You all know I am up for trying just about anything! So, when I was offered the chance to experience a CryoTherapy session this week, I jumped at the chance. I know CryoTherapy has become quite “cool” amongst professional athletes and I was curious to see what it was all about. I was offered a free session at AlphaCryo in exchange for a fair review.
CryoTherapy First Impressions
I tried CryoTherapy for the first time this week. I’m giving you a brief snapshot into the treatment as well as my initial impressions on my experience at Alpha Cryo.
What is CryoTherapy?
Quick answer: CryoTherapy uses liquid nitrogen to quickly deliver a burst of very cold temperatures to your body. It’s delivered as you stand in an enclosed chamber for a period of 2-3 minutes.
Why would someone do CryoTherapy?
Many athletes use CryoTherapy as a recovery tool after taxing workouts or as part of their maintenance plan. CryoTherapy has also spread to the mainstream and is now used by many with chronic pain such as arthritis or join pain.
What does a session of CryoTherapy do for your body?
The idea of CryoTherapy is to shock your body with very cold temperatures for a period of 2-3 minutes. During your session, “your body reacts by constricting blood vessels and centralizing blood around your internal organs. This blood becomes super-oxygenated and nutritionally rich. Once you step out from the cryo chamber, your brain identifies injured or weak areas of your body. The now super-oxygenated and enriched blood resupplies your entire body while prioritizing these problem areas.” (source)
Frequent users report more restful sleep, faster recovery and lessening of chronic pain issues. Some clients describe euphoric feelings and increased energy as if they had just awoken from a nap. Who is this not indicated for? Those with high blood pressure, heart conditions or pregnant women.
My Experience
Upon entering the studio, I was immediately put at ease by the owner of the Alpha Cryo. I was given a thorough explanation of exactly what to expect and really had no reservations at all. Everything was immaculately clean. I was given a robe to change into (you leave on your socks only). Gloves and booties are also provided.
I was led into the chamber which is about the size of a small shower stall. My head was completely out and as such, I did not feel claustrophobic at all. After the door was closed, I then handed my robe over to the attendant. The cool mist began to materialize around me and I felt my body begin to cool.
Because the mist is not “wet” like a cold shower or ice bath, I never felt uncomfortable or shivering. The attendant kept talking to me the entire 3 minutes which I believe was a great distraction from the cold. He also instructed me to turn around and move my body a little bit instead of just standing still.
Before I knew it, I had lasted an entire 3 minutes in the chamber! I purposely scheduled my appointment 2 days after my 10 mile race to aid in recovery. While it’s hard to say whether the cryo session sped up my recovery or not, I did sleep really well that night and felt much more energetic later that day. I would certainly be up for trying it again!
Have you ever tried Cryo Therapy? What did you think?
linking up
Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness
I’m surprised you didn’t feel cold. I assumed it would be freezing in the chamber so not I’m more interested in trying this out one day!
I really was not uncomfortable at all! Hope you have a chance to try it out
I”m seeing cryotherapy everywhere these days! You know who I think could benefit from it? My son, who injured his back a few weeks ago. I may have to look for a local place that does this. Thanks for the review!
I was wondering if you had ever tried it for the RA symptoms? Maybe you 2 can get a 2 for 1 🙂
Thanks for the review! There is a cryo place right by my gym and I always wonder about it.
Hope you have a chance to check it out sometime
I’ve never tried it but it shoes sound quite interesting. I’d like to experience it at least once. Do you have an idea of what a session costs?
I am sure that sessions vary around the country but around here they are about $25-30
Cryotherapy sounds so intense! It’s crazy you didn’t feel cold … 3 minutes is a looooong time!
I’d be interested to see the long term effects for recovery!
I felt slightly cold but not in an uncomfortable way. Kind of hard to explain
Even though it’s 3 min I still hate cold. Lol but at least it’s not a wet cold
No not a wet cold!
Interesting — although I hate being cold! I would tolerate a lot for better sleep though. 🙂
Might be worth a try then!
You are rocking that robe! 🙂 So awesome you got to try this out. I have read a lot about it as well. I had no idea that you wouldn’t feel cold because that I was my first impression about those sessions. Now I know!
ha ha yes the robe! It was chilly just not uncomfortable cold kind of hard to explain
I would try it – I always say try anything once! It seems like a more high tech upgrade from the ice bath trick.
