111CRYO/HEAT stands as the longest established and 1st to pioneer gas-free cryotherapy in London, the safest modern way to deliver this highly effective treatment.
This week I was fortunate enough to try the benefits of cryotherapy that before I thought would not help me at all, I was proven wrong. Before attempting cryotherapy, I thought only athletes and weightlifters utilised it.
After 2 long COVID fill years my sense of adventure and need to try new things has been busting from the seams. Much like the rest of us, I have been bored to my core of what was once my daily routine and have ever since been searching high and low for new things to try, new places to visit, and just an overall sense of living life to the fullest.
Table of Contents
What is cryotherapy?
The short version is simply this: You wear very little clothes and stand in a freezing cold room for a short period of time.
But that doesn’t give us all the answers.
Cryotherapy in London is much more than just standing in a cold room. The whole-body chambers usually stay between -80 to -90 with participants spending no longer than 4 minutes in them. Not that you would be able to stay in there much longer anyway!
We were given protective clothes at 111 CRYO/HEAT. The girls received elastic shorts, a sports bra, North Face slippers, stockings, gloves, a headband to protect our ears, and a facemask. Clean and cozy, I felt fantastic even before entering the room.
The significant temperature shift in a cryochamber quickly cools your skin. With the perfect song (supplied by 111CRYO/HEAT) and excellent company (your bestie), 4 minutes of sub-zero temps isn’t that awful.
During whole-body cryotherapy, the cold shock sends blood to essential organs to protect them.
Your heart and lungs pump more oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood. Oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood is circulated after the cryochamber.
Now, here are the 5 common benefits of cryotherapy that will surely convince you more!
5 Beneficial reasons to try Cryotherapy
1. Reduced levels of inflammation
One result of cryotherapy is the dramatic change in temperature, the sympathetic nervous system kicks into gear and causes the blood vessels which are close to the surface of the skin to constrict (making them smaller and narrower).
This causes blood flow to the peripheries and to injured or inflamed tissues in the body to slow. The reduced blood flow causes metabolic processes in these areas to slow down. This means that inflammation and swelling reduce.
2. Recovery aid
For those who train often, cryotherapy can be a godsend. Other benefits of Cryotherapy, it reduces tissue damage, cell death post-exercise, and DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness). For this reason, cryotherapy leads to faster recovery times post-injury or post-exercise.
3. Natural immune support
Whole-body Cryotherapy boosts the body’s immune system. The increase in blood flow throughout the body and to specific organs helps to efficiently remove toxins from the body.
Not only this but amazingly repeated use of the cryo-chamber has shown to improve white blood cell count, our body’s main defense against harmful bacteria and infections.
4. Improved mood – a way to destress
Some people chose to relax with a glass of wine after work, but why not mix it up a little bit? Whole-body Cryotherapy encourages the release of large amounts of endorphins – our happy hormones.
Reducing cortisol levels is one of many benefits of cryotherapy (our stress hormone). For this reason, Cryotherapy may be a great supportive therapy when it comes to mental health.
5. An all-natural anti-ageing aesthetic boost
Certainly, cryotherapy increases epidermal firmness, helping improve skin tone. As a matter of fact, increased circulation of nutrient-rich oxygenated blood helps improves complexion and reduces water retention.
Oxygen intake may raise collagen and elastin levels, which can help to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and other indications of aging by distributing the proteins more quickly throughout the body.
Is it worth it?
The answer is yes.
During one session at 111 CRYO/HEAT, I am hooked for a variety of reasons.
First of all, the staff are incredibly friendly and also fully educated on all things CRYO. I had 100 questions and left with answers to questions I didn’t realize I had. Every aspect and benefit of cryotherapy left me wanting more. I no longer feel this just benefits hard-trainers, but everyone.
Also, whether you’re looking for a new way to spice up your self–care routine, a natural way to boost your mood or you simply want to see just how cold it is for yourself, the experience is one that will stick a big smile on your face and I will fully recommend to anyone.
- Address: 4Th, Harvey Nichols, London SW1X 7RJ
- Website: www.111cryoheat.com
- IG: @111cryoheatpreview
Author bio
Sally Spicer is a nutritional therapist who studied at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM, Kings cross). Registered with the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT), she now runs her own wellness business, – Touch of Vitality
Sally’s holistic approach to healthcare helps her customers attain lifelong wellbeing, not simply the duration of prescribed drugs.
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