Re-Set: The New Sauna and Cold Plunge Club to Check Out

What is contrast therapy?

It is also known as Contrast Therapy, an alternation between hot and cold designed to revitalize the body and mind through the thermal shocks caused by this sensory contrast. It is based on the principle of vasodilation (the widening of blood vessels) when exposed to heat, and vasoconstriction (the narrowing of blood vessels) due to the effect of cold on the body. This alternation of temperatures releases tension and refocuses the body and mind. And while contrast therapy may seem like the hottest trend right now, it’s nothing new!

Photo credit: Brookie Davies

In fact, the hot-cold effect has actually been practiced for centuries… In ancient Rome, the Romans alternated between the caldarium (hot), tepidarium (warm), and frigidarium (cold), moving from one room to another to promote relaxation, socializing, and health. In Finland, the practice of taking a sauna followed by a dip in an icy lake or the snow has been a tradition for thousands of years, serving both hygiene andphysical resilience. Even in Japan, onsen are part of these ancient traditions that remain popular today.

First step: the sauna

It’s one of Gwyneth’s favorite rituals, but also an ancient practice around the world, known for its many benefits. A sauna involves exposing the body to intense, controlled heat, which induces heavy sweating. In fact, the heat raises the skin’s temperature and slightly increases the heart’s temperature. The body then reacts as it would during physical exertion, accelerating blood circulation to send more blood to the body’s surface. Next, sweating—the body’s primary regulatory system—helps dissipate heat, creating controlled thermal stress that prompts the nervous system to adapt… Hence the effects of relaxation and release. In contrast therapy, it is recommended to spend between 10 and 20 minutes in the heat of the sauna (between 80 and 100 °C) to deeply warm the body without causing exhaustion.

Sauna vs. Infrared Sauna: Understanding the Difference

Although contrast therapy works just as well with a traditional sauna as it does with an infrared sauna, the effects differ slightly. While a traditional sauna heats the surrounding air to high temperatures, an infrared sauna acts directly on the body at lower temperatures (between 40 and 60°C), making the experience gentler and more gradual. The alternation between hot and cold remains effective for stimulating blood circulation, recovery, and energy, but the intensity of the thermal shock is more moderate.

This approach is particularly well-suited for beginners, people who have trouble tolerating extreme heat, or those looking for a more regular routine focused on well-being. To get the most out of it, it is recommended to slightly extend the time spent in the infrared sauna—typically between 15 and 25 minutes—before moving to the cold zone for one to three minutes.

Step 2: The cold plunge

The cold plunge or ice bath is a cold therapy method that involves immersing the body for 1 to 3 minutes in a tub of water at a temperature between 5 and 9 °C. It has long been recognized as a sports therapy method. This is because immersing oneself in a cold bath immediately after exercise helps slow down blood circulation in the body. When the body returns to room temperature, blood circulation speeds up again, allowing blood to reach damaged muscles more quickly, reducing inflammation, and thereby promoting muscle regeneration.

What are the benefits of contrast therapy?

Contrast therapy has long been reserved for athletes because it helps reduce fatigue and speed up the recovery process after exercise. But beyond its effectiveness in sports therapy, it offers numerous benefits, including increased vitality, stress reduction, and immune system stimulation! In fact, it is the alternating cycle of gentle heat and intense cold that creates a beneficial thermal shock to regenerate, tone, and refocus the body. It helps improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients, facilitates the elimination of toxins , and soothes muscle tension, while gently improving skin quality.

In short, contrast therapy allows you to:

Improve blood circulation by using heat, which dilates blood vessels, whereas cold causes them to constrict. This pumping action helps increase blood flow to the muscles and nourish the tissues.
Reduce inflammation, minor aches, and muscle soreness for better recovery after exercise.
Reduce chronic stress while boosting the nervous system’s resilience, and improve mental clarity and sleep quality.
Strengthen the immune system and boost energy.
Relieve pain associated with premenstrual syndrome (note that soaking in ice water during your period is not contraindicated, but depending on the individual, we may sometimes feel weaker and/or have less energy, so we may not be in the best state of mind to step outside our comfort zone).

Please note that contrast therapy is not for everyone! It is not recommended for pregnant women or those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or circulatory problems. If you have any concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Re-Set Club, the new wellness hotspot

Located in the heart of Paris, Re-Set is the new social wellness club dedicated to contrast therapy, designed to encourage relaxation, rejuvenation, and socializing. Just as in ancient Rome, Re-Set has transformed a 400-square-meter former post office intoa temple of wellness and biohacking. And as soon as you walk through the door, the atmosphere sets the tone: soft lighting, an intoxicating scent of serenity, muted sounds, and gentle, enveloping warmth… The body understands that it can let go almost immediately. Re-Set has anchored its concept in contrast therapy , certainly, but above all in a clear routine: heat, cold, breathing, repetition. A simple way to influence recovery, energy levels, and longevity.

The club offers a variety of immersion experiences: guided group sessions—either relaxing or energizing, depending on the time of day; open-access sessions where you can create your own hot-and-cold routine at your own pace; or evening community sessions to share a group experience in the style of wellness happy hour. Because community is also one of the pillars of the concept: the idea that at Re-Set, we come to share the effort, the breath, the thrill, and the strength with strangers who inspire us through their own resilience. And this sharing also has benefits for our mental health. Simply put, Re-Set has taken the concept of regeneration a step further by creating a true sanctuary, far from the noise and frantic pace of our daily lives. A unique place, designed as a community, dedicated to true well-being.

What people thought of the Re-Set Club experience

“In the sauna, the sensory experience is complete. The soft music, the voice guiding our breathing, the sound of hot water on the stones, the steam from carefully selected essential oils… It all comes together to create a truly relaxing moment, to the point where we (almost) forget the 30-degree heat. Then, after a quick shower, comes the moment (admittedly a bit dreaded!) of the cold plunge. Guided by a few breathing exercises, it’s time to dive into the icy water. Once the first few seconds pass, the body gradually adapts, and the following minutes (two in total) become more bearable. The presence of the group really helps you push yourself, but it’s the coaches’ kindness that stands out most. Ultimately, the experience is as much physical as it is mental: it invites us to relax while pushing our limits. One thing is certain: you feel particularly good at the end of the session… and you’re already eager to go back.” - Keridwen, Digital Projects & E-commerce Manager

Re-Set: Pricing & Information

Re-Set offers guided sessions: Re-Boost, which ends with a cold treatment to revitalize the body and mind; Re-Lax, which ends with a warm treatment to promote optimal relaxation; and Free-flow sessions, where you can explore the space at your own pace.

Admission by reservation only.

Sessions lasting 60 or 90 minutes cost €39 each.

Re-Set, 5 Rue Laffitte, Paris 75009

www.re-set.club

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