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Recovery: Going hot and cold
Contrast therapy is known for its health-giving benefits and as gyms head further into wellness, it offers a straightforward way to upscale services, finds Frances Marcellin
Saunas are indispensable due to their positive effect on relaxation, regeneration and health. Regular use helps muscles release more quickly after exercise and strengthens the immune system. They can also increase member numbers and loyalty.
Once installed, saunas can be operated by almost any employee, so there’s no need to hire additional staff. The investment is long-term, requires little operational effort and offers members added value.
We offer customers proven technologies that reduce costs and energy. Our patented climate manager provides an automated and optimised supply of fresh air that reduces the energy costs of exhaust air by up to 35 per cent. This is included in our green sauna package for operators, which can save up to 40 per cent of energy.
Saunas with large glass fronts are growing in popularity, but those with single-pane glass result in heat loss. However, our frameless-front sauna with insulating glass provides the design effect with energy-efficient construction, giving savings of around 80 per cent.
We supply numerous national and international operators, such as RSG’s John Reed and McFit with saunas or entire wellness areas.
Cost depends on the size, design, choice of materials and equipment and we have different models for every type of operator. To give an indication of space, a 10-person sauna needs around 10sq m.
More: www.klafs.co.uk
We offer a collection of innovative solutions for clubs, like cryotherapy, saunas and dry float therapy.
Our Zerobody bed is a patented system where the body floats over 400l of warm water without the need to get undressed or wet. It’s designed to reduce stress while improving circulation and muscle tone and reducing joint pains. It also promotes healthy sleep, focus, psycho-physical wellbeing and recovery.
The experience can be enriched through the addition of mindfulness and breathing programmes that are customisable via a touch-screen display. Options include coloured lights, a lumbar massage and audio-guide brain-training sessions.
Zerobody needs minimal maintenance and doesn’t require dedicated staff. It’s easy to understand and has many applications in training, recovery or rest situations.
Energy-wise the bed takes power equivalent to a household appliance, and as the water only needs to be changed once or twice a year, it’s more sustainable than traditional float tanks.
Professional athletes using Zerobody include Sebastian Antero Aho, the Finnish professional ice hockey player, NFL footballer Evan Neal and Federico Pellegrino, the Italian cross-country skier and Olympic silver medallist.
By installing Zerobody, health club operators can bring those people who can’t train due to an injury through the door, as well as adding a reason for members to visit on rest days.
A 12sq m space is required for the installation, with the bed costing around £1.3k (€1.5k). The price-per-minute is 80p - £1.30 (€1 - €1.50) and a dry floating session for one person takes 20-25 mins.
More: www.starpool.com
Some of the most common reasons for using cryotherapy are pain relief, pre-workout activation and post-workout recovery. Demand for this treatment is growing and electric cryotherapy chambers make it accessible to everyone, eliminating the need for nitrogen gasses by using cooled air.
Chambers from LifeCube and IcePod are simple to operate and deliver temperatures down to -110°C.
Having a cryo chamber can help operators increase revenue while differentiating themselves from competitors. Customers can be shown how to use the system on their first visit and after this, use it independently.
Treatment slots run for 10 minutes with a three-minute exposure time. At this rate, up to six people can complete a session in 60 minutes – 40-60 over a 10-hour period. As the chamber is powered by electricity, it can be supplemented by sustainable sources such as solar.
Cryotherapy can be included in membership or offered as an upsell of packages or courses. Our clients offer treatments from £25 to £99 depending on demographics and location. Installation is subject to survey, depending on floor, location and pipework, but typically ranges from £10k-£15k. For a single unit with changing area, a minimum space of 2m x 3m is required.
More: www.alkalinesolutionsltd.com
Using the Cryo:one+, a whole-body electric cryo chamber, gym members can improve performance and recovery, as well as relieving pain and inflammation.
The Cryo:one+ – one of a range offered by Mecotec – is easy to set up, low maintenance and can be used by a multiple people at the same time.
Treatments normally last for 3-4 minutes, giving a capacity of eight people per hour. Staff can operate the system remotely and members can easily track their progress through a dedicated app.
With the compact dimensions of the Cryo:one+ (1.50m x 2.15m x 2.52m), an installation area of around 7sq m, with a room height of at least 2.55m, is ideal. A three-phase power supply, water connection and internet access are also required.
We develop and produce exclusively in Germany, with prices ranging from €70k- €250k. Single chamber systems and two to three chamber systems can offer a solution for almost any room set-up.
Sustainable options include using a photovoltaic system to generate the electricity or recooling the cold chamber with fresh water so it can be fed back into the water system and used, for example, to heat a pool.
A Cryo:one+ session costs between €20 and €80, depending on the club and location.
We assume cryotherapy will become ubiquitous in upscale gyms, so we run an operator’s forum where we learn from each other about how to best integrate cryotherapy into existing and new gyms. You don’t have to be a customer to be part of the circle, so your readers are welcome to join.
More: www.mecotec.net
The main benefits of using our cryotherapy chambers are improved sleep and pain management; pre-cooling, to boost power, performance and endurance; and better recovery.
Products in our Vario Vaultz line have a treatment room with a temperature of -110°C. These cryotherapy chambers are characterised by their generous design and touch-screen control panel.
The V1 is our single-chamber, entry-level model and can be set up very quickly. The V2 model is a two-room cryo-chamber featuring a -60°C anteroom, as well as a -110°C treatment room and the V3 features three rooms, with two anterooms set at -10°C and -60°C, as well as a -110°C treatment room.
Pricing starts at £98,000 for a V1 and ranges up to £295,000 for the larger V3 model.
Space requirements vary, with the V2 requiring around 30sq m – for example – and when it comes to capacity, more than 150 treatments a day are possible with the V2.
On-the-job training is offered for staff at a test centre and a technical introduction with on-site training is also provided after installation. We consult on staffing, depending on the expected throughput.
To make energy consumption more sustainable, some of our customers produce their own electricity and we also offer a heat recovery system.
These treatments work well as an upsell that costs between £50 and £120, depending on the location. Some of our clients offer discounts for those buying a series of treatments or make it part of a premium membership.
More: www.artofcryo.com
A room with real snow offers an innovative form of regeneration after a workout. The stimulus of the cold boosts blood circulation and promotes fat burning. It also has a pain-relieving effect, strengthening the immune system and reducing stress, which leads to better sleep and improved mental health.
The system has three components: insulation, a recooling system which lowers the temperature and a centralised plant which supplies the room with cold air and water, and controls the snow production.
The Snow Room can be used without supervision – members can cool down, rub snow on their muscles or do some stretching.
The room works on a time system and has daily settings where it snows at night and cools constantly. Once a week, it automatically defrosts during the night. There is little maintenance, but excess show should be shovelled to the edges each day to guarantee safe access.
Snow Rooms can be used by 18-40 people per hour, depending on size and configuration. Operators will need 8sq m for the smallest model.
We’re constantly working on innovative, resource- and energy-efficient solutions. For example, around 80 per cent of the energy can be thermally recovered to heat up a swimming pool.
The Snow Room is an eyecatcher, but the most important advantage is offering contrast therapy with all the related health benefits.
More: www.indoor.technoalpin.com
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