Dubai is obsessed with saunas followed by an icy water plunge, but is it really good for your body and mind? Let’s find out.
Dubai’s wellness scene is not just about luxury spas and gyms.
It is grounded in therapeutic practices, too.
The city has a new obsession: contrast therapy (sauna + ice bath). Also known as sauna contrast or contrast therapy, this is an age-old practice that is now adopted by many wellness centers in Dubai.
Many influencers and fitness enthusiasts are booking infrared sauna sessions, which are followed by an ice bath or a cold plunge. This process is known as contrast therapy – alternating between extreme heat and icy water, which benefits everything from cardiovascular health and immune function to post-workout recovery and glowing skin.
Want to know if it is all hype, or does science actually back it up?
From Scandinavia to Dubai – Cold Plunge and Sauna Contrast Has Come A Long Way
Millions of people in the Nordic countries love contrast therapy – the ages-old Finnish tradition of alternating sauna heat with icy plunges.
It is something that was once enjoyed in frozen lakes or rivers, but Dubai, being Dubai, has added a touch of luxury to this therapy with sleek wellness centers. There are many places in Dubai, like REFIVE SPA and Heal Hub, that offer contrast therapy sessions. Where fitness freaks used to advise each other to “just take a sauna,” they now recommend “contrast therapy,” because it is far more effective in terms of healing, rejuvenation, and overall wellness.
To those who are gearing up for their first-ever ice bath in Dubai, the lurch from cold bath to hot sauna, and to cold plunge again, can seem like an extreme exercise. But it is now a health craze in Dubai. It came from the Scandinavian regions, and it is now a talk of the town in Dubai and other Emirati cities.
Dubai residents and tourists now prefer plunging into tubs chilled to freezing temperatures after a sauna blast of 80 – 100°C.
“It feels like someone has given you an electric shock,” Karim, a Dubai-based fitness coach, told Travel Taste Discover. “I swear by it, though. Cold plunges and sauna contrast have a profound impact on circulation. The sting is just a one-time thing. Once you get past your fear of cold plunges, you will be obsessed with how euphoric the whole process feels,” he continued.
Contrast, a sauna and ice bath studio in Dubai, offers many contrast therapies. They pair Finnish sauna or infrared sauna with cold plunges (ice baths), and it feels surprisingly good.
And it is not the only place in Dubai for a cold plunge and sauna contrast, as the whole city is obsessed with this newest form of wellness therapy.
The Science Behind Sauna Contrast – What Really Happens to Your Body?
Let’s delve into the science behind cold plunge and sauna contrast and find out whether it is actually good for your body, or not.
Medical experts say that local alternating heat and cold stimulation is good for fatigued muscle tissues, as it affects the hemodynamic response (changes in blood flow and oxygenation in the body).
Which means that the science behind cold plunge and sauna contrast focuses on the blood circulation in your body. When a person moves between a hot sauna and iec bath or cold immersion, the blood vessels in his body expand and contract in response to the temperature. It is called vascular exercise.
Cold plunge and sauna contrast boost the blood flow in your body. These effects are even more prominent in individuals who use sauna contrast therapy on a regular basis.
Many fitness enthusiasts in Dubai go to contrast therapies every week and spend 45-60 minutes in a sauna session, followed by 15-30 minutes of an ice bath session.
There are, however, potential risks of saunas and cold baths, which is why it is very important to book this therapy where trained professionals monitor the whole process.
- In the sauna, the heat raises your core body temperature, which in turn dilates your blood vessels and drops your blood pressure.
- When you come out of the sauna and take a plunge in an ice bath, your blood vessels constrict, your heart rate spikes, and your blood pressure shoots up.
- This rapid contrast affects the hemodynamic response in your body, improves circulation, promotes muscle fatigue healing, and reduces inflammation.
Should You Try Contrast Therapy in Dubai?
The benefits of contrast therapy, or sauna contrast, are not limited to the ones we mentioned above. It also triggers a hormonal reaction.
The cold plunge, which follows the hot sauna session, releases neurotransmitters, which boost your body’s energy. The cold also raises the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, all of which are mood-boosting hormones.
So, it is safe to say that contrast therapy not only heals your body, but it heals your mind too. A long week of emotional stress definitely calls for an ice bath or contrast therapy in Dubai.
If you’re curious but also a bit nervous about sauna contrast or cold plunge, here are some safety tips you must keep in mind before booking your therapy session:
- Always listen to and follow your trainer’s/trained professional’s instructions.
- Start with shorter sauna and plunge sessions. You can gradually increase the time later.
- Do not try a sauna contrast alone if you’re new – always have a trainer or friend nearby.
- Always consult your doctor prior to trying a contrast therapy if you have an underlying disease/disorder.
- Do not try contrast therapy or cold plunge without a doctor’s advice if you are pregnant or have heart conditions.
There are tons of research and expert advice to back up the health benefits of cold plunges and sauna contrast therapies. It is safe to say that what started as a trend among the fitness community of Dubai has more depth to it than just a “feel-good” ritual.
Definitely try a sauna contrast therapy on your next visit to Dubai ,and after that, let us know about your experience and how it went!
