Contrast therapy is touted to have tremendous health benefits, but in Glenwood Springs, we just like the sheer exhilaration of soaking in hot springs followed by a bracing cold plunge!
Shake off the mid-winter malaise and awaken your senses from top to toe by alternating between hot and cold temperatures. In Glenwood Springs, you’ll find several locales where going all in is not only a boon to your health, but a total full-body sensation that will leave you feeling tingly all over!
Full Body Wake-Up Call
Also known as contrast hydrotherapy, it’s the practice of alternating between heat and cold to stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation, and boost energy. The geothermal hot springs and cold plunges in Glenwood Springs provide the perfect setting for this time-honored wellness practice.
Soak and Chill
The easiest way to enjoy hot and cold therapy in Glenwood Springs is soaking in the town’s geothermal waters. Soaking pools range in temperature from a mild 93˚F to a toasty 108˚F. Whether you’re taking the waters at the historic Glenwood Hot Springs Pool or riverside pools at Iron Mountain Hot Springs/WorldSprings, the warm water envelops you in therapeutic bliss, melting away stress and tension.
But the heat has limits. When you’re ready to cool off, take a daring dip in the cold plunge pools available at both geothermal attractions. The shock of chilly water in the cold plunge pools, typically around 55˚F, is nothing short of invigorating, leaving you feeling refreshed, energized, and fully alive. If icy water doesn’t appeal, Glenwood Hot Springs new Yampah Mineral Baths area includes one plunge that is more moderate at 75F/24C
Science Behind Contrast Therapy
Alternating between hot and cold environments has scientifically proven benefits. Heat relaxes muscles, increases circulation, and promotes detoxification, while cold plunges reduce inflammation, tighten pores, and provide an energizing adrenaline rush. Together, they create a cycle of renewal for both body and mind.
Recent studies show what Scandinavians have known all along that regular exposure to high and low temperatures can have amazing health benefits. Dr. Andrew Huberman, a Stanford scientist and popular longevity and health podcaster, recommends people get a recommended dose of about an hour of hot therapy and roughly ten minutes of cold exposure per week to derive major health benefits on metabolism, insulin, and growth hormone pathways. Fortunately, filling that prescription is easy to do in Glenwood Springs!
More Ways to Embrace Hot and Cold
In addition to hot springs soaking and cold plunging, Glenwood Springs offers other options for thermal contrast therapy as well.
• Fire and Ice at Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves. It may feel hotter than Hades in the underground caverns at Yampah Vapor Caves, but the effects are nothing short of divine. Begin with a session in the naturally steamy caves where temperatures hover around 110°F. Sweat out toxins in the mineral-rich air, then follow up with a brisk rinse in the spa’s cold showers or step outside on the veranda for a dose of fresh winter air. This alternating sequence is a skin-tingling treat.
• Outdoor Adventure Therapy. Embrace nature’s temperature contrasts naturally with winter activities at Sunlight Mountain Resort, ice skating at the Glenwood Springs Recreation, or exploring above and below ground at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. The chilly mountain air will invigorate your senses. After your outing, go for a long, languid soak in the hot springs for post-exercise relaxation.
Healthy and fun, embrace the contrast! It’s effortless to dive into the revitalizing practice of hot and cold therapy in Glenwood Springs, Colorado’s favorite hot springs and adventure town. Learn more and make plans to visit today!
