RECOVERY CENTRE

Your Sanctuary for Recovery and Renewal

Our Mission

The Floatation Sanctuary Recovery Centre provides a valuable asset for the community of Taranaki to support athletes and fitness enthusiasts in their pursuit of peak performance and wellbeing. Whilst focused on athlete recovery, the centre is proud to provide state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to everyone’s well-being and recovery.

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Contrast Therapy

Contrast is defined as “the state of being strikingly different from something else in close association.” Sauna and ice baths have incredible benefits on their own, but together they create the dream team.

Contrast therapy is an age old practice of deliberately exposing oneself to high heat and uncomfortably cold environments, which research confirms has significant health benefits including enhanced recovery, cardiovascular health, metabolism and mental resilience and overall physical wellbeing .

Enhance your well-being with REGULAR Infrared sauna / ice bath combo and unlock a new level of health and rejuvenation.

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Frequently asked questions:

What is Contrast Therapy?

Contrast therapy is the alternating of extremes of hot and cold temperatures. At The Recovery Centre this involves going between an infrared sauna and an ice bath set at 5-6°C in the Ngā Puna Suite or 10-11° C in the Waiora Suite.

Our Certified Thermalist Instructor will guide you through the process to ensure that you experience is structured appropriately to your experiencewith Heat and Cold Exposure.

Scientific research has shown a total Cold Water Immersion time of 11 minutes per week and 57 minutes of Heat exposure over 2-3 sessions in a week provides the greatest short and term health benefits.

What are the Health Benefits of Ice Baths?

Research has shown that Contrast Therapy provide many short and long term benefits.
Increase mental resilience.
– Reduced stress.
– Reduction in pain post-injury by affecting pain receptors and areas of the brain corresponding to pain, providing an anaesthetic effect
– The stress response from the alternating temperatures helps to improve cardio- vascular health.
– Increased sensitivity to Insulin – reducing the the potential of developing Type2 Diabetes.
– The production of heat and cold shock proteins which repair damaged proteins, reduce free radical cellular damage and support the immune system
– Mental Health benefits of combining hot & cold may include increased relaxation, better sleep quality, and an improved overall sense of mood.
– Reduce the potential for the onset of degenerative diseases such as Parkinsons Disease and Alzheimer’s.
– Increase metabolic rate that can assist weight loss.
– An improvement in post-workout muscle recovery and reduction in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
However, it is NOT recommended to use an Ice Bath within a minimum of 4 hours post a Resistance Training Session to build or strengthen muscles. Better to do the plunge the next day.

Is there anyone who should NOT use Contrast Therapy?

The use of Infrared Sauna and Ice Baths is generally very safe for healthy adults, however if you have any existing medical conditions, you should seek medical advice, in particular, if any of the any of the following conditions or circumstances apply to you:
– Have uncontrolled High Blood Pressure ( Systolic Blood Pressure over 135mmHg) or Hypertension
– Have Cardiovascular issues such as ischemic heart disease, recently suffered a heart attack or have or have a pacemaker.
– You are taking medications, including but not limited to diuretics, barbiturates or beta-blockers.
– You suffer from chronic conditions / diseases associated with reduced ability to sweat or perspire, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Central Nervous System Tumours or Diabetes with Neuropathy.
– You have a fever or heat insensitivity.
-You are pregnant or breast feeding.

You should not enter a Sauna or Ice Bath if you are under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs.

How long should I spend in Sauna?

We recommend spending 15 to 20 minutes in each cycle in the sauna. Depending on the length of your session time you will be able to complete 1 to 3 cycles. Your Thermalist Instructor will provide specific guidance based on your previous experience.

How long should I spend in the Ice Bath?

If you’ve had limited or no exposure to cold water immersion, start slowly with up to 1 minute, even a few seconds. Even partial body immersion will provide the “shock” that provides the physiological response to the stress of the Cold Water. Certainly start in the warmer of our 2 ice baths.

We will discuss with you your experience with Cold Water Immersion and then recommend a protocol to ensure that you have a safe experience with us. It is the “shock” of the cold stimulus on the skin that provides the benefit to the cardiovascular system. There is no scientifically proven benefit to staying longer than 2-3 minutes.

It is crucial to listen to your body and exit the ice bath if you experience extreme discomfort or excessive shivering. You should never push your body beyond its limits.

Can I bring a friend?

YES. Our Saunas are rated as 4 person and our Ice Baths are large enough to comfortably accommodate 2 people and it is possible to add a third person (or 4th person). There is no additional charge for a second person. You can add a third or fourth person for an additional $15.00 each.

What should I wear?

Our contrast therapy rooms are private so you can wear whatever you feel most comfortable in, whether that is a swimsuit or nothing at all.

How is the Ice Bath Cleaned?

The water in our Odin Ice Baths is constantly circulating through a particle filter and Ultraviolet Light. We add Hydrogen Peroxide (H²0²) and use an ozone generator to stay clean.

Is it safe for Children to do Contrast Therapy?

We generally have a minimum age requirement of 16 to be able to use our treatment rooms. However, we may consider bookings for people under this age, if they are accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian who agree to strictly follow the protocol recommended.
Ice Baths and Sauna are generally not recommended for children, especially those who are vey young. Cold water immersion can have a significant impact on children due to their smaller body mass and immature thermoregulation capabilities compared to adults and are greater risk of heat exhaustion and hypothermia.

Recovery Lounge

Pneumatic Compression Systems

The Floatation Sanctuary Recovery Lounge offers pneumatic compression systems by Normatec and Recovery Systems, with various cuffs to focus treatment on the arms, hips & glutes, full legs, or pants that treat legs, groin, upper quads, hips and glutes and waist.

Pneumatic compression technology is designed to improve the circulation of blood, enhance lymphatic flow, help reduce muscle soreness, prevent muscle atrophy and muscle fibrosis.

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Want to make a booking or have any questions?

Call us on +64 21 207 6400 or simply book an appointment now online.

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RECOVERY CENTRE

Our Mission

Contrast Therapy

Frequently asked questions:

Recovery Lounge

Pneumatic Compression Systems

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Relax, Recover & Rejuvenate

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