“Recovery is the new workout.” It’s more than just a catchy phrase. It reflects a growing shift in how we think about fitness and wellness. Instead of glorifying the “no pain no gain” mentality more people are starting to focus on what their bodies truly need: time to rest, repair and reset. And this concept goes well beyond the gym. Just like you can overdo it during a workout, it’s easy to push too hard in everyday life. With more people struggling with burnout or chronic illness, the need for recovery is everywhere, and the same techniques and modalities that help ease sore muscles can also help you handle the wear and tear of daily life. Recovery isn’t just a fitness trend; it’s a wellness essential. Several local experts shared their insights into some of the more popular recovery trends. —K.Wight
COLD PLUNGE Jefferson Fit
Cold plunges have long been popular with professional athletes, who will often immerse themselves into ice baths after intense training or games to reduce inflammation and accelerate muscle recovery. They also have some bonuses, like euphoria caused by the release of endorphins and dopamine. “You get that high, you feel energetic, you feel happy, you’re smiling, you’re like, ‘Why didn’t I do this sooner?’” Charles says. “People who go into the cold plunge, when they get out they almost feel like they’re brand-new. But this recovery method is not for the faint of heart. The initial shock of cold water can be breathtakingly shocking and downright dangerous for people with certain health conditions.
HALOTHERAPY Salt of the Earth
Most people have heard they need to cut back on salt for health reasons, at least when it comes to their diets. But it can be hugely beneficial in the world of wellness and recovery. Dianna Manoogian is the owner of Salt of the Earth and she’s seen firsthand the differences halotherapy (salt therapy) can make in a variety of ways, starting with respiratory health. “When you breathe in micro-particles of salt, it’s almost like a toothbrush for your lungs,” she says. “Those particles are getting down deep into the lower parts of your lungs and cleaning out the germs and loosening the mucus so that the lungs can clear all that out and open your airway.” People who go sit in the main salt room can breathe those particles in for 45 minutes or in one of the smaller booths for just twenty minutes for the same effect and see improved respiratory health which is great for recovery. It can also provide some relief for people with asthma and allergies. There are a multitude of other halotherapy options available for people to try as well. One favorite for recovery purposes at Salt of the Earth is their heated salt bed, which is the first of its kind in the United States. You simply lie down on a bed of heated salt that has built-in light therapy as well as relaxing music. This treatment relaxes muscles and pulls inflammation from the body. “It has a micro-massage so you’re going to feel like you’ve had a massage in just twenty-five minutes,” Mannogian says. “It’s actually pretty remarkable.”
COMPRESSION Jefferson Fit
Jefferson Charles is a certified personal trainer who has been helping clients with personalized programs for over 25 years. Oftentimes people will work out at a gym and then go somewhere else for recovery services. But at Charles’ business Jefferson Fit, the full-service gym is also equipped with a recovery room with several treatments available. The recovery room features several pieces of equipment from Hyperice, a technology company that specializes in recovery products. One of these is the Normatec Legs, a pneumatic compression system that applies intermittent pressure to the limbs to enhance circulation and stimulate lymphatic drainage. This reduces muscle fatigue and accelerates workout recovery. But Charles says you don’t have to have high-tech gadgets to incorporate some compression into your routine. Foam rolling isn’t the same as compression boots, but it offers many of the same benefits in a more cost-effective and accessible manner. “You can buy a foam roller for $20 and take it anywhere,” says Charles. “It’s simple, effective and a good form of recovery.”
CRYOTHERAPY Restore Hyper Wellness
If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge into an ice bath, you may want to start with a visit to a cryotherapy chamber like the one they have at Restore Hyper Wellness. You still get the benefits of a cold plunge, like faster muscle healing, but the sensation is much less jarring. A cryotherapy session lasts 2.5 to 3 minutes, and in that time your body cools down rapidly, so your blood rushes towards your vital organs to keep them warm. Once you exit the machine, the oxygen-rich blood rushes back to your arms and legs, breaking down inflammation as it circulates. But even this more accessible modality might not be your cup of (iced) tea and that’s okay. “Cold exposure may not be the best for everyone,” says Katie Kupser, Restore’s regional sales and marketing manager for Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay. “Being conscious of the therapies and how they impact your own personal body is going to be one of the biggest indicators if something is right for you.
MILD HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY Restore Hyper Wellness
Hyperbaric chambers are probably mostly known for their roles in hospital settings where they serve a variety of functions, including treating scuba divers for decompression sickness. But some wellness centers like Restore also offer mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mHbOT) to aid in recovery. In mHbOT, a client is zipped into an environment and the air is slowly pressurized around them, which forces the person’s body and cells to take in more oxygen than they would be able to at the normal atmospheric pressure. This has a range of benefits, from reduced inflammation to accelerated wound healing after surgery to improved sleep and more. But where it’s really remarkable is in the area of brain health. Medical
research has indicated that it may be beneficial in mitigating concussion symptoms like dizziness and brain fog. “Hyperbaric therapy is incredible for a lot of different people in the population,” Kupser says. “People with Parkinson’s, a lot of different types of chronic illnesses, to even just your average everyday person looking to reduce fatigue and function at their most optimal state.”
IV DRIP THERAPY Restore Hyper Wellness
Let’s face it: most of us aren’t eating the way we should. But even if you’re eating the perfect diet, you may not be getting the nutrients you need. For example, if your gut biome is out of balance, you may not be able to absorb nutrients through your digestive system. Intravenous (IV) drip therapy or intramuscular (IM) shots can help you get any nutrients you’ve been missing. And at Restore, they can tailor the treatments to each individual based on their bloodwork and their personal goals. “We offer testing to actually see what your body may or may not need and give you a really clear report that’s easy to read and understand,” says Kupser. “When your results come in, our nurses can go over them with you in the studio and you can even have a consultation with the lab we work with.”
INFRARED SAUNA Perspire Sauna Studio
“I’m originally from Hungary, which is really big on the whole spa culture,” says Franciska Bray. “I spent a majority of my life being surrounded by those modalities and when I moved to the United States I was truly missing it.” Bray was teaching yoga in California when she began attending Perspire Sauna Studio as a client. The infrared saunas gave her a similar feeling to the spa-like experience she was used to in Hungary and when she moved to Florida she decided to open her own studio. Now she has two locations, one in Lakewood Ranch and one in the Landings, both of which offer infrared saunas. Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air around you, infrared saunas use infrared light to directly warm your body. This creates a milder temperature environment while still promoting deep sweating. The result is a more comfortable experience that can help support detoxification, improve circulation, ease muscle and joint pain and encourage relaxation. Many people also find infrared saunas easier to tolerate than conventional ones, making them a popular choice for wellness routines.“Traditional saunas are really hot, so they may not be the best ideas for people with certain heart conditions or blood pressure issues,” Bray points out. “Where the infrared sauna comes in handy is that it is accessible for a lot of people that can’t tolerate that really hot temperature.”
Jefferson Fit, 55 S. Palm Ave. Sarasota, 941-702-5859. Perspire Sauna Studio (The Landings), 4924 S. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-413-1174. Restore Hyper Wellness (UTC), 5265 University Pkwy #107, University Park, 941-359-0022. Salt of the Earth, 4037 Clark Rd., Sarasota, 941-702-8300.
