Honestly, the word “cold” does not even begin to accurately describe the way I felt while trying out the Cryo Clinic’s Health Experience.
It all started with a three-minute session in the cryosauna, which looks like a stand-up tanning bed, but creates an environment of -140 degrees Celsius using liquid nitrogen.
I am only minimally dressed (but with hand and foot protectors) and a bit skeptical as to how much I’ll be able to handle such frigid temperatures.
In order to try and keep myself psyched, I keep telling myself that all the great athletes use this as therapy and I should feel totally phenomenal once it’s all over… If I make it out alive.
The benefits of cryotherapy are said to be numerous. Not only should I find myself benefiting from the beauty and anti-aging benefits – which include reduction of cellulite, wrinkles and fine lines – but there are also weight-loss benefits and recovery benefits, plus an additional overall general glow.
Due to the extreme temperature of the cryosauna, you can expect to burn anywhere between 500-1000 calories per session. It’s a great way to help boost your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), maximizing the benefits of any exercise you do afterwards.
Additionally, I was looking forward to seeing the way my body reacted to the recovery aspect of the experience, especially since, lately, I had been suffering from lower back pain.
As cryotherapy promotes anti-inflammatory properties that decrease post-workout soreness as well as boosts lymph drainage and blood circulation, I couldn’t think of a better way to relieve that lower back pain!
Coming back to the present moment, it was becoming more and more difficult to focus on the positive benefits while the minutes were ticking past like a sloth playing drums.
I was quickly losing feeling in my legs and the sensation was becoming more like needle pricks, despite the fact that I was following the instructions I had received about constantly moving around inside the chamber.
All I wanted to do was get out. Here’s where being a Capricorn kicked in and “mind over body” ramped up. No matter how much it was starting to hurt, I was not going to get out a second before the three minutes were over.
And so I did the only thing I could think of to keep myself occupied – I began prodding the therapist to tell me all the horror stories of people who were unable to make it to the three-minute mark. That became my fuel not to give up!
Finally the timer went off and I all but threw myself out of the cryo-sauna. As I wrapped myself in a fluffy robe and got out of the God-forsaken ice box, I quite miserably noticed that my legs were super red. I was surprised I could even walk properly.
However, as the blood started pumping back through my body, I began to feel better. I had been a bit sleepy earlier but now felt extremely alert and was even secretly looking forward to the second part of the experience, which was a Glow Facial.
The Glow Facial is a completely non-invasive facial, which was quite relaxing in comparison to other facials I have experienced. I may have even snoozed, had it not been for the frigid -170 Celsius that was blowing on different areas of my face.
While it was much more bearable than the sauna, when we got to the end of the 10 minutes, I was happy to be able to have my full body back to normal temperature. I couldn’t wait to get outside into the Dubai sun!
Overall, it was an interesting experience but something I think needs more than one session for any visible differences in skin and muscle improvement. There was a “glow”, however, which I carried around with me for a couple of hours. I think that was my blood telling me to stick to warmer temperatures!
A single treatment for whole body cryotherapy is 400 AED and single Glow Facial is 275 AED. However, there is a special package of the combo for 650 AED.
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