Top 10 Cryotherapy Stories of 2016

We’ve picked out what we consider to be this year’s coolest cryotherapy stories.

10. Todd Sampson’s Body Hack: Cryotherapy

giphy (1)

This unaired extra shows Australian bio-hacker, Todd Sampson, enjoying the chill of cryotherapy for the very first time. The video is intense, informative, and it makes you want to get your cryo on!

9. Train Like An Elite Athlete with Cryotherapy

rsz_ice_for_blog_2

Haute Living’s Hadley Henriette discusses the power of cryo for athletes AND regular folks while name dropping a few celeb cryo chillers (like Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, and Jennifer Aniston)

8. Inside the very hot, very cold cryotherapy trend

rsz_14711235_1084923908276237_1657810849903331282_oKerry Laureman of THE WASHINGTON POSTS paid a visit to DC’s District Cryo and shared his experience with the world. We chose the video over the article because the article makes some not-so-positive comments about this negative temperature therapy.

7. What It’s Really Like to Try Cryotherapycat crowe blogSoulCycle’s Cat Crowe (who is also an ULTRA MARATHON runner) gives you the low down on having a cryo session. Did you know that she frequents the Cryosauna 6-7 times a month?

6. The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway

I can I will I do blog pic_resized

Bubbly bride-to-be, Alex, blogged about her awesome experience at Manhattan Beach’s Cryo Wave. We LOVE the references to Frozen and Austin Powers!

5. I Spent 3 Minutes In -184 Temps and Didn’t Come Out Looking Like Han Solo

DSC_9863_resized

Annnndddd… another pop culture reference- we love it! If the title of this article doesn’t draw you in, the first pull quote will: “Whether you’re an athlete, non-athlete, trainee, non-trainee, [cryotherapy] is something that fits everyone and everyone’s lifestyle.” ALSO- the gym featured in this article, Drive 495, is owned by celebrity trainer DON SALADINO! (Blake Lively is one of his many clients)

4. Cryotherapy Brings the Arctic to Chargers Park

giphy (11)

This story is a double- whammy. It features both the San Diego Chargers AND White Sox pitcher, James Shields! Did you know that Shields owns 2 cryo shops and a mobile unit that frequents Chargers Park?

3. Dak Prescott chills out in the #BlackOctagon

Dak Prescott (2)_resizedOkay, this is a tweet, not an article… but we had to include it because it generated a lot of chatter in the twitterverse! Both “Dak Attack” Prescott and The Athletic Room retweeted it!

2. Georgetown adds cryotherapy to new athletic center

2025863fe7a029191482948218This collegiate sports focused cryo story was originally featured on Sport Techie and then was picked up by the mecca of sports news- Sports Illustrated. Cool, right?!

1.Impact Cryotherapy Cryosauna Freezes Out Competition on ABC’s “Shark Tank”
Robert Herjavec_resized
ABC Shark Tank

The octagon is so cool that it made it on NATIONAL TELEVISION! This was a major WIN for the cryotherapy world!

As we look toward 2017, we’re hoping to make an even bigger impact on the media than we did this year! The world needs to  know cryo… on an even bigger scale!

 

 

What Can Cryo Do For You?

Whole body cryotherapy is quickly becoming one of the coolest wellness trends on the market. Celebrities (like Lauren Graham and Mario Lopez), professional athletes (including Dak Prescott), and everyone in between is embracing the chill. Retail shops that offer cryotherapy and other wellness modalities are popping up all over the US and collegiate sports programs (Georgetown University, University of Missouri… just to name a few) are installing cryosaunas into their training rooms.  Luxury resorts, med spas, and gyms are also adding cryotherapy to their list of offerings – but why?  What is the advantage of utilizing cryotherapy – for both the participant and the cryosauna consumer?

The advantage of doing whole body cryotherapy

The temporary dry chill that a cryotherapy participant experiences during a cryo session cues the body’s evolutionary bio-response to extreme cold. In fact, it has been said that a single three-minute session promotes the natural healing process and leaves the participant feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. Whole body cryo is also a fast and effective alternative to ice baths, making the therapy a perfect fit for athletes, fitness fanatics, weekend warriors, and busy-bodies. So, does chilling out for three minutes for the sake of wellness live up to all the hype? We’d say so.

The advantage of offering whole body cryotherapy at your business

Whole body cryotherapy is a growing health trend that generates loyalty, repeat usage, and a strong profit trajectory. Whether you’re opening a new cryo shop or adding it to an existing business/ facility – the ROI can be attractive. Cryotherapy is utilized by various types of consumers and it is safe for daily use. Survey results also indicate that many users receive treatments two or three times per week. A two to three-minute session means rapid throughput of participants with zero downtime.

So, are you ready to hop on the cryo train?

