Our opinion on the ice bath and the Wim Hof method

What is an ice bath?

Also known ascold plunge"The practice of ice bathing dates back to ancient Greece. This method of cold therapy involves immersing the body for a few minutes in a bathtub filled with ice cubes or cold water at less than 15°C. Cold Water Immersion ( CWI ) has long been recognized as a method of sports therapy. Immersing oneself in an ice bath immediately after exercise slows down the circulation of blood in the body. When the body returns to room temperature, blood circulation accelerates once again, enabling it to reach damaged muscles more quickly, thereby promoting muscle regenerationand reducing muscle inflammation.

The benefits of an ice bath

Beyond its effectiveness in sports therapy for reducing fatigue and speeding up the recovery process after exercise, the ice bath offers numerous benefits for energy, stress, anxiety and the immune system. In particular, it helps to :

Reduce stress.
Reduce inflammation and aches and pains, and improve recovery after exercise.
Improve blood circulation.
Strengthen the immune system and boost energy.
Improve sleep quality and resilience.
Improve sleep and alleviate stress and anxiety.
Alleviate the pain associated with premenstrual syndrome (it should be noted that immersion in ice during your period is not at all a contraindication, but depending on each woman, we may be weaker and/or have less energy, so not in the optimum state to get out of our comfort zone.

Icebath & Infrared Sauna: what are the benefits?

This summer, Oh My Cream joins forces with Dopamin to offer you a refreshingly holistic experience: an infrared sauna session followed by an Ice Bath to recuperate. But why combine these two practices?

The to-and-fro motion between gentle heat and intense cold creates a thermal shock that regenerates, tones and refocuses. It improves oxygen and nutrient supply, facilitates toxin elimination, soothes muscular tension and gently improves skin quality. This combination also helps reduce stress by providing a feeling of new energy.

How does it work?

Start with an infrared sauna and let the heat penetrate deeply to dilate blood vessels, promote circulation and deeply relax. Then plunge into the ice bath at 6°C, to stimulate circulation, boost the immune system and mental resilience, and support the metabolism.

We recommend always ending the session with a cold session, to prolong the energizing and stimulating effects on the body.

The difference between ice baths and cryotherapy

Unlike hydrotherapy or ice baths, cryotherapy is primarily aimed at athletes, since this method is primarily passive and involves exposing the body to extreme temperatures to stimulate our natural healing capacities. As such, it does not have the same impact on the body or mind as the Wim Hof ice bath method. The latter offers an active experience that helps you regain control of your nervous system through breathing. Hydrotherapy achieves an optimal level of relaxation, both mentally and physically.

Our opinion on the Dopamin ice bath

"Finally, a Los Angeles-style wellness experience! I love this experience called contrast therapy (alternating sauna heat and a cold bath), which stimulates circulation and reduces inflammation. You come out of the session energized, with an immediate light-legged effect - it's addictive!"

- Fanny Morel, Communications Director

Ice bath at home?

Founder of the Paris Ice Club and former great chiller, Caroline Arditti recommends taking a cold shower every morning (even a few seconds are enough) and an ice bath once a week. It's the perfect way to establish an effective routine in your daily life. She also encourages everyone who takes an ice bath to continue the practice of conscious breathing, starting by observing the way they breathe 1 or 2 times a day.

Observation immediately implies regulation towards abdominal breathing to activate the diaphragm and thus cultivate this state of relaxation on a daily basis (being in the parasympathetic nervous system). When it comes to cold, she also encourages you not to follow up a bath or cold shower with an external heat source (sauna, hammam). A way of allowing the body to draw on its resources to return naturally to its optimal state.

Ice bath rates & contraindications

The ice bath experience is accessible to all, but is not recommended for pregnant women, people suffering from cardiovascular pathologies or severe hypertension, heart disease, epilepsy, asthma, recurrent migraines or Raynaud's type II syndrome.

If you have undergone surgery very recently, it is advisable to seek the advice of a health specialist.

Sauna IR x Dopamin Ice Bath 45 minutes Solo : €45

Sauna IR x Dopamin Ice Bath 45 minutes in Duo : €60

Book your treatment here.