My Butt Feels Like An Icicle: That Time I Did Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy Review at The Fuel Stop, NYC

In todays edition of weird shit I’ve done thanks to blogging, I’m chatting about cryotherapy and more specifically a cryo chamber. 

Yes, I willingly hung out (well, actually danced around to Katy Perry…) practically naked in a -230 degrees fahrenheit chamber for two minutes. It was both weird and awesome.

When The Fuel Stop reached out to me about checking out the place, I wasn’t sure what to expect, I had never heard of anything like it. Upon visiting I learned that The Fuel Stop has created a quick, 15 minute circuit designed to help you “feel and look great.” The circuit includes cryotherapy followed by a cryotherapy facial and finally you take a cocktail of nutrients via IV.

I opted to only try the cryotherapy since the other stuff isn’t my jam. Having heard a ton about the benefits of cryotherapy I was really excited to experience it for myself. Okay, and really nervous because I don’t like the cold.

 

What is Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is short exposure to extreme cold. This extreme and very low temperature stimulates receptors and prompts the body to take blood from your extremities and bring that blood to the core to protect your organs. Sounds kind of terrifying.

Afterwards when you’re back in normal temperature, blood is pumped around the body to enhance oxygen supply and supposedly remove toxins.

 

The benefits of cryotherapy include:

• decreased inflammation
• helps with sore muscles or pain
• releases dopamine and endorphins
• rejuvenates cells
• improves skin tone
• energizes you
• stimulates the vagus nerve which helps you adapt to stress.
• boosts your metabolism
• supposedly burns 500-800 calories since your body is working so hard to stay warm.

At The Fuel Stop they have a whole body cryotherapy chamber– the only one in NYC.

A whole body cryotherapy chamber is  supposedly more effective than treatments that only expose you from the neck down since your whole body is exposed. It is considered to be more safe than the traditional nitrogen machines.

My Experience

First things first, you go in the chamber in your skivvies. I stripped down to my bra and undies in this little locker room area and was given a robe to wear while waiting plus thick socks, gloves, a face mask and a headband to wear around my ears. Safety first, friends!

Before going in I was given the low down– first you go in a slightly less cold room for about 30 seconds to acclimate, then you go into the really cold room. I decided on 2 minutes since it was my first time. If I decided to leave the room before then, I easily could and an attendant was with me monitoring the whole time. She also kindly gave me a countdown when every 30 seconds had passed.

I was asked what music I wanted to listen to while I was in the chamber. Dancing around was highly encourage, I kid you not. I settled on Katy Perry’s Last Friday Night because requesting some musical theater would be too embarrassing even for me 🙂

 

What was it like?

Yes, it was really freaking cold. Like, really really really cold. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise.

I wasn’t shivering the way I usually do when I get cold and I made a conscious effort to keep on moving the whole time. I may or may not have whipped out some zumba moves from my days as a zumba instructor.

My biggest regret was wearing a thong and would’ve appreciate some extra coverage in my bum region. Just being honest.

I also refused to straighten my arms out, I just couldn’t do it and holding them in felt really protective. Not that anything was going to make me warmer in a freezing cold room…

Overall yes it was really cold, but I found it to be tolerable. I knew I was only in there for 2 minutes total. And I’m really stubborn so didn’t want to chicken out before the two minutes were up.

 

How did I feel afterwards?

I came out of the chamber and felt like my entire lower body was one big icicle and I had never seen so many goosebumps in my life.

Afterwards, you stand on a vibrating plate (like the one I used at Platefit!) for 3 minutes to warm back up. Once I warmed up I felt great. The best feeling ever might’ve been putting my yoga pants on afterwards. They felt SO warm and cozy after being in the extreme cold!

One thing I was really surprised about was the fact that my skin looked legit amazing afterwards. I was wearing a little bit of makeup– nothing crazy just foundation, powder and mascara. I was worried I’d come out looking all blotchy since my skin gets blotchy real easily.

I liked that I could leave afterwards and not feel self conscious that my face looked bright red or my make up was messed up.

On my way home (I went around 2PM) I decided to forgo my usual afternoon latte (Hi, I’m in grad school…) to see how I felt the rest of the day sans additional caffeine. I felt super awake and alert the rest of the day. It was similar to that feeling after an awesome savasana in yoga that just totally rejuvenates you.

 

Would I do it again?

Absolutely. I liked it A LOT, more than I thought I would, and loved how I felt afterwards. One thing that I really enjoyed about the experience was that it benefitted both my body (I woke up the next day not remotely sore after a grueling work out) and my mind (as I said, it felt like the BEST savasana ever.)

Also, if you’re running the NYC Marathon, this is an AWESOME way to recover after 26.2, hint, hint 🙂

 

The Deets

The Fuel Stop
200 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019
website || instagram

1 Session is $75
5 pack is $325
10 pack is $600

Looking for more cool wellness things in NYC? Check out that time I floated in floated naked in a pod filled with salt water in an attempt to be more zen AND that time I sat in a salty room to breathe better.