WINTER WELLNESS

Get Frosty or Heat It Up with Temperature Therapy Wellness Trends!

BY AMANDA GRAY

Winter is here, and after a harrowing season of hurricanes, it’s time to take care of yourself and the small businesses providing wellness to residents and visitors alike. Whether you prefer a cold plunge to launch yourself into a productive day or a deep tissue massage to promote release and rest, there are plenty of opportunities for a winter full of wellness in the Friendly City.

While hot and cold wellness treatments have been around for a while, they have emerged into the mainstream of wellness trends over the past couple of years. According to the Mayo Clinic, cold plunges can reduce inflammation and improve mood.

Immersing yourself in an icy bath might feel frigid, but it might help boost your body’s ability to prevent muscle damage associated with physical exercise and movement. If you prefer warming up, a traditional or infrared sauna may better fit your wellness journey. While ice immersion benefits the physical body and targets muscles, warmer wellness treatments target heart and cardiovascular health.

Both hot and cold treatments are also believed to impact mental health positively. Reuben Chen, M.D., told Forbes magazine, “Sauna sessions can induce a relaxation response in the body, leading to a reduction in stress levels.”

If cooling down or warming up as a part of self-care sounds like a must, there are plenty of opportunities to try it at the local spas and wellness centers that offer these treatments.

Cold Plunge in Community

Cold plunge into an ice bath at the Center on Anna Maria Island. Every Monday at 9 a.m. Devinne Whittaker of Dev’s Bevs offers a guided ice bath that encourages and coaches participants through the frigid experience.

“When I was done, I felt amazing! Not only do I feel it’s had a positive physical effect on me, but also mental. The way that Dev really sets you up for success makes a huge difference. From giving me pointers to cheering me on so I could power through, she supported me the entire time,” Carly Burdick, Center member, said.

Ice baths at the Center are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. The Center is located on Anna Maria Island.

Flow Through an Infrared Sauna Class

Pop into a yoga class powered by infrared sauna lights at The Yoga Shack, which has locations in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch. The infrared lights and movement will make you feel cozy and warm as you stretch and flow through one of The Shack’s many yoga classes. According to the Shack, “Heat allows for detoxification through sweat, opens tight areas of the body, and promotes circulatory health.” Students can pre-register online and choose from three styles of yoga. Their Sculpt and Sweat classes are set to 90-95 degrees, while their Restore class is set between 80-85 and offers a slower, relaxed pace. Find more information and book a class at www.ShackYogaFitness.com. Studios are located in Lakewood Ranch and downtown Sarasota.

Enjoy a Cryo Massage

The Blue Arctic Cocoon Treatment at Blue Door Spa incorporates the benefits of
cold with the healing touch of massage. This tranquil experience involves a cryo treatment with Ice Cryo Balls, which are meant to provide a cooling sensation that revitalizes the body, leaving you feeling refreshed and invigorated. If you’re not ready to take the full plunge into icy immersion, a cryo massage may be just the baby step towards using cold therapies to improve your well-being. Learn more or book by visiting www.thebluedoorspa.com. The Blue Door Spa is located in Lakewood Ranch.

Experience a Modern-day Sweat Lodge

Purify Sweat and Chill Lounge offers a full menu of hot and cold treatments. You can experience a modern-day sweat lodge experience in one of their Far Infrared Detox Treatments. Far infrared waves penetrate the skin and help detox toxins while you sweat. The sweat produced in a 50-minute Purify session contains 15-20% toxins. Purge toxins while enjoying this session’s other benefits, including burning calories and boosting your immune system. Purify also offers a Sweat and Chill session, which allows you to experience the benefits of combining hot and cold
therapies for double the benefits. If you’re looking to make a day of it, they also offer infrared facial treatments that help increase skin elasticity so that you’ll look
as refreshed as you feel afterward! Book your spa day at https://purifylounge.com/ services located in Lakewood Ranch and downtown Sarasota.