind. In order to avoid the spas becoming too focussed on women, there are also several masculine treatments, playful solutions for the tiny visitors at the spas, and romantic offers for couples.
If a gentle massage lulling you to sleep seems too ‘mild’ for you, you can surprise your body with a bone-twisting Thai massage or a sports massage that would be appropriate for a top athlete. A visit to a physiotherapist’s or acupuncturist’s office may work wonders sometimes. Treatment methods such as the salt chamber, infrared beams, or magnetic therapy may also prove necessary. The impact of these treatments reaches deeper than any massage or cream. The list of treatments available is endless and includes something that will be suitable for anyone.
Let your beauty make you feel good
Feeling good largely depends on being happy with yourself. Sometimes, just a nice hairdo or splendid make-up is enough to raise your spirits and make you feel better. If the problem is deeper, smoothing a few wrinkles or removing a centimetre or two from strategically important areas may help. Medicine and modern technology have made the elimination of tiny beauty defects a piece of cake these days. Healthy teeth and a white smile will also help you shine and make you more confident.
The nice environment, lovely people, and privacy of Saaremaa will help you to recover quickly from your beauty procedures. Returning home from a short holiday with white teeth, less wrinkles, and a slimmer waist sounds good, doesn’t it?
Healthy body, healthy mind
When trying to be healthy, taking care of your physique is unavoidable. Many of today’s health problems originate from moving too little. Saaremaa can lend a hand: long kilometres of sandy beach, the cycle and pedestrian tracks winding around Kuressaare, and the humming pine forests inviting you to take a walk in the peace and quiet. A few yoga classes would also be good for self-reflection. Why not include fast-paced water aerobics, Zumba, or body pumping in your spa weekend? Top it all up with a pleasant island sauna and we guarantee that you couldn’t feel healthier!
Important phrases: Tere! Aitäh! Head aega! Mulle meeldib spa! Soovin massaažiaega! Kas basseini vesi on soe? Saun on nii mõnus! Kas ma susse ja hommikumantlit saaksin? Tahan Saaremaale tagasi!
Hello! Thank you! Good-bye! I like the spa! I would like to book a massage! Is the water in the pool warm? The sauna is so nice! Could I please have a pair of slippers and a bathrobe? I want to go back to Saaremaa!
Kuressaare Tourist Information Centre NGO Visit Saaremaa Tallinna 2 Kuressaare Estonia +372 45 33 120 www.visitsaaremaa.ee info@visitsaaremaa.ee
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