This post is sponsored by Chill Cryotherapy
With summer approaching and temperatures starting to heat up, Westfield is getting a whole lot cooler thanks to the Chill Cryotherapy spa. The recently opened Central Jersey medical spa offers a local and whole-body cryotherapy treatment that is fast becoming a recognized, non-invasive option to treat a variety of health conditions, including pain and inflammation relief, allergy relief, weight loss and even acne and anti-aging treatments.
Chill Cryotherapy owner Julie Shanebrook says cryotherapy is a safe, natural treatment designed to ease pain and discomfort by exposing the body to freezing temperatures, triggering a healing chemical response. “Many clients come to us for the anti-inflammatory benefits and get great relief. We also address pain caused by Fibromyalgia, spinal degeneration, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, and nerve pain,” says Shanebrook. “The main benefit of cryotherapy is to reduce swelling, just as you would by icing an injury. It’s the same concept, except with cryotherapy the pain is treated at much lower temperatures.”
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Interestingly enough, the health benefit of cryotherapy is much greater than the old-fashioned freezing ice bath. “The reason that this is so powerful is that it is dry air, unlike ice which is very moist and only about 32 degrees,” adds Shanebrook. “We operate at -200 to -260 degrees Fahrenheit.”
During treatment, the client steps into the spa’s cryogenic chamber while the floor is raised to chin level, leaving the head unexposed to the cold while the body is uncovered (except for underwear) and exposed to air vapor chilled by liquid nitrogen.
“What happens when you’re in the machine is it triggers the fight or flight response in the body,” explains Shanebrook. “In that survival mode, there is an involuntary reaction that causes the release of anti-inflammatory biochemicals and analgesics in the form of endorphins.”
Exposure to freezing temperatures shocks the body and causes the blood vessels to constrict while sending blood to protect vital organs. When vasodilation occurs post-treatment, fresh, highly oxygenated, warm blood circulates throughout the body, reducing inflammation and accelerating healing.
Though the body experiences a hormonal response to the cold, there is no real danger and clients are completely safe throughout the treatment. The risk of frostbite is eliminated because the treatment is done in a very dry environment and lasts for no more than three minutes. Additionally, protective socks, leather clogs and gloves are provided to cover the hands and feet.
Shanebrook says most clients come in two-to-three times a week for pain relief, and quite often find that the need for treatment becomes less frequent. “If we have someone coming in with rheumatoid arthritis, and they have very limited mobility and just overwhelming systemic inflammation, they will come more often to get the inflammation under control.”
With such short treatments the benefits have a lasting effect, including an “awesome après ski feeling where you just feel tingly, warm and super happy,” adds Shanebrook. “We have a very specialized proprietary protocol that we use for specific health conditions, so each time you come in the pain goes away, and with each subsequent treatment, the effects tend to be cumulative with longer intervals of relief.”
In addition to alleviating pain, whole-body cryotherapy has also been successful for weight loss. Adrenaline and endorphins released in the body as a result of the cold exposure also increase metabolism and burn 500 to 800 calories to maintain the body’s core temperature. “We had a client come in for weight loss, and she lost three inches on each leg after ten treatments without any other interventions,” shares Shanebrook.
The spa also offers localized cryotherapy treatments to heal skin conditions. “Our CryoFacial is amazing for your skin. It really tightens the skin making it firmer and remarkably softer,” says Shanebrook. “It’s also extremely effective for treating acne, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea by reducing inflammation, pore size, and stimulating collagen production. It makes you look younger almost instantly. ”
Shanebrook says what sets Chill Cryotherapy apart from salons and gyms that offer similar treatments is that the spa is medically-based with a medical adviser on staff to ensure that clients are healthy enough for treatment. She also conducts autoimmune studies and trials to improve treatments.
“We are using cryotherapy to treat medical conditions and enhance people’s lifestyles and health,” she adds. “Our goal is to get our clients healthier with each treatment. Every time they come in, they’ll feel a little bit better.”
Chill Cryotherapy is located at 327 South Ave West in Westfield, NJ. For more information, visit www.chillcryo.net.
Hero (Top) Feature Image (& Additional Images): © Chill Cryotherapy
