The more I workout, the more I need to take care of my body. Yoga, massage, foam rolling, The Stick, ice baths, stretching, RICE… and the list goes on. People at my box recently starting going crazy over cryotherapy at the local CHILL Cryosauna so yesterday I finally gave it a try.
From the CHILL website: The Cryosauna experience involves lowering the body’s surface skin temperature from approximately 90.5 F to around 32 F for about 2-3 minutes. This dynamic cooling is achieved by way of Nitrogen gas which gently surrounds the body at up to -300 F. During this process, receptors in the skin send signals to the brain to release endorphins and beneficial biochemicals. The blood also becomes optimally oxygenated which accelerates the beneficial results. The vessels and capillaries in the skin undergo a period of vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation. This causes toxins in the body to be broken down and carried away through these vessels.
I filled out a questionnaire, got briefed on the equipment and was left to change and hop in the machine. I wore underwear and dry socks and pressed the button for Donna to come in and start my treatment. I immediately felt anxious and claustrophobic. She turned on the machine and vapors started to come up. I was told before the treatment to not breathe deeply during the nitrogen blasts, but while in the chamber I got nervous and confused on when the blasts were happening. My anxiety was downhill from the start. Luckily it was only three minutes!
Maybe it was a good thing I decided to be Miss Anxiety because it completely took my mind off the cold! The temps dipped fast but I hardly noticed.
Apparently the experiences get better after the first treatment so I hope to go back.
My legs felt really refreshed after the treatment and soreness around my hips is just about gone. Benefits are rumored to increase with multiple treatments, so I’ll keep you posted on how I feel if I go back.
Have you ever tried cryotherapy? What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for healing?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve read about crypreservation in different animals (I’m a marine biologist), but didn’t realize there was such a thing as cryotherapy. Can I ask how much this costs? It sounds a little far out to me, but if it works, then go for it!
that sounds crazy! wow.
Carolina John recently posted..They won’t let me back in
I’ve never heard of that!!! Crazy!
I like the cryosauna! But I hear Recovery Pump boots make you feel WAY better… everyone who has tried them has raved about them.