Spas, saunas offer healthy way to rejuvenate

Last updated 1/15/2019 at Noon

Anybody who has sat in a hot tub after a long day at work knows that it's a great way to relax, relieve stress and soothe the aches and pains of the day. But relaxation and soothing are just the beginning of the health benefits of a spa.

Rick Trammell of Aqua Hot Tubs in Sisters says he has a client in his 70s, a man whose career took a toll on his body, who rolls out of bed each morning and uses his hot tub to loosen up and invigorate his battered body for the day ahead.

"He says that's what's going to keep him going that extra 10 to 15 years," Trammell told The Nugget.

Rick and Mel Trammell recently took ownership of Aqua Hot Tubs at 413 W. Hood Ave., Ste. D in Sisters. Rick has operated Aqua Clear Spa Service and Repair across Central Oregon for years. Brian Janke, who founded Aqua Hot Tubs, encouraged Trammell to purchase the business - and it just made sense.

By bringing Aqua Hot Tubs and Aqua Clear together in Sisters, they are now offering both top-flight spa maintenance and service and their selection of top-quality spas, with sales and service out of one location in Sisters.

Rick literally knows the product inside and out, since he's been inside every kind of spa they carry for maintenance. And both he and Mel are confident standing behind their products.

"I think that this is something he always wanted to do," said Mel of the new retail operation.

The health benefits of the products attracted Mel to the operation.

"I was a nurse for 29 years and he made me an offer I couldn't refuse, to come and help the family business," she said.

Mel is "running the store" while Rick is in the field. She's adding aromatherapy and spa salts to the repertoire. She is also strong on the benefits of saunas, which heat the body from the core and are known to have benefits to the immune system.

"A nurse, I'm all for alternative modalities in terms of taking care of yourself," she said.

The spas they carry at Aqua Hot Tubs are more than just sources of relaxation - they're optimized for beneficial massage effects.

"They actually have physicians to determine where the jets are placed," Mel said.

Being able to directly service the hot tubs they sell is a big plus for the business - and for the customer. Maintenance is the downside of owning a spa, and it's easy to get it wrong. A poorly maintained spa is not good for the skin, and lack of maintenance shortens the life of the spa itself.

Regular maintenance is affordable and easy, Rick notes, and provides peace of mind.

"You can lift the lid knowing 'I'm safe to get in here,'" he said.

The Trammells also note that hot tubs are not as expensive to operate and maintain as people often think. With the lid on, a spa, once heated, requires only about as much electricity as a 75-watt light bulb to maintain heat.

With a strong belief that their work is of benefit to the health and well-being of their friends and neighbors, Rick and Mel Trammell are excited to provide hot tubs and saunas to the residents of Sisters Country.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.