Momsicle
Chances are if you are female you have heard the term self-care. It is the buzz phrase for 2019. There is a movement among women to prioritize our mental, physical and emotional health. So often we take care of others and neglect our own needs. Like all moms, I am guilty of this too. Until recently my version of self-care was sneaking off to Twistee Treat without the kids, mindlessly scrolling social media after they fell asleep and sometimes hiding in the closet with chocolate and wine. Desperate times, my friends.
My New Year’s resolution was to take better care of myself. Here we are in Spring and I am finally getting around to it. I have switched up my diet and lost a few pounds; now it’s time to take care of my whole body, including my aches and pains. I’m tired of walking around town feeling like the Tin Man. When I heard about CRY-X whole body cryotherapy, I knew I had to try it. This Florida girl loves cold weather – so naturally I can handle nitrogen gas at negative temperatures.
I was not about to go solo, so I grabbed one of my besties to get frosty with me. I was excited until we arrived – then the anxiety kicked in. The owners, Biko and Jessie, are so nice, knowledgeable and calming. They really go out of their way to make sure you feel comfortable.
As you head back to the dressing room, you are given a robe, super-thick socks, shoes that look like clogs and some serious winter gloves. That’s when I started to panic. Biko saw the look of terror in my eyes, as I asked him for the “safe” word. He laughed and said, “There is no safe word; but don’t worry, I will be in there with you controlling the temp and talking to you.” No safe word? What if I freak out, have a panic attack or freeze into a statue like Princess Anna in Frozen? He asked what music I like so he could play it while I was in the cryosauna. I’ll take ’90s booty jams for $500, Alex.
My friend is very supportive in that no-nonsense kind of way. I called ahead to find out what to wear and packed shorts and a sports bra. She advised me to suck it up and go all in by taking it all off. Some ladies wear workout pants and sports bras, some guys go commando. It’s up to your level of comfort; but the snuggie stays home. Your hands and feet are prepared for a blizzard, but the rest of your body is exposed to the cold. Evidently the older you are the less you wear.
There is only one cryosauna, so we took turns.
My friend is fearless, so she went first. Of course, she followed directions, moving slowly and calmly as she rotated her body for three minutes – without complaining. When I got inside the tank the temp was a negative 142 degrees. Within seconds some colorful words were being shared and I began to jump up and down like a kangaroo. I jumped the entire three minutes. It was the most exercise I have gotten all year. (Keep in mind you are not supposed to do this and it’s not good for your bladder. If you have given birth, you know what I mean.) The first minute was rough, but after you get to the halfway point you start to adjust and then it’s over. Once you are out of the chamber and begin to defrost you can feel the difference. I was relaxed, like how you feel after a massage.
Biko was genuinely excited for us. The benefits of cryotherapy are extensive: it reduces inflammation, helps with pain management, improves circulation, boosts your metabolism, improves your mood, improves sleep and the list goes on. He promised us we would have the best sleep of our lives. I wanted to believe him but kept thinking of my daughter’s 3 a.m. wake up calls. By the time we left we were two chill mommas.
It works! I could barely contain my excitement when I woke up refreshed and happy. I slept through the night and so did my little one! I felt great mentally and physically. My endorphins were loose! We played ’80s music and sang and danced as we got ready for school. Normally there is screaming and crying mostly from me. I want to be this chill every day and will be going back.