It’s been a hot summer in NYC, and we’re not even halfway through July. When temps are pushing 100°F we’re all dreaming of crawling into our freezers. But how about -240°F? Enter cryotherapy, our latest wellness obsession. (Side note: We're also obsessed with Vitamin IVs and Infrared Saunas.)
What's it all about?
Whole body cryotherapy involves stepping into a chamber where cryogenically cooled air drops the temperature to -230°F to -250°F for just a few minutes. This makes the body send blood to vital organs and constricts blood vessels. As you exit the cryotherapy chamber 3 minutes later, that oxygenated blood is pumped back throughout the body, reducing inflammation, improving muscle tissue recovery, and boosting your immune system.
Proponents of cryotherapy claim that it can:
Raise your metabolic rate
Improve circulation
Ease arthritis and chronic back pain
Reverse skin aging
Boost collagen production (We ♥ collagen!)
Relieve stress and anxiety
Reduce insomnia and chronic fatigue
Increase energy levels
To check it out, we sent over our head of wellness and client services, Sarah Hebbel-Stone, to try it first hand at our partner and go-to location in NYC, Cryofuel, for infrared sauna and cryotherapy,
As someone who hates being cold, I was a little nervous. Donning just socks, special booties, gloves, and my underwear, I stepped into the cryotherapy chamber. The attendant let me choose some upbeat music and dancing helped me feel like I wasn’t literally freezing. And honestly - it didn’t feel like -240°F. Sure, it was cold, but I knew I could do anything for 3 minutes. The time flew by chatting with the attendant, and once it was over I put my robe back on and stepped out of the chamber. My legs were the coldest, but they quickly warmed up, and I went back out into the heat feeling great. I felt refreshed and recharged from the increased endorphins and adrenaline, and my chronic back pain seemed to feel better. They recommend doing 3 to 4 treatments a week to maximize the benefits, and I look forward to going back to try another session.
We highly recommend trying it for yourself and seeing if it's the right addition to your wellness routine.
