This is the one you see athletes fervently endorse. The spectrum (not that spectrum) goes to either extreme temperature. You have the option of sub-zero in dry (cryotherapy), and sub-zero in wet (ice baths). On the opposite end is 10°C shy of a pizza oven. For the rest of us who retain our sanity, hot and cold therapy would look like a smaller range on the thermometer.
There is a recommended alternating between the two extents, and the point is to encourage vasodilation and vasoconstriction. The effect on circulation goes towards reducing inflammation, and this other complex concept called Mitochondrial Biogenesis. We wouldn’t get too much into it since it’s currently all theoretical with limited evidence to support, but hey, a little placebo goes a long way, amirite? On the performance front though, especially for the gym junkies, improving thermoregulatory efficiency and cardiovascular resilience is not for naught.
You’ve surely had a colleague humble brag how much less ache-y they feel after a session. The folks at Reformd have recently hopped on the recovery train as part of the integrated experience (can we blame ‘em?). What’s great about Shelter is that attire is provided. Well, depending on how you feel about shared swimwear, but it is fairly convenient to not have to lug around your own soggy piece after a dip.
The intention of the interior’s aesthetic is apparent. Illuminated primarily by natural light diffusing through glass blocks and highlighted with orange glows, the main area looks the equivalent of a modern cave. The laser-engraved, stainless steel signages are an additional touch worth appreciating.
The layout is optimised for the circuit. After a rinse closest to the entrance, you flit between the 35 – 40°C rectangular salt pool with its own jacuzzi jets on the left, and the three shiver-inducing plunge squares on the right; the lowest at 3°C. Flanking them at the very end is the cedar-lined, traditional dry sauna complete with its own humidity power up at a button’s press.
Instantly melting into the heated salt pool can be done with your eyes closed as all the resentment you actively store in your bones dissolve. Inching your way down the icy waters however, your eyes shut but only because your face cringes at the immediate bite you feel under the skin. It’s good to go slow if you’re new, to avoid shocking the nervous system. Something you can verbally attribute rather than a lapse in mental fortitude.
The sensation returning to the warmth feels like coming home after a long day of work. There’s no delay in the feedback your muscles give; best described as a kinder version of post-numbing pins and needles. A short-lived reprieve when you know you’re heading back to the grind …of your teeth as you baptise in the unsettling chill. You learn to take your consciousness off the prickling, and subsequent submersion is easier as your mind tells your body who’s boss.
Limbs feel admittedly lighter when you leave. The practice thus becomes more of an active recovery you engage in, which can be as rewarding as working out itself. The communal aspect, matching swimsuits and all, definitely lends social levity to the self-inflicted suffering.
Shelter by Reformd is located at Citylink Mall #01-01, Singapore 039393.
