30 days using the spa: what changed for me?

Josh visited the Atrium's spa every day for a month and shares what he learnt and the differences he noticed:

If you’ve ever walked past the spa area thinking, “I’ll get in there one day,” after the last month I’ve had, I can honestly tell you, the day is today!

This past month, I made a commitment to use our spa every single day, even if just for 15 minutes. No exceptions. It started as a bit of a personal challenge, but quickly turned into an amazingly rewarding routine and I’ve felt so much benefit for building it into my life.

I want to share what happened — not just physically, but mentally and socially as well.

#1: Physical recovery

Let’s start with the obvious: the physical benefits. No, I didn’t do any scientific tests this time around, or wear a recovery tracker, but there were some changes that were clear:

• Faster recovery after workouts. My usual post-training stiffness faded quicker. I could push harder at football training without feeling worn out from previous training sessions.

  
  

• Healthier skin. A couple of regular members commented that I looked “refreshed” — and honestly, I felt that too. 

  
  

• Less fatigue. Mornings after an evening spa and afternoons after a morning spa were more productive; it replicated having a large coffee, I felt uplifted and raring to go. 

  
  

• Better sleep. The biggest impact that was so noticeable, especially by the second half of the month, I was sleeping like a rock. Deep, restful nights that I hadn’t experienced in a while. Falling asleep so quickly, and feeling like quality of sleep was so good. Especially after evening spa sessions. 

  
  

Sometimes, we don’t realize how wound up our bodies are until we give them the chance to truly relax.

#2: The people (the real highlight)

What was amazing alongside the physical shift — was the community. Each day, I found myself chatting with other members in the spa. Some I’d known in passing for years, others I was meeting for the first time. The environment just makes it easy to connect. No one’s in a rush. Phones are away. Everyone is just… present.

We talked about everything from sports, travel, nutrition, work-life balance and even the future of The Atrium. I laughed more in that spa than I expected to and had some fantastic deep and meaningful conversations.

There’s something about being in a relaxed space that helps people open up.

#3: Your personal invitation to the spa

It’s easy to overlook the spa. It’s “just” a recovery tool, etc. But I encourage you to look at it differently.

It’s a place to unwind. A place to talk. A place to connect.

As the weather cools down and we all start moving a little quicker through our days, give yourself permission to slow down for 20 minutes in the spa. You might find more than just muscle relief in there — you might find connection with people, which is what The Atrium is all about. 

I’ll still be popping in regularly (though maybe not every single day anymore). So if you see me in there I’d love to hear about your experience too!

You can find out more about The Atrium's spa in Reading here.