For sure! I would never do an ice bath
What a cool experience! Thanks for the awesome review, I’m super intrigued!
It was a fun thing to try!
I walked around in circles when I was in the chamber LOL. It helped to keep my mind off the cold. 3 minutes isn’t long but it feels SUPER long when you’re in there. Glad that you had a good experience!
It did not feel long bc I was talking to the guy the whole time. I did really enjoy it
Very interesting
It was interesting I will tell you all about it
We just got a cryotherapy place recently – I’ve been tempted to try, but haven’t yet.
Hope you have the chance to try it it’s a neat experience
Brrrrrr! 😉 That said, I have run in sub-ZERO temps all winter (and a few times this “spring”), so it probably wouldn’t be as bad as I anticipate. GReat review!!
Definitely not as bad as you are imagining!
This is SO cool! I’ve always wanted to try cryotherapy, I just need to find a spot in Toronto that has it! Glad to know that you slept well that nice. This could help with my sleep issues too.
It’s worth a try!
I would love to try this! It’s taking an ice bath to the next level with less shivering!
I am going to try to set up a group thing one night in Arlington will let you know
We have cryo right down the road from me. I definitely want to try it!!
Hope you have the chance to check it out
This sounds so interesting! I would love to give it a try. I would be nervous about feeling claustrophobic or cold so Im glad you didnt experience either of those!
NO I did not feel claustrophobic at all because my head was out
I really want to try this! Thanks for the review. Did they say if you’ll notice change after one session or multiple? While I would do it for recovery I was going to do it for pain in my hips and back I’ve had over the years. I’ll have to check it out, might be a great idea for Mother’s Day! 😉
I think you would really need to go a few times to get the full effects for a chronic pain issue.
That sounds both weird and intriguing!
Yes exactly!
That’s so cool that you got to try this! I am notttt a fan of the cold so I likely wouldn’t ever try it, but I do have some friends who are less wimpy when it comes to the cold! 😛 Gonna have to let them know about this!
It was a very ‘cool” experience and yes please share
I’ve been interested in this but am afraid that I will be too cold. I am over this cold weather and don’t want to get even more cold than it is. I see now that you weren’t even cold. Interesting. Maybe I will try it in the summer. 🙂
I have not been a fan of this winter either but honestly it was not uncomfortable at all
I’ve been wanting to try cryotherapy for a while, but I still haven’t gotten around to it. I can’t believe you weren’t shivering in those temperatures!
It went by really quickly and I never felt uncomfortable at all
Fascinating! What an interesting concept– I’d be interested to see how it works over time. Glad to know you don’t feel too cold either- because I hate cold!
It was fascinating and I would certainly do it again
This absolutely freaks me out. On the other hands, I have Raynaud’s so I don’t think I’m a great candidate. Even with gloves and booties, I would be really afraid that my fingers and toes would get too cold and while I know it happens, I’m not sure I want to make it happen on purpose.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
Yes not sure how that would work for you. Might want to ask your Dr first. You can always stop at any time as well.
You are brave to try that. Do most people just do it to aid in recovery or is it more for injury or a problem area? Does it aid in injury prevention? – M
People do it for recovery and as I mentioned lots of people are using cryo to treat chronic pain and injuries.
Interesting – I’ve seen so much about this treatment lately. It’s great that you felt that it helped with your sleep and energy level. Unfortunately, as someone with mildly high blood pressure, this is not something I should try.
Wow, you made it 3 full minutes the first time! You sound like you felt the same way as me about it….I don’t know for sure that it’s helping with swelling in my broken/healing leg, but I’m willing to try it and I definitely feel great afterwards!
Thanks for sharing your experience Deborah!
Yes exactly! It’s hard to say if it helps but it certainly does not hurt so why not?
The first time I heard of cryo-therapy was when it was offered at my chiropractor’s in Dallas. I never did it since i prefer hot baths for recovery.
Why choose!? I definitely like both 🙂
What an interesting experience. I’d be intrigued to do it a second time, say not immediately after a race, to be able to compare whether or not it aided in post race recovery.
Yes I would love to try it again and see how I felt
Great review, Deborah! I was going to ask if you knew how much the sessions cost, but found the answer in the comments. That sounds pretty reasonable!
I thought it was very reasonable as well.