The world is obsessed with spa treatments. Particularly, the tourists.
They would literally try out the whackiest spa treatments just to bathe in that tourist spirit. This could mean being properly toasted with hot cupping treatment in China, slathered in gooey seaweed straight out of North Atlantic waters, and dozing off while getting an Ayurvedic massage in India.
Cryotherapy, or cold water immersion, is a less whackier spa treatment. This makes it all the more popular among tourists, especially in Dubai and other similar traveling hotspots. Dubai residents love to pair cold water immersion with a sauna, benefiting from the contrast therapy for better immunity and muscle relaxation.
Cold therapy is so much different than the daring ice bucket challenge we used to do in 2014. This is a professional, sophisticated, and research-backed spa treatment to relax your body and recover after a workout.
Still skeptical?
Let’s answer all your questions one by one. Who knows, it is you who is next in line to pamper themselves with Cryotherapy, or cold water immersion.
What Are the Benefits of Cryotherapy or Cold Water Immersion (CWI)?
Cryotherapy generally means exposing the whole body to freezing temperatures using dry ice, cold water immersion, or ice pack application.
However, in the lingo of tourists and spa therapies, we generally use cryotherapy and cold water immersion interchangeably, or just cold-water immersion altogether.
These types of treatments are commonly used to speed up recovery from workouts, reduce swelling, and ease inflammation. However, they are also used as a beauty treatment, since cold water reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, both on the face and the rest of the body as well.
You can say that cold water immersion is the most popular form of cryotherapy.
It came as an alternative therapy against opioid analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents. The use and dependence on these medications were causing adverse effects on the livers and kidneys of people.
Health and fitness specialists thus came forward with cold therapy, which provides anti-inflammatory/analgesic benefits for ailments like post-workout fatigue, lethargy, and depression, a weak immune system, and stress and anxiety.
What Is Cryotherapy at a Spa?
Many spas around the world are offering cryotherapy, sometimes solo, sometimes in conjunction with their other treatments, like a sauna. In this therapy, the body is plunged in an ice bath, cold chamber, or ice packs to expose it to cold temperatures, extreme and sometimes uncomfortable as well.
You might already be familiar with ice facials on TikTok and how they aid in anti-aging and the reduction of inflammation on the face. Cryotherapy works in the same way. It has many anti-aging benefits for the whole body. When the skin temperature is lowered, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles also lowers. Old therapy can also increase the production of collagen and improve the brightness of skin by reducing inflammation.
CRYO therapies in spas are also widely used for skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
Which Cities Around the World Have the Nicest Ice Baths for Cold Water Immersion?
Ice bathing is gaining so much popularity around the world. This is because people are interested in the unique benefits it provides – muscle soreness relief, anti-aging benefits, a cure for depression, etc.
Social media influencers are also fueling the fire that cold therapy is the trend you must try out once. In short, ice bathing has become trendy. People are jumping half-naked in freezing lakes, and gym freaks plunge into a bathtub full of ice as a way of relaxation.
So if the world is on it, why are you staying back?
These places have the coolest ice baths that you can try out on your next visit.
- The Finnish Lake, Finland
Finland was the first place in the world to obsess over ice baths. The Finns would take a sauna and then plunge into icy water afterwards, or even better, roll around in the snow. Or, they would carve a hole in a frozen lake and experience the thrill of jumping in after a hot sauna session.
The best seasons to experience ice bathing and sauna in Finland are January to April, and November and December.
- Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is another city that is obsessed with ice baths. From their ice bathing festivals, in which daring worshippers jump into freezing waters, to ancient practices of social sauna and ice baths as an alternative to drinking, Tokyo has really reinvented the wheel of ice bathing.
- Dubai
Dubai is always among the first ones to jump on trends. That is why there are several wellness centers and gyms throughout the city that offer ice bath therapies. They have professional staff who ensure that every customer is in safe hands. Whether you head to Contrast Wellness or Aura Skypool, you will find top-notch cold water immersion therapies throughout Dubai.
- London
London also takes the ice bath therapies to the next level. From 20-30 mm ice sheets at Salus Ice Bath in London, to infrared saunas followed by eco-material 3D printed ice plunge pools at Sauna & Plunge, London’s wellness scene is one of the best ones in terms of cold water immersion and cryotherapy.
- New York
New York also has many immersive and self-guided ice bath and sauna centers, such as Othership and Bathhouse. Other places like Remedy Place offers even more wellness opportunities like guided ice bath workshops along with stress resilience in Ice Cold Club NYC, and the first Wellness Speakeasy in the city at Elahni with ice baths and traditional saunas.
So, will you try this daring spa treatment or not? Let us know in the comments below, and we’ll see you later!
