Janet Abbott is a passionate advocate for the transformative health and wellness benefits of natural mineral waters. As the co-founder of the Balneology Association of North America (BANA), where she serves as Vice President and Director of Mineral Water Language, Janet inspires others to “discover the art of water through mindful, creative practices, as our ancestors have demonstrated throughout history.” She shares how water, with its timeless ability to both energize and soothe, can guide us to find our own balance of strength and serenity.
Tell us about your personal story with the waters.
Janet Abbott
I grew up in the northeast drinking delicious spring water and playing and exploring in spring-fed waterfalls. In the late 1970s, while living in Florida, I discovered hot springs that were flowing freely from limestone beds near the Gulf of Mexico. I was studying historic health and wellness practices that were promoted in Florida for its’ springs, and access to ocean and gulf waters in its excellent climate. ‘Mineral waters can be transformational!’ I studied, practiced, and taught for over four decades with integrative health and wellness systems in various states across the United States, including Florida, New York, Illinois, Vermont, and Texas.
After visiting Barton Springs, I moved to Austin in the late 1980s and learned about the thousands of springs, both hot and cold, that fed the watersheds throughout the state. In 2000, I was drawn to wake up the geothermal mineral waters in Texas that once provided people with water-medicine-directed bathhouses for health and wellness.
Is this around the time you founded the non-profit Spa Waters of Texas?
Yes. In 2000, I founded Spa Waters of Texas 501c3 to reach out to geothermal direct use groups presenting on the history and culture of mineral waters used at spas in Texas. At one time, there were 13 downtown Austin locations offering warm waters, as well as 56 spas throughout the state that featured geothermal mineral waters for wellness. As the public was unsure of thermal waters for health purposes, Spa Waters of Texas morphed into Spa Waters of The Americas 501c3 to engage into a larger audience for educating about mineral waters for wellness.
In addition to personal research and work with the US Geological Survey, I was a contributor for the Texas Renewable Energy Resource Assessment, providing direct use recommendations for the lone star state; presented for Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association on behalf of reviving soaking facilities for community development; and have been featured as a speaker and presenter for the benefits of water chemistry for healing. My main goals are to inform, educate, and raise awareness of the benefits tied to bathing in water with mineral content.
Our cellular memories are serving us well by drawing us to the waters as a much louder demand for sensible and sensual experiences is heard internationally.
Over the years, you’ve been very involved with the Balneology Association of North America. Please share more about that.
I’m one of the founding members of BANA and have been involved for 13 years. I served as president of the association from 2015 to 2023, and am currently acting vice president for the association and as Director of Mineral Water Language, my pursuits are for preserving the language used about mineral waters, thermal and cool, that sustain us internationally and that deserve to be a part of our lives.
How would you describe BANA to the layperson?
BANA is an association founded to empower natural mineral water communities and water stewards with knowledge and information about mineral waters and most importantly their waters. We do this through study, research, educating, sharing information, and resources. We are a voice for the waters!
Why is BANA’s work more relevant than ever these days?
There is a widespread intention to be well naturally after the shutdown by Covid. How this affected our health was spotlighted with the raw awareness to discover better and balanced lifestyles by engaging in practices that include natural mineral waters every day in every way—drinking, soaking and bathing, steaming and saunas, and mineral-rich muds—all of these pillars of health, when regularly practiced, are arguably wisdom-filled and investment-rich. Our true wealth is our sound health. Attention was given to natural settings, and a fresh discovery of mineral waters was born.
The spa and wellness industry at large, as well as consumers, have gone back to the waters in a big way. What’s your take on this?
Our cellular memories are serving us well by drawing us to the waters as a much louder demand for sensible and sensual experiences is heard internationally. People want to be well naturally with less intervention.
Our native sense and natural interest is always present, but when the unfortunate plague of a mass virus caused a stark interruption to society by stopping everything, our attention was strangled. By not having access to thermal and cool mineral waters that are an essential part of worldwide health practices daily, the demand for access to health facilities and mineral waters instigated a deep dive into research for a cure for the virus and help with its symptoms.
Balneology’s arts, sciences, and cultures were dusted off from archived research studies crediting mineral water practices, especially thermal use, as valuable assets to support health. The old information was revived to be ushered forward through international groups supporting the scientific procedures that have been in application for centuries.
What role does BANA play in our return to the waters?
To be a voice to remind us that since earliest memory only geologic earth can compound honest medicine into mineral portions that give water the ability to balance and offer remedy. Along with climates and temperatures, the focus of BANA is for the waters to reclaim a voice that carries humanity in tune and time into relationships with mineral waters for wellbeing.
What about the waters excites you right now?
People are seeking natural mineral water sources for wellbeing, connecting us through nature. Mineral waters are opening our minds to conscious awareness of our natural world, deepening on our understanding of how the earth provides us with geologic mineral pools that give us balance which instills natural healing. And most of all, by strengthening cultural practices with water that comes naturally to us, continuing to serve us when we share our experiences with one another. I like that we are changing ‘recreation’ mindsets into ‘re-creation embodiment’ of our minds, bodies, and souls as the natural waters are included in our lives.
What worries you right now when it comes to the waters?
The rush to own the waters and commoditize the waters for profit. Nature works in balance with regeneration of sources. When the source is taken and there is no longer enough for everyone, we all lose. Water is Us! How we respect water, is how water respects us. Watch your words, your thoughts, your behaviors when taking the waters. Speak kindly, think wholly, let water be your hydration, hygiene, and your harmony. Make water personal and sincere when water touches you. Do not take water for granted.
More information about the Balneology Association of North America can be found here.
Mary Bemis
Mary Bemis is Founder & Editorial Director of InsidersGuidetoSpas.com. An advocate for all things spa, Mary forged a vocabulary for spa reportage that is widely used by those who cover the issues today. Recently honored as a Top 30 Influential Voice Transforming Wellness by Medika Life, Mary is an inaugural honoree of Folio’s Top Women in Media Award. Her spa media roots run deep—in 1997, she launched American Spa magazine, in 2007, she co-founded Organic Spa magazine, and in between serving on the ISPA and NYSPA Board of Directors, she was on the launch teams of Luxury SpaFinder and New Beauty magazines. Named a "Wonder Woman of Wellness" by American Spa magazine, Mary was honored by the International Spa Association with the distinguished ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award. She is a special advisor to the non-profit Global Wellness Day.
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