Experience A Better State Of Being

Contrast Therapy at Drift Studio

What is Contrast Therapy?

Contrast therapy is an ancient recovery technique of alternating between hot and cold temperatures. The history of contrast therapy dates all the way back to ancient civilizations such as Greece and Rome, where hot and cold baths were used to treat various health conditions. In the 19th century, contrast therapy was developed as a modern therapeutic method, and it was widely used in hydrotherapy treatments. In recent times, contrast therapy has become popular amongst the athlete community to reduce inflammation and pain, in the form of a few minutes in the sauna followed by a dip in the ice bath known as fire and ice.

Combining a sauna with an ice bath is an effective way to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, stimulate your lymphatic system, speed up muscle recovery, rejuvenate your skin and hair, improve your sleep, reduce stress and anxiety, and elevate your mood. The heat from the sauna causes blood vessels to dilate, which improves blood flow and reduces inflammation. The cold from the ice bath causes blood vessels to constrict, which improves circulation and reduces muscle soreness. This contrast between hot and cold temperatures helps to improve overall recovery and reduce the risk of injury.

However, the evidence for maximising the metabolic benefits suggests starting in the hot and ending in the cold and then reheating naturally. This matters for people wanting to increase metabolism and activates brown fat, warming in saunas or hot rooms will stop this benefit. The process of reheating naturally encourages the body to adapt, ending