Equipment

Contrast Therapy Redlands

Elevate your recovery with hot and cold immersion

Contrast therapy, which alternates between hot and cold treatments, is gaining popularity for its numerous health and wellness benefits. The extreme change in temperature creates a pumping effect on the blood vessels, helping more blood reach your organs more efficiently. By stimulating circulation and reducing inflammation through different temperatures, this practice offers a natural method for rejuvenating the body and mind.

$25

for 20 min total

Benefits of Contrast Therapy Redlands

Alternating between hot and cold temperatures creates a pumping action in the blood and muscles, which is similar to that produced by a low-intensity workout. This allows blood to carry nutrient-dense oxygen through the body so it can reach more tissues within the body. Combining both hot and cold plunges offers the benefits of both, such as improved circulation, reduced swelling and inflammation, higher energy levels, and more.

Enhance circulation and blood flow

Alternating between hot and cold temperatures can cause your blood vessels to expand and contract, creating a natural pumping action that improves circulation throughout the body. This helps deliver oxygen and other essential nutrients to tired muscles, while also flushing out waste products like lactic acid. This improved circulation not only aids physical recovery, but it can also help alleviate tension and improve cardiovascular health over time.

Boost muscle recovery

Contrast therapy effectively reduces muscle soreness and inflammation after exercise. The cold plunge reduces swelling and numbs nerve endings, while the heat immersion relaxes muscles and promotes faster tissue repair. Regular sessions can lead to shorter recovery times and help prevent chronic pain or injuries associated with overuse or intense training routines.

Better sleep

Many people who undergo regular contrast therapy note that they also sleep better after sessions. This is for a number of reasons – not only does the different temperatures help reduce pain and boost relaxation, helping you fall asleep quicker, but it can also reduce stress levels. You may feel calmer and happier after each session, boosting your well-being and lowering feelings of restlessness or anxiety.

Support your immune system

Repeated exposure to hot and cold temperatures can help stimulate the lymphatic system, encouraging the removal of toxins and improving the body’s immune response. Continuing with regular contrast therapy sessions can help increase your body’s resilience against common illnesses and improve your overall wellness.

Regular use of the compound benefits

Regular cold training can reduce stress and help improve resilience, as well as rewiring the brain to embrace uncomfortable situations. Research suggests that 57 minutes of heat and 11 minutes of cold per week is all you need to reap the benefits. This therapy can also improve blood flow and blood pressure for people who suffer from cardiovascular disease.

Pro tip

During your contrast therapy session, pay special attention to your breathing – especially when transitioning from hot to cold immersion. Taking slow, deep breaths can help calm your nervous system, ease your body through the transition from hot to cold, and prevent hyperventilation from the shock. Consciously breathing boosts the therapeutic effects and hopefully makes the experience more comfortable.

Try one of our Contrast Therapy protocols

We have combined Contrast Therapy with other equipment into specialized health protocols

Refresh

40 mins

$39

Sauna: 20 min
Contrast therapy: 20 min
Cold exposure: 3

The initial increase in body temperature in the sauna encourages the body to cool itself down through increasing blood flow and heart rate, contributing to cardiovascular conditioning, similar to the effects of moderate exercise. In combination with the traditional sauna, the contrast pools work to constrict (in the cold) and then dilate (in the hot) the blood vessels, creating a pumping like mechanism. These changes in blood flow over a contrast session, stimulates neurogenesis, increases endorphins levels, reduces inflammation, and accelerates muscle recovery.

Nomad

50 mins

$39

Compression: 30 min
Contrast therapy: 20 min

During a 30-minute session in our compression devices, the pulse technology mimics a lymphatic massage optimising lymphatic function to remove built-up waste, reducing muscle soreness and inflammation. Followed by hot and cold pools triggering blood vessel constriction and dilation, enhancing blood flow, reducing inflammation, and aiding muscle recovery.

Nordic

60 mins

$44

Sauna: 20 min
Contrast therapy: 10 min
Steam room: 20 min
Cold exposure: 1

By actively engaging the body’s thermoregulatory system through a sequence of both hot and cold therapies the nordic will work to improve your circulation, reduce stress and enhance muscle recovery.

Recover

40 mins

$39

Steam room: 20 min
Contrast therapy: 20 min

During this protocol, begin by relaxing your muscles and mind in the warm and humid environment of the steam room that will work to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation and help you relax and recover. Pair this with the rejuvenating and energising benefits of both contrast therapy and compression which work in combination to alleviate muscle soreness, reduce inflammation, boost blood flow, and foster relaxation – all crucial elements for enhancing overall recovery.

How does our Contrast Therapy in Redlands work?

Contrast therapy involves alternating between cold and hot exposure. Starting with a cold plunge, you will help narrow the blood vessels to reduce blood flow to injured muscles. This can relieve pain and inflammation, especially thanks to the numbing effects. Next, you’ll expose your body to high temperatures, which gradually warm the body, expanding the blood vessels again and improving blood flow. This will also promote relaxation in the muscles.

The act of alternating between hot and cold recreates the effects of a light workout, enhancing oxygen and nutrient delivery to the tissues in your body. This therapy aims to boost energy and focus, reduce inflammation, improve relaxation, and lower stress levels.

Book your Contrast Therapy in Redlands today

Ready to recharge and recover? Try out a contrast therapy session in Redlands, Cleveland, today!

Contrast Therapy FAQs

Can’t find the answers you’re looking for? Get in touch with us today, and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Are there any side effects or risks to contrast therapy?

While contrast therapy is generally considered safe, some people might experience temporary feelings of discomfort. You might have side effects such as shivering, lightheadedness, and numbness. These sensations typically fade as the body acclimates, and any side effects from the cold immersion should go once you’re in the hotter environment, and vice versa. To minimise the risk, your sessions should always be supervised, and you should take it slow to build a tolerance to the extreme temperatures.

How often should I have contrast therapy?

The ideal number of appointments you should have in a week depends on your body, tolerance, and goals. For those undergoing intense physical training, two to three sessions a week might be incredibly beneficial for reducing muscle soreness and boosting recovery. If you’re looking for general wellness and stress relief instead, one session a week might be enough for you to notice improvements.

Can I use contrast therapy for recovery after workouts?

Yes, contrast therapy is often very effective after workouts. Alternating between hot and cold treatments can help lessen your muscle soreness and inflammation to speed up recovery. However, it’s worth noting that cold plunge therapy can hinder the adaptations needed for muscle growth and regeneration. So, if your main goal is muscle gains, we recommend waiting between 4 and 6 hours after exercise.

Can contrast therapy help prevent injuries?

Contrast therapy can contribute to healthy muscles by reducing tightness and improving range of motion, so regular use can help reduce the likelihood of an injury. However, it can’t be relied on to be the only form of prevention, as stretching and warming up your muscles before exercise are much more effective and trustworthy.

What should I wear to a contrast therapy session?

Most people wear comfortable swimwear for contrast therapy as they’ll be moving between water immersions. Some like to wear neoprene booties or gloves during the cold plunge to protect their extremities, but this isn’t essential.

View our evidence-based protocols

We use the most up to date research to match protocols with health outcomes.