I often enter the IG/FB giveaways for local venues, if I'm interested and the dates work. In late July, when my fitness studio announced a giveaway, of course I entered it! There were various products and local businesses included, and there were winners for each item/brand. 

Somehow, I won a free month of contrast therapy at one of the wellness lounges here in Wilmington. If you haven't heard, contrast therapy is a recovery method that alternate's ones body between hot and cold environments. Contrast therapy aims at reducing inflammation, eliminates toxin build-ups (like lactic acid), and provides faster muscle recovery.

Would I ever spend money on this myself? Probably not.

Will I totally take advantage of a free month? Sure will. Although I probably won't get all my free sessions in before the deadline, due the crazy schedule this month, I am still going when able! 

So, what exactly is it? 

The wellness lounge that I'm experiencing is called Sweat and Reset. The location provides a hot sauna, a cold plunge bath, a vibration plate with red light, and even what they call IV therapy (by the way, I won one of those.. more on that in a minute). 

These sessions are provided in private rooms that you could share with friends/spouses, if desired. 

First up, the sauna. The sauna is not a traditional steam sauna. Whenever I think of a sauna, I think of Rory going into the steam room at the country club in Gilmore girls. Nope. Think Infared technology that creates heat. Set around 150, you certainly will sweat, but the humidity that comes with a traditional steam doesn't exist (which is a lot better for my breathing, I tell ya). 

The Infared Sauna aims to lessen muscle soreness but also promotes relaxation. I mean, when else do you have 20-30 minutes of complete silence? I usually take a book, or just sit there, but definitely don't take any tech in! 

Then, hop (if you dare) into the cold plunge. The cold plunge is a bath set around 50 degrees. It's designed to promote your system into faster recovery; relieving muscle soreness, reducing stress, and creating energy. I have to admit- this is not my favorite. 

While my younger self might've jumped into the Alantic Ocean at any given point in the year, my current self is like, umm, this is cold. I lasted maybe 20 seconds. 

The powers that be in wellness recovery say that 3 minutes is optimal, with about 11 mins per week being what you want to see major changes. 

So basically, you have a 45 min session to figure out whatever parts of the two contrast therapies you might like to do, and/or if you want to add the vibration plate into the mix. The recommended is at least 20-25 mins of sauna and then cold plunge. My session is 45 mins long. Some of that includes the hype to actually tell myself to get into the plunge bath!

If you are really into wellness, you can also check into IV therapy. I've heard of this before, but really only on tv and from famous folks. You know- when they binged too much and got their doc to bring an IV to them to quickly hydrate!

Well, this lounge offers 3 types: muscle recovery, immunity booster, and the reset (aimed for total body recharge). I won it, so I did it, but it was not my favorite experience. The person who did mine is a nurse in real life, so that made me feel better, but I'm still squeamish when it comes to needles, etc. It was kind of weird to have fluid being pushed into your body when you weren't in an emergency setting either! 

Does it work? Well, the jury is still out. I was told it would make me sleep better, but for whatever reason, that night I did not. I was certainly hydrated though. I doubt I'd do one of those again unless its like, after getting the flu.

Would I keep doing contrast therapy? Financially, no. I do not have the extra funds for that type of wellness, and I still haven't gone enough to see if there are real benefits from it yet. They do offer class packs in addition to their memberships and I am so tempted, but I've been trying to pay off other things, and probably shouldn't add another extra into my budget, esp since rent just went up!

 I do love the stillness and quiet. 45 minutes in a room full of peace has been definitely needed with my work chaos lately. But, I've only been to 3 sessions.. and the month is almost halfway over! Eek. I better get on it!

Anyway, if you haven't, would you ever do contrast therapy?