TRY CRYO, WHEN YOU'RE MISSING THE COLD THRILL
Just as much as we love sun and warmth, we miss winter swimming when it's summer.
Therefore we recently visited a cryo sauna to test an alternative way to get a cold boost.
You may have already heard of the concept, as it is rapidly gaining ground both here and abroad. If not, the treatment briefly consists of standing in a cabin and exposing your body to temperatures down to -140°C for 3 minutes.
The cold is circulated in the cabin in the form of nitrogen, which only looks and feels like very cold air. Unlike winter swimming, it is a 'dry' cold. That is, you feel the cold on your body, but if you are used to winter swimming, the cold air actually doesn't feel as bad as the wet, all-encompassing chill of ice-cold water. We were also told by the staff at the cryo sauna that winter swimmers are some of their most hardcore customers :)
The intense short-term cooling gives the body a healthy shock that channels blood to the vital organs. In this process an effective detox begins, which delivers a wide range of well-documented positive effects.
Here is what the cryo sauna does for us:
- Increases blood circulation and metabolism
- Flushes waste products and toxins from the blood
- Releases endorphins (also called the body's happiness hormone)
- Boosts energy
- Reduces stress
- Relieves muscle pain and local swelling
- Reduces inflammation
- Improves the body's ability to recover
- Better and faster regulation of body temperature
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression (through the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline)
Many people with chronic pain (such as arthritis and fibromyalgia) regularly use cryo therapy with great success because of the effects above, and athletes do the same—both professionals and amateurs.
In addition to the health benefits, the cryo sauna also offers a number of positive beauty effects:
- Tightens the skin (through increased collagen production)
- Reduces cellulite
- Weight loss (you can burn up to 1,000 calories in a single 3-minute session)
- Increased metabolism
It's therefore hard not to get excited at the thought of all the good things cold therapy can do for us in terms of increased well-being and energy. But we already know that from winter swimming – especially if you are one of those who stay in the cold water longer than just the quick 'tea-bag dip' If you also alternate between cold water and a classic hot sauna, it simply gives the body an even bigger positive boost, as all our cells get extra work in a good way.
But what did we actually think about the visit to the cryo sauna? It was fun and exciting to try – and we definitely felt replenished in a good way, meaning we had plenty of energy and well-being for many hours after the visit. In other words, we could easily imagine doing it again on a hot summer day.
But! In our view it still can't completely compete with winter swimming, where you – besides all the above benefits – also get out into nature and experience wind and weather, which simply adds an extra lovely dimension to the cold boost. And besides, many of us winter swim together with others, so the valuable social aspect should definitely be counted in the equation.
All in all, we loved the cryo sauna, but we LOVE winter swimming :)
GET STARTED WITH WINTER SWIMMING:
If you are not a winter swimmer yet - you can read our recommendations on how to get started.
What should I choose for my windproof winter bathing robe?
Best bathing wishes,
Ida & Barbara