21

Cryosauna Safety Precautions: Part I

Cryotherapy is an enjoyable addition to a fitness and wellness regimen. When operating a cryosauna and participating in cryotherapy session, as with any equipment, there are cryosauna safety precautions worth knowing, worth remembering and worth practicing.

Nitrogen Gas Safety for the Cryosauna Operator
  •   What: Check your oxygen monitor daily and confirm the oxygen level is 19.5% or greater.
  •   Why: Nitrogen gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Nitrogen gas has no warning characteristics. Although nitrogen is a non-toxic, inert gas, it can displace the oxygen in air to levels that are unsafe, causing asphyxiation.
Nitrogen Gas Safety for the Cryosauna Participant
  •   What: Participants must always have their head where they can breathe air.
  •   What: Dipping is prohibited! Never lower your head into a cryosauna.
  •   Why: Nitrogen gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Nitrogen gas has no warning characteristics. Although nitrogen is a non-toxic, inert gas, it can displace the oxygen in air to levels that are unsafe, causing asphyxiation.

Practice the ABC’s of safety when operating a cryosauna or participating in a cryotherapy session: always be careful. And remember, chance takers are accident makers. Enjoy cryotherapy and let’s be safe out there!

Top 4 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Cryotherapy

If you own a fitness center, gym, or wellness facility, you need to add cryotherapy to your list of amenities/services – here’s why:

1. Cryotherapy is Hot 
Well, actually it’s very, very cold but it’s also very trendy. Give your clients access to the sought-after therpy by adding an Impact Cryotherapy Cryosauna to your facility. Celebs, pro athletes, models (just to name a few – Will SmithJordan Spieth, Chase Chrisley, Steve Aoki, Laurie Hernandez, Ludacris…), all enjoy all chilling out in the Impact cryo machine. Your existing clients will want to get on the celeb-endorsed cryo trend and it will also generate interest from new clients!

2. It Provides an Opportunity to Produce Additional Revenue
Cryotherapy is a growing trend that generates loyalty, repeat usage AND a strong ROI! Sessions only take 3 minutes, therefore there is RAPID turnover, plus, cryo users can get their chill on multiple times during the day/week, etc.

3. Cryotherapy is a Compliment to your Client’s Existing Wellness Programs
Whole body cryotherapy promotes natural healing and wellness thus making it the perfect addition to your clients’ efforts to get fit or stay fit. In fact, many cryotherapy participants say they experience a multitude of wellness benefits!

4. Cryosaunas are Very Cool
Cryosaunas (or as some call them cryotherapy units, cryotherapy machines, cryotherapy chambers) are cool. The Impact Cryotherapy cryosauna can cool down to -120 degrees Celsius (-184 degrees Fahrenheit) – that is crazy cold! The Impact Cryosauna also looks – and it’s available in three sleek and unique styles!

Now, are you ready to add cryotherapy to your list of offerings? Let’s get started!

Still not convinced that you NEED cryotherapy at your location*pronto*? Click on over to The Octagon Advantage to learn more about the Impact Cryotherapy package!

The Temperature Myths and Truths of Whole Body Cryotherapy

The ideal temperature to achieve results during whole body cryotherapy (WBC) is -110° Celsius. And yet, you’ve probably seen pictures of whole body cryotherapy equipment showing temperatures as low as -150° Celsius or you’ve read articles touting temperatures as low as -284° Fahrenheit, which would be -175° Celsius. Unbelievable that someone could withstand these temperatures, much less benefit from them, right?

Well, yeah, that’s right: a person could not withstand, let alone benefit from exposure to temperatures THAT cold.

So, what’s the real deal? What are these -150° and -175° Celsius temperatures?

These temperatures are the temperatures of the nitrogen gas cooling the cryosauna. Think about it this way: You have your air conditioning set at 72°. The cold air coming into your room to cool to 72° needs to be colder than 72°.

Now, let’s think about a cryosauna. The liquid nitrogen is heated and then enters the cryosauna. Temperature readings of -150° and -175° Celsius are like the temperature of the air cooling your room: the nitrogen gas must be colder than the temperature you want to reach inside the Cryosauna

So, how do you know if you are at -110° Celsius? You need a temperature reading WITHIN the Cryosauna.

The Impact Cryosauna measures the temperature in two places. First, it measures the nitrogen gas cooling the cryosauna and it is typically set around -185° Celsius. Second, it measures the temperature within the cryosauna at about hip height. And this is the true temperature of your whole body cryotherapy experience!

So, when you go to get your chill on, look for one of the Impact Cryotherapy locations and enjoy the true experience, not the myth.

What is a Cryo Session?

Let the experts break it down for you – a whole body cryotherapy session is when a person experiences a 3 minute (or less!) cold therapy treatment in a cryosauna.

