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Recovery: Cool systems
As health club operators move to incorporate recovery into their offerings to meet growing consumer demand, Steph Eaves takes a look at what cryotherapy and ice bathing can add to the equation
It’s important to educate clients about recovery and how it’s an essential component of a training programme, and to motivate them by setting mid-term goals. This will make them feel better supported and happier with their results.
The key to generating value and keeping attendance rates high is to guarantee the effectiveness of’ workouts by adding a recovery phase with a cryotherapy product.
Our dry-float Zerobody Cryo is characterised by low energy consumption, which makes it highly effective in terms of sustainability. When Zerobody Cryo is installed and connected to the power supply, the provided cooling system brings the water functioning temperature down to 4-6 °C. The dry unit ensures a gradual exposure to the cold. It also requires minimum support from the operator, which makes it an extremely easy product to use and for staff to be trained in.
We also have two new concepts for the world of fitness: Recovery Class and Recovery Station. These two formats developed to integrate recovery and preventive health in the offer of your gym. The Recovery Class format is for large fitness centres that have a lot of space available and a large flow of clients with diverse requirements. It complements the offering with an exclusive area dedicated to recovery and complete, customised programmes for preventive health.
Recovery Station was conceived to allow fitness and performance training studios to enhance their offer with recovery technologies and effective programmes, in less than 30 square metres. All can be used while clothed.
Our cryotherapy cabins are designed with energy efficiency in mind. We recommend offering membership packages or bundled sessions to encourage repeat usage, ensuring a steady stream of revenue. Additionally, highlighting the health benefits of cryotherapy can attract a wider customer base.
Our systems are designed for low maintenance and high efficiency and have been engineered to minimise energy consumption while maximising output, making them cost-effective solutions for health clubs. We offer comprehensive training and support to ensure operators can maximise the lifespan and efficiency of their equipment. Additionally, our technology ensures that the cost-per-session is competitive, allowing operators to offer cryotherapy at a price point that’s attractive to consumers while still maintaining healthy profit margins.
There’s growing demand for wellness and recovery services. Cryotherapy stands out as a cutting-edge solution that can attract a diverse clientele, from athletes seeking faster recovery, to individuals looking for wellness and beauty benefits. Investing in cryotherapy now can set your facility apart, offering a unique service that can drive new memberships and retain existing ones.
• Footnote: CTN’s products include cryotherapy, muscle stimulation therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and red light therapy equipment.
Having worked in the sector for over 20 years, I understand the pressures that rising energy prices are causing for health club owners. It’s a tough balancing act, but with the correct approach, the CryoSpa ice bath can be a revenue generator, rather than simply another cost.
Many of our clients use the CryoSpa offering to get more people through the door, either on a pay-per-use basis, or as new gym members. Most of our clients that operate on a pay-per-use basis see a return on investment within the first year and many within six to nine months. Other clubs thrive by offering cryotherapy as part of a premium package or membership tier.
Energy consumption is another important consideration. While most ice baths cool by conduction alone, CryoSpa ice baths use a combination of conduction and convection, which is much more efficient. The 20 jets provide a powerful cooling modality that means water at 8°C will feel colder than still water at 1°C.
With healthcare and wellness leaning more toward recovery and self-care, even the NHS is introducing social prescribing, where gym memberships and swimming sessions are prescribed as drug-free alternatives. Ice baths are part of this movement, going from the preserve of elite athletes to something members of the public are eager to embrace and by adding an ice bath to your facility, you tap into this growing market.
With daily operating costs in the region of £2 or £3 and income from a single user of £10 for a 5-to-10-minute session, an ice bath can generate £50 to £100 per hour. Some of our clients, such as Bodyscape Gym in Belfast, offer one hour slots to sports teams for £75 a session.
The Art of Cryo Vaultz unit has an excellent ratio of energy consumption to performance. The Multi Cryo-Hacking System consumes very little energy and the Flow System also works with a normal socket. Critical cost factors during operation are rent and staff cost; electricity – even with increased rates – is a minor cost driver, provided the operator sells enough treatments.
Heat recovery is an ideal solution for operators with pools in health clubs, the hotel industry and luxury homes, as thanks to WRG ventilation, almost all of the energy used to create the cold temperatures in the cryotherapy unit can be used to support the warming of pool or other water.
A single Vaultz can be turned off in the evenings and re-started the next morning, to save energy during times the systems are not in use.
We’re designing cryotherapy solutions for recovery and wellness that maximise ROI to clubs and have minimal ongoing costs.
The two factors that can drive up cost for cryotherapy are monthly gas or electricity costs, and labour expenses, if the cryotherapy solution requires a full-time attendant. That’s why we developed the CryoLounge+, an advanced recovery chair with complementary cold and heat zones. The bed is easily accessible, fits in any 3m x 2m space and doesn’t require a changing room or attendant. With only a standard electrical outlet required, the chair allows clubs to provide cold and heat to their members at a fraction of the cost they might otherwise face.
Any solution for clubs needs to be practical and accessible for a large number of members. With the unattended CryoLounge+, users can access the units immediately after a workout for a recovery session. They can remain fully clothed, unlike with traditional ice baths and cryotherapy, making it easier to incorporate into their regular routines.
By offering cryotherapy, operators can realise a significant increase in revenue through upgrades to premium memberships. With members looking for holistic and recovery amenities, clubs are seeing an immediate boost in upgrades after offering cryotherapy. These solutions are becoming standard as clubs build out ‘wellness spaces’ for their members. Cryotherapy perfectly complements other wellness and recovery-focused programmes. Our data indicates the best strategy is to provide at least two CryoLounge+ beds to maximise member usage.
