24 Jan New for February 2025: Wellness Area with Sauna and Ice Bath at the Atlantic Reach Leisure Club
So there is nothing more likely to divide opinion than talk of cold water immersion, even down here in Cornwall where cold water is practically part of our genetic make-up. Cold water still has the power to make one side of the room go yesss and the other side go nooooo!!
We are firmly on the side of yes! Once you’ve been initiated to the cold water club there is no going back – you’ll just feel too good! However, if you’ve never given cold water a chance, then read on to find out just why you should be dipping more than just your biscuits.
Combining a luxurious session in a sauna with the shock of dunking yourself in an ice bath is known as Contrast Therapy, or if you just fancy the Wim Hof treatment, you can opt for straight up Cold Water Immersion.
There is significant research and data to back the benefits of both saunas and cold water. Let’s get into the nitty gritty- here comes the science bit…
What are the health benefits of Cold Water Immersion
Improved concentration: Cold water immersion triggers the release of helpful neurotransmitters like serotonin which are proven to improve attention span, focus and memory recall. So if you’re wanting a mental boost this could really help.
Helps our Parasympathetic Nervous System: Our parasympathetic nervous system plays a crucial role in the body’s “rest and digest” response, so activating this can help you feel calm and relaxed.
Reduced cortisol levels: Immersion in cold water causes a drop in cortisol (the stress hormone), decreasing our ‘fight or flight’ response and ultimately calming us and helping our ancient brain feel safe. Immersing yourself in water can have similar effects on your body as meditation.
Activates the dive reflex: The shock of immersing yourself in cold water can trigger our dive reflex, an ancient survival instinct that decreases your heart rate and reduces anxiety. The reflex is well-known in babies, but as we get older, we don’t activate it as frequently – adults can still trigger it if they submerge in cold water and hold their breath.
Reduced inflammation: There is a silver lining to the cold shock from the ice bath, it reduces inflammation, which can ease muscle soreness or help if you’re suffering from chronic inflammation.
Improved mood: The cold shock may feel *insert choice of expletive* but it actually triggers the release of endorphins, those lovely happy hormones that improve your mood and reduce stress.
Boosted immune system: Regular exposure to cold water may actually boost your immune system.
Why are we backing Contrast Therapy for Leisure Club users?
Faster muscle recovery: If you’re a regular in the gym, this next one will be music to your ears. The combination of hot and cold exposure will speed up your muscle recovery time and reduce your downtime between workouts. That’s good news for our gym community!
Improved circulation: The lovely heat from the sauna dilates your blood vessels, while the extreme cold from the ice bath constricts them. Taking your body to both temperature extremes essentially exercises your blood vessels, improving blood flow and increasing the efficiency of oxygen delivery to muscles.
Improved cardiovascular health: Subjecting your body to alternate hot and cold temperatures will challenge your cardiovascular system, and as a result can improve its strength and efficiency.
Respite from mental task loading: We experience the water and steam (produced when water is poured onto the sauna’s hot coals) with all our senses, its a totally immersive experience, and can help ground us in our bodies, relieving us of the constant thoughts and to-do lists that are whizzing around our heads. Taking this time to quieten our minds and just exist in our bodies can have a positive impact on our overall wellbeing.
Improved sleep quality: Want to wind down in the evenings? The heat from the sauna can help you relax, which in turn promotes better sleep.
How to integrate Contrast Therapy into your Leisure Club visit
An example session might look like the below:
- Spend 10-15 minutes in a sauna
- Take a quick plunge into an ice bath for 1-3 minutes (start short and build up, focus on your breathing)
- Over time you can gradually increase this regime to potentially repeat the cycle two to three times
Cold Water Therapy will not be suitable for everybody.
Please note: Cold water puts your body under stress, which for some people with underlying health conditions can be dangerous.
You should always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new health regimen, especially if you have asthma, high blood pressure or cardiovascular health issues.
If you get the green light to participate, the key will be to gradually introduce exposure to cold water, reducing the shock factor and helping your body become acclimatised. You could perhaps start with a cold shower and see how your body reacts.
There are some helpful tips on how to acclimatise your body to cold water here.
Everyone’s Welcome to Enjoy the Atlantic Reach Leisure Club Wellness Area
The Atlantic Reach Leisure Club Wellness Area with sauna and ice bath will open in February 2025 and everyone aged 16 and over is welcome to enjoy it.
Members with swim access will be able to book via the Club Link app for any of the available swim sessions and access to the Wellness Area is automatically included.
Gym members can simply upgrade their membership to include swimming, and then they too can enjoy unlimited use of the Leisure Club Wellness Area. You can upgrade via the members app or by speaking to a member of the team during your next visit.
If you’re local and wanting a one-off visit, you’re welcome to pay as you go to enjoy the Wellness Area facilities. If you book an indoor swim session online with a Locals Card then access to the Wellness Area is included. Why not make a day of it and enjoy refreshments at the cafe afterwards! You can book your visit here. (*adults only)
Holidays just got even better! If you’re staying at Atlantic Reach and you have a Leisure Pass you’ll receive access to the Leisure Club and Wellness Area as part of your stay. As always, swimming bookings need to be booked online in advance and adults will get access to the Wellness Areas as part of their swim ticket.
We want you to feel your best self, physically and mentally, in 2025. These seemingly small investments in your wellbeing can have a huge impact on your quality of life – the science backs it and so do we!
Hope to see you in the Wellness Area soon – the sauna is the new pub after all!