Burn 800 Calories Under 3 Minutes:
Get your Cryo on and prepare to freeze your as$ off, literally
In case you aren’t cozy with the whole concept of CryoTherapy let me warm you up to the idea of tricking your body into thinking you are freezing to death, seriously. Sounds intense right? It is, but trust me when I tell you that the fear not only exceeds the reality of the experience but the benefits of Cryo make freezing your a$& off, literally, way worth it in more ways than one.
For those who watch Beverly Hills Housewives then you are familiar the episode that aired a couple of weeks ago showing the terrifying yet intriguing experience of Cryotherapy but for those of us who are not BHH loyalists then Cryotherapy may be a foreign term to you. Personally, I had zero knowledge of the process up until last week when I saw that the incredible personal training facility Combine Training in Greenwich now offers this less-than-5 minute miracle treatment via Combine Cryo (www.combinecryo.com). Combine Cryo is open to the public and not just for Combine Training PT clients.
Before I dive into what it felt like to be near naked in -250 degrees for three minutes let me give you a quick sum up of what Cryo actually is. Cryo, the greek word for freeze, therapy is a 3 minute treatment that consists of one stepping into what is called a cryosauna pod (think: a standing tanning bed with your head popping out the top.) The pod fills with subzero air and the ideal time to stay in said pod is 2-3 minutes. Clothed in only underwear, gloves and socks (nothing else because you could risk frostbite=this means no jewelry below your neck GG’s) the pod fills with nitrogen and you are blasted into what feels like the depths of Antartica, only this is colder, fact. GG Cryo tip: wear the socks and slippers. (Google if you want more facts because it is now time to get to the fun part.)
So why would people willingly do this? I’ll tell you. Not only does Cryotherapy activates collagen (plus), reduces cellulite and tightens skin (major plus) but it also gives you a “buzz” from the endorphin release. Most notably: it speeds up your metabolism by 3x (beyond major plus), decreases injury recovery time by up to 50% while reducing inflammation and is highly effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis and chronic joint disorders (plus infinity.)
My experience being (almost) frozen to death: Being a total extremist (shocking) and forever scouring the ethers for the latest fat burning craze I was sold when I heard Cryo can burn 500-800 calories in one singular treatment as your metabolism in increased for several hours after the treatment. Yep, 500-800 calories in 3 minutes flat (what the hell have I been doing killing myself at the gym?!) Dragging my sister along for moral support (totally intended on throwing her in first) we arrived at Combine Training excited and scared (I was scared, me only.) The staff at Combine Cryo could not have been more thorough (and patient with my hypothetical ‘what if’ scenarios) with explaining the process and the facility was immaculate. Naturally my heart rate was already at an alarmingly high rate as I envisioned this being a quasi chic yet tragic way to leave planet earth. Taking the bait to go first, mostly because the anticipation was killing me but also because I wanted my sister to live to retell my legacy, I stripped down, slapped on socks, gloves and a robe. I stepped into the Cryosauna and handed the robe Dean after the door was shut and the platform was adjusted so my head and neck were above the top. Dean began to share with me exactly what was happening as the treatment started. Watching the temperature drop to NEGATIVE 200 degrees the air swaddled by nakedness and I quickly exclaimed “this isn’t bad at all!” Not so fast. As soon as Dean told me that I had “reached 30 seconds” I frantically glanced at my sister: “HOW the F has it only been 30 seconds!!?” A jolt of freezing-ness jabbed at me, specifically my ankles and toes, and once again the heart rate went through the roof (side note: the good thing to note here is that you can decide to get out at any time so it isn’t like you are locked in a chamber of death here.) With the support of my sister and my own inner voice kicking in I wiggled my legs inside the pod as what I can only relate to feeling numb took over and stuck it out. And as quickly as my heart raced it was over. The amazing combination of feeling actually frozen inside as well as outside was as exhilarating as the unique experience of actually FEELING your body recover.
Within seconds of stepping out of the pod my body began to return to normal temps and a euphoric feeling of energy zipped through my being (the endorphin kick!) as I subconsciously patted myself on the back for making it through (bravo Laura, brav-o.) Within four minutes or less I was as warm as the August air again.
Self admittedly I am mildly obsessed with being time efficient. For those who share this time priority thing with me: this is for you. It is basically a wellness treatment for those who have negative zero free time and who are constantly on the go. Seriously. You drive there, park, undress, step in and then out all in under ten minutes flat. The benefits of clarity, a surge of energy and sore muscle relief lasted well into the next days. And while the gym remains to be my saver from insanity I will absolutely be a Cryo regular now.
Being one of the only places in Greenwich to offer Cryo, Combine Training also charges the lowest rate (under $40 per session for a 20 pack) compared to other locations in the area that swipe your card at an average $40-75 a sesh. Extra bonus: your first sesh is complimentary at Combine Cryo. Whether you want to just give it a shot or buy a package of multiple sessions Combine Cryo is your destination.