Visit World's Largest Cryotherapy Chamber In Madeira, Portugal
The Portuguese island of Madeira has plenty of attractions but since last year international visitors have been making special trips to Madeira to visit Coolzoone which has the largest, longest and widest walk-through cryotherapy chamber in the world. Cryotherapy (extreme cold treatment) offers appealing potential benefits including stress and pain relief, help with weight loss and increased energy levels. Athletes have also used Cryotherapy to enhance their performance.
The "longest duration full body contact with ice" according to Guiness World Records is currently held by Łukasz Szpunar who managed to stay submerged in ice for four hours and two minutes, in Tarnobrzeg, Poland, on 4 November 2023. But this is clearly not for the average person who might want to enjoy the positive effects of cold temperatures without spending four hours on ice. Cryotherapy, which involves short bursts of exposure (usually up to three minutes), sometimes as low as -200 degrees, is more manageable and chambers of varying sizes can be found in European locations like Berlin, Madeira and London and in many North American locations too.
Infrared Light and Ionized Oxygen Chamber at Coolzoone, Madeira Coolzoone
At Coolzoone Madeira, guests step into German brand Art of Cryo's Unical Vaultz V12, the world's largest cold therapy treatment experience. With room for up to 12 people, it's large enough to have a small party inside. Unlike plunging yourself into freezing water, although cryotherapy does involve temperatures lowered to subzero levels, typically ranging from -110 °C to -140 °C, the dry air cold rather than wet cold feels more tolerable. And you're only in the chamber for a few minutes during which time you want to move briskly, jog or do squats etc.
Although there are a few variations of cryotherapy, the most popular one is whole-body cryotherapy which takes place in a special chamber like the one at Coolzoone. The brief exposure to extreme cold is thought to trigger a variety of physiological responses. Cooling the body has therapeutic benefits. Studies have shown an improvement in myocardial function and cardiac performance after a single session of cryotherapy.
Infrared Light and Ionized Oxygen Chamber at Coolzoone Madeira Paul Allen / Andfotography2
Cryotherapy is commonly used to manage symptoms associated with musculoskeletal injuries and to support athletic recovery. Its primary goals include relieving muscle pain, swelling and inflammation by toning and tightening the Vagus nerve. This nerve is responsible for reducing inflammation in the body and works to increase communication between the brain and every major organ. Most people who've experienced Cryotherapy immediately notice an increased energy level. Another potential benefits include better brain clarity, improved sleep thanks to quicker blood flow from the extremities to the core. And for people looking to achieve weight loss, during cryotherapy, body fat converts from white fat (the stubborn type we get in later life) to brown fat (the type we have pre-puberty which is broken down and metabolized more quickly). But don't assume this is a magic bullet to a slimmer figure as exercise and a good diet are essential alongside cryotherapy.
Coolzoone offers a 30 minute circuit that includes a full body scan which can feel a bit intimidating but it's essential to analyze your posture, muscle structure, body composition and alignment. Following the scan, you maneuver the bottom half of your body into a cylinder to experience the 'Flow System' described as a massage for your insides. It claims to help strengthen your connective tissue, flush out toxins and water weight and boost your circulation. The next stage is a relaxing eight minutes in an Infrared Light and Ionized Oxygen Chamber that promotes cell regeneration and breaks down toxins. Finally, the big chill, in a series of cryo chambers starting with -10°C to -110°C in a few minutes, does leave you feeling super energised.
Vidavii London circuit of breathe, freeze and squeeze Vidavii
Cryotherapy is offered in various guises worldwide. Similar to Coolzoone, Vidavii in London's Mayfair offers the same 'Art of Cryotherapy' technology in an energy-boosting, 30-minute circuit of 'breathe, squeeze and freeze.' A bonus is the excellent waterbed deep tissue massage before you start the circuit. Before your first circuit you will have a 3D Body Scan, which lets you track your progress by creating a digital avatar and analysing various body measurements such as BMI, weight and hip-waist ratio. The cryochamber is about the size of a shower stall so it's meant for single use and at -85C it's not as cold as the chamber in Madeira but it seems to provide the same energy and mood boost. It purports to boost your immune system and improve circulation. And apparently, the endorphins you release during the therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation. Each of the devices: the Lymphatic Flow System (lymphatic drainage); the Whole body Cryotherapy (cryo chamber); and the Infrared and Ionised Oxygen Chamber (multi-cryo hacking system) can be used alone but Vidavii recommends the entire circuit for the ultimate benefits. Vidavii offers one-off sessions or monthly subscriptions.
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