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Experiencing a 45-degree cold plunge can profoundly impact the nervous system by simultaneously initiating the fight or flight response and fostering a sense of tranquility. Engaging in regular cold plunges trains your body to moderate its acute stress responses, leading to greater overall calmness. The release of norepinephrine during this process enhances relaxation, focus, sleep quality, and mood.
Cold therapy also has physical benefits, such as shifting blood flow from surface vessels to deeper ones, reducing inflammation and swelling, and promoting better venous return. This process aids in clearing metabolites and toxins that accumulate during physical activity, allowing for quicker replenishment of nutrients to tired muscles.
Enhance your wellness routine by warming up in our traditional custom sauna before diving into our cold tub. This stimulating combination not only sharpens focus but also leaves you energized and ready to tackle your day.
We can help you create a protocol of heat and cold depending on your goals and experience with cold therapy. Or get creative and challenge yourself to a new variation every time you visit.
Don't have much time? Schedule a 15 minute session to spend a few minutes in the traditional sauna and a quick dip in the cold tub. If you're an experienced "dipper", you might bypass the sauna and challenge yourself to a longer 5-10 minute plunge.
Our most popular session. Heat your body in the traditional sauna for 10-15 minutes, then plunge in the cold tub for around 3 minutes. You'll have plenty of time to warm up in the sauna after the cold dip, or even go through one more cycle of sauna + cold plunge.
The shock of our 45 degree cold plunge triggers the nervous system – activating both the fight or flight response and a calming reaction. Regular cold plunge will help train your body to have less of a high alert response to life stressors and to find a deeper calm. The flood of norepinephrine into the brain, translates into enhanced relaxation, focus, sleep and mood.
In addition, cold therapy moves blood from the peripheral to deep blood vessels, thereby minimizing inflammation and swelling, and improving venous return. Metabolites and waste products built up during exercise can be removed by the body and nutrients quickly replenished to fatigued muscles.
We ask that all guests wear their own swimwear while in the sauna and cold plunge tub. We also recommend waterproof sandals to wear when moving between the sauna and tub as the floor can get slippery.
The cold tub is definitely a physical challenge, but it is also a mental challenge. The first minute in the tub is often the most difficult as your body’s fight or flight instinct kicks in. Once you pass that first minute, most people achieve a sense of calm and control to more easily complete the session. We can offer some helpful breathing and visualization techniques that will make the session more comfortable and achievable. We believe that the sense of empowerment and energy you’ll feel following the plunge will be worth every bit of discomfort!
We can make some recommendations for some protocol options, but you can use the sauna and cold tub space how you prefer. Some guests only want to use the cold tub, while others may want to cycle between the sauna and tub multiple times. Try a few different options and see what works best for you!
The cold plunge is between 42-47 degrees F. The dry sauna is on average from 150-195 degrees F.
Pregnant women should not use the plunges or sauna without first consulting their physician.
The tub capacity is limited to one person at a time. However, you are welcome to bring a friend to rotate with during a session.
Acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that’s been around for about 2,500 years. It’s used to support wellness and improve overall mental and physical well-being. The acupuncturist places needles into specific points on the skin to help activate an energy in the body, called qi. According to traditional Chinese medicine, qi is the lifeforce energy in the body — it helps regulate and move things in the body to keep us well. Stress, environmental factors, lifestyle behaviors, and genetics are some of the things that can block qi in the body. The needles help to unblock or move qi to other areas in the body to help support wellness.
Acupuncture needles are solid, stainless steel needles that are usually not much larger than a strand of hair. Acupuncture needles are placed at a very shallow depth and go between tissues, making them less painful than a typical injection.
You might be more sensitive in certain areas, but acupuncture shouldn’t hurt. If you feel pain, tell your acupuncturist. They’ll adjust the needles or choose other points. Their goal is not to make you feel pain. They do a lot of work to position you properly and make sure you feel comfortable.
Indeed you can do acupuncture or massage while pregnant. It is safe and our practitioners are very well versed in how to treat pregnant women. Please let us know when you book a treatment if you are pregnant and how far along you are.
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 DALLAS ONLY
Get a FREE Large Area package (8 sessions, $1,700 value) with purchase of an Extra Large Area package
or
FREE Medium Area package (8 sessions, $1,360 value) with a Large Area package.
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Book four sessions of 24ml PRP scalp injections and get four Fotona Hair Restoration Laser Treatments for FREE! (1,200 value!)
Cindy Nilson is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Full Mesa Carrier, Reiki Master and Intuitive advisor. Utilizing acupuncture, energy-infused acupressure massage therapy and body psychology, she integrates teachings from eastern medicine, shamanism, energy/chakra healing and archetypal patterns to provide a unique diagnostic perspective and treatment experience. Specializing in how stress, our thoughts and emotions affect the physical body, and resourcing from the 10,000 hours spent honing her work, Cindy creates new and exciting collaboratives to her foundations in acupuncture therapy. She believes joining Alive + Well is the joyous culmination of her work and is excited to share this beautiful environment and healing space with her clients.
Cindy holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University and a Masters degree from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine. In 1999 she received her Doctor of Oriental Medicine from the New Mexico State Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. A native of Central Texas, she has been in private practice in Lakeway, where she lives happily married, raising kids.