BY KELLY HEITZ

Watsu aqua body work and therapy at Remede Spa at the St. Regis Punta Mita is a popular and relaxing treatment for guests. here is an old Slovakian proverb that states,“ Pure water is the world’ s first and foremost medicine.” Nothing could be truer than these words. Our bodies need water to survive; our planet consists of more than 75 percent water; and water has been used by nearly every culture and civilization in history as a tool for health and healing.

While it is highly debated where the word spa originated from, popular belief is that“ spa” is an acronym for the Latin phrase“ salus per aquae,” which means health through water. It is also widely thought that the word may have come from the town of Spa, Belgium, which has been known for its baths since Roman times.

“ Across the continents, people use water to cleanse and rejuvenate, to soothe and heal,” notes Lidya Wati, founder and president of Spa Réveil, a day spa located in Austin, Texas.“ Often, thermal water is used as part of wellness traditions in many cultures.”

44 PULSE ■ March / April 2017