  •  A whole body cryotherapy session begins with a cryo-user (YOU!) stepping into a cryotherapy machine while sporting a nice, fluffy robe, diving booties, thermal socks, and gloves.
  •  Before starting the session, the cryosauna operator will pre-cool the cryosauna. After the pre-cool concludes, the operator will help you enter the machine. Once inside the cryosauna, the operator will close the door and allow you to (modestly) disrobe!
  • Now that you’re down to your skivvies, this is where things really get interesting! The operator will hit the “start” button and you will then start to feel the cold, dry, nitrogen vapor surrounding you. Throughout the 3 minutes, the operator will talk to you to keep your mind off of the chill. They will also remind you to keep your chin up and to rotate.
  •  You also may hear a beeping sound every 31 seconds. This beeping sound is the cryosauna pro-face alerting the tech to click the “okay” button to ensure the session is still occurring. If the operator does not hit this “okay” button the cryosauna shuts off. This is a safety mechanism implemented by Impact Cryotherapy.
  • Pretty soon, the 3 minutes are up and tada!.. the session is over! Congrats, you experienced cryo! You are then handed your cozy robe back and can exit the cryosauna with or without the help of the tech. That wasn’t so bad, was it?

Now that we’ve walked you through what a cryo session will be like, it’s time to actually experience it! Click here to find a cryotherapy location near you or download the cryotherapy session infographic to learn more!

Download the Cryotherapy Session Infographic


Powered By Impact: Four Athletes Who Love Cryo

It’s no secret that athletes and weekend warriors love whole body cold therapy! Whole body cryotherapy is similar to your traditional ice bath but it’s less painful AND takes half the time – maybe that’s why these four professional athletes have been seen frequenting the Impact Cryotherapy cryosauna.

1.       James Shields
This Chicago White Sox pitcher loves cryotherapy so much that he opened his own cryotherapy business, CryoShield Therapy, in San Diego. In addition to his Del Mar shop, he also has a mobile cryotherapy unit AND he has plans to add more CryoShield locations to the map!

2.       Holly Holm
Former UFC bantamweight champion, Holly Holm, gears up for fights by getting her cryo in the black octagon. When she’s at home in Albuquerque, NM she stops by Excel Cryotherapy for a 3- minute freeze.

3.       Davis Love III
Davis Love III has had 21 PGA Tour victories. He has also had numerous cryotherapy sessions. Currently, he is prepping for the 2016 Ryder Cup by doing whole body cryo at The Sea Island Resort and Spa.

4.      Jamaal Charles
Kansas City Chiefs running back and 4x Pro Bowl player, Jamaal Charles is no stranger to whole body cryotherapy. When he is in need of a freeze he visits the octagon at Andrew’s Research and Education Foundation.

If you’re looking to experience the Impact Cryosauna like these pros visit our cryosauna locator to find a location near you!

Cryo Fact vs. Cryo Fiction

What is Cryotherapy: Let’s Get a Few Things Straight

What is cryotherapy – and is it safe? Yes, whole body cryotherapy is safe. Don’t be fooled by claims that state whole body cryotherapy is a liquid nitrogen bath – because it is not. The fact is, cryotherapy participants are cooled by nitrogen vapor that surrounds the body.

Is cryotherapy the same as cryogenics? No, cryotherapy is not what Walt Disney and Michael Jackson wanted to do to preserve their bodies after death. Cryotherapy is a refreshing, reinvigorating experience enjoyed by people in all walks of life.

If I do a whole body cryotherapy session will I lose weight? Some people claim that they have experienced weight loss after multiple sessions – try it and let us know what your experience is!

Want to know more about cryo? Check out these Top 5 Benefits of Cryotherapy

 

cryosauna unit

Whole Body Cryotherapy or an Ice Bath – Which Would you Prefer?

Cryotherapy vs. Ice Bath – Which one is right for you?

Cryotherapy vs. ice bath is a topic we hear people talk about…a lot. Below we cover some key differences between whole body cryotherapy and an ice bath so you can make the choice for yourself:

  • An Impact Cryotherapy cryo session is 3-minute long experience while ice baths usually take up to 20-minutes.
  • Cryotherapy participants experience a dry cold while in a cryosauna while ice bath users experience a wet cold – yikes!
  • Impact Cryotherapy cryosaunas provide a temporary, superficial chill versus the ice bath’s bone-chilling, mind-numbing, FREEZING COLD.
  • Impact Cryotherapy cryosaunas use a soothing, cool, unobtrusive vapor versus system shocking, ice water.
  • After an Impact Cryotherapy session, participants quickly warm-up. Ice baths require a prolonged warm-up period.

Curious? Check out these Top 5 Benefits of Cryotherapy

Cryosauna Unit by Impact