March 30, 2019 - Cryotherapy
So, I spent this morning standing nekkid in a giant metal tube getting blasted with -250 degree nitrogen air.
So, yeah, that was neat.
Once again, Groupon was my saviour this month. Thanks to them, I found a deal on cryotherapy sessions at a place near my house. My friend Jen, from the axe throwing blog, joined me.
What is cryotherapy, you ask? According to their website, "Cryotherapy is the use of a brief and intense exposure to cold that triggers the body’s natural healing process. Originally developed for the treatment of inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, we have now found cryotherapy provides a wide range of benefits from sports recovery to weight loss, improved skin, better sleep and many more. The results are dramatically quick and surprisingly long lasting. With regular use, many have experienced chronic issues to be permanently resolved."
And here's how it works: "The cryosauna uses nitrogen gas to lower the client’s skin surface temperature from normal body temperature to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in 30 to 45 seconds and keeps it that way for 2-3 minutes. The skin reacts to the cold and sends messages to the brain that stimulates the body to go into survival mode by shunting blood from the extremities to the core where the blood is enriched with oxygen, enzymes and nutrients. As the body re-warms, this nutrient rich blood is pushed back to the extremities. Enriched blood promotes internal organ regeneration, expels toxins from subcutaneous layers, initiates cell renewal process, triggers replacement of damaged cells and eliminates dead cells from peripheral tissues. Or simply put, it is rejuvenation of the body at the cellular level. The air is very dry, some people don’t even shiver. The cooled air flows over the skin, which in turn, creates the beneficial results. This process never freezes the skin tissues or organs. Only the sensation of being cold is perceived."
Some of the benefits they list are: Decreased muscle soreness, increased energy, improved performance, allows for more intense training, faster recovery, increased circulation, increased oxygenation and nutrients, decreased pain, better sleep, decreased anxiety, increased collagen production, reduction of cellulite, full body detox, increased metabolism and healthier skin.
So, basically, I'm going to get blasted with cold air and it'll fix all my ailments, right? What's the worst that could happen?
Jen and I arrived for our session (walk-ins only), and after signing away yet another form preparing us for any potential issues (mostly heart-related), the receptionist showed us to the cryo room. Inside was the big cylindrical tube, a table/chair and a basket of socks, gloves, and some slippers. She informed us that women can opt for whatever comfort level they'd like as far as clothes go. We could go fully nude or wear just underwear or both bra and underwear. (I opted to keep my undies on. It felt a bit weird to go full birthday suit and get blasted with cold air on my lady parts. But, to be honest, they didn't really help anyways.) We would each need to put on gloves, socks and slippers before opening the door and stepping into the chamber. Because heat leaves your body through your hands/feet first, it's important to keep them covered.
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| Very futuristic! |
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| I assure you, I am not a 75 year old man, though this picture would say otherwise. |
Once I was undressed, I stepped into the chamber and shut the door. The receptionist came in and raised the platform slightly so my whole head would be above the nitrogen gas. While it's not toxic to breathe in, it's also devoid of any oxygen, so you could faint if you breathe too much of it in. I'd prefer not to take a mostly nekkid tumble out of a freezing cold space tube.
Once it was ready, she turned on the nitrogen air for a total of 2.5 minutes. 2.5 VERY LONG MINUTES. I'm not entirely sure just how cold it actually got. The readout said -250 or so, but I wasn't truly paying attention. Obviously, that's just the temperature of the air coming into the tube, not my body temperature. But needless to say, it was hella cold.
The receptionist stayed in the room (along with Jen) to make sure I didn't pass out or have any issues while in there. She said that if I was uncomfortable or in too much pain at any time, she could shut it off. To be honest, the first minute or so went by fairly quickly and wasn't terrible. Chilly AF, yes, but not unbearable. She kept me talking to take my mind off of it, and I did a little shimmy/spin inside to try to stay warm. However, the last minute was pretty brutal. All coherent thought and logic left my mind for a bit. My legs felt like someone was jabbing a billion needles into my skin. Why the hell did I do this to myself?!
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| Let's get the party started! |
So, the platform I'm standing on is squishy. Kind of like an upholstered seat cushion. It was not steady to stand on, nor should I have been moving around in that thing.
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| Ok, it's legit cold. |
I was definitely ready to get the eff out by the time it was over. I felt like even my bones were frozen, and for a brief moment, I forgot what it was like to be warm. She shut the machine off, and I was left to exit and get dressed. My legs were bright red and freezing cold to the touch. Goose bumps covered every inch of my skin. I was shivering while trying to get dressed as quickly as I could for Jen to go next. It probably didn't help that it was so cold outside today. Perhaps we should have tried this in the summer. I bet it would feel really refreshing after a blazing St. Louis summer day.
Once I left the room, Jen quickly changed and it was her turn. She immediately felt the cold quicker than I did. But, she's much more sensitive to cold weather than I am. I think she pretty much hated the entire 2.5 minutes, but she took it like a champ!
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| Smiling or trying to keep her teeth from chattering?! |
Even after I was dressed and some time had gone by, my legs were still cool to the touch even through my leggings. Because of how I was standing in that tube, I felt the coldest from my waist down. I could lift my arms out of the tube, so they weren't as frigid as the rest of me.
I can say that I did feel a bit better right after. My knees didn't hurt quite as much. I had a bit more energy and felt a little less puffy/less inflammation. But, perhaps it was just the placebo effect, and was all in my head. Jen and I went to workout right afterwards, and while it wasn't the hardest workout of my life, it was better than some workouts on a Saturday morning.
I'd definitely do it again, and luckily I have two more Groupons to use. From the testimonials on the website, it says (like with anything) that with continued use, most people see results. I'm not sure I'll continue to pay for it after the Groupon expires, but I'll enjoy the last two and see if I notice any significant changes.
But, maybe next time I'll wait until it isn't so damn cold outside.
