As a long time fitness enthusiast who has played and coached competitive sports for over 45 years I am always interested in new training and recovery research. For athletes the ability to recover faster and get ready for the next practice or game can be the difference in a long season. At the same time the fountain of youth is what so many of us are looking for as we grow older and live longer.
Like many others I have found that Cryotherapy and other assorted alternative options can improved ones mood, provide restful sleep, increased energy, assist pain relief, increase metabolism and so many other benefits. Other treatment such as Infrared Sauna, Compression boots, targeted Cryo and Himalayan salt walls can also help one feel better and enhance performance and provide a better quality of life.
My journey started a year ago when I was introduced to cryotherapy by a hockey friend of mine. Recently retired he was looking to open everything from a bagel company, Healthy food vending machines to a mini ice rink. The concept of a Cryospa featuring equipment that would make you feel great was intriguing to say the least. 3 minutes at -240 degrees would relieve all my aches and pains, burn calories and make me euphoric. As a survivor of the 80’s Rock and roll scene what did I have to lose?
I immediately went to a Cryo spa in Eastchester NY and gave it a shot. I put on the robe, wool gloves and socks to prevent frostbite and said what the hell. Far from hell it was cold. What was I thinking? The attendant who watched me shiver while standing in a tall tube told me to march and move my arms while slowly turning in the tube. Next thing I knew 3 minutes were up. The time went fast, I wasn’t frozen and I exited the tube feeling slightly euphoric as promised. When I woke up the next day feeling less discomfort after a restful sleep, Cryo got my attention.
I told my friend about my positive experience and we began to look into this industry further. My friend had done a ton of research on the subject but had never tried cryo due to health reasons. I then took it upon myself to be the test dummy. I spent the next couple of months visiting cryo spas in New York and Florida while I traveled on business.
Most spas basically offered Full Body Cryo, Infrared Sauna, Targeted Cryo, Compression therapy, Light therapy, Salt therapy and other recovery aids. The funny thing is the more I tried the better I felt. My mood improved, my inflammation, aches and pains subsided and my ability to work out increased. My mood was great, I sleep improved and my clothes fit better. Yes I actually lost weight, tighten my core and looked healthier.
My belief in Cryo became so strong that I became a co-founder with my friend in a Cryo Spa in Mount Kisco New York. It took 6 months to find a location and build the place but aided with our own full body cryo tube, Compression boots and infrared sauna I was up for the task. Long 12 to 20 hour days building rooms, painting, putting up light fixtures and anything else that needed to be done was made manageable by using our recovery equipment.
I made it a point to have a full body cryo session daily. I figured I had nothing to lose and I could use my experience to help the clients enjoy their sessions also. In addition using the infrared Sauna with light therapy and Himalayan salt walls became a 3 to 4 times a week ritual. I was always a big fan of hot saunas but the infrared sauna is another level. The combination of heating your core first combined with the light therapy and salt wall made 45 minute sessions the norm. It didn’t hurt that I would use it at night when the built in speakers would blast any music I wanted. Armed with a gallon jug of water I would even do a 90 minute cleanse once a week.
It was great to focus on health and recovery, I began to really is the improvements and as a result I was motivated to create a website, Instagram and Facebook page and do the set up work for our own Mindbody app. This took up whatever free time I had when I wasn’t building something at the spa but I worth it was worth it.
This entire building process took from March to July. We took an empty store and built modular changing rooms and individual rooms for the compression therapy gear, targeted cryo treatment, infrared sauna, full body cryo machine and finally the CRYO T Pagani Machine.
Now that the Cryo Spa is open for business I am confident that in 4 months I personally experienced most of the promised benefits these machines offer. I lost over 10 pounds, over 1.5 inches around my waist, 4% body fat and improved my overall mental wellness, detoxed my system, sleep better and so many other benefits.
I am a believer! Cryotherapy works as does Infrared Saunas and compression therapy. If you are interested in improving your overall well-being, recover from injury, gain relief from aches, pains or the times we are living in, get to your local cryotherapy spa. Ask for the introductory price which most have, find a spa that offers deals during off peak hours and once you’re hooked see if they have monthly membership discounts.
If you are interested in opening your own place contact me for some helpful tips. I was involved in every aspect of building a great spa and can share the good and bad decisions with you.
While I have had some success coaching hockey and working with USA hockey as a coach developer I am not a scientist or doctor. For those of you interested in scientific information click on the link provided.
Clinical Studies:
https://www.cryoinnovations.com/clinical-studies#.XYPs7y5KiUk
As with any treatments always consult your health care provider, team doctor, trainer or therapist.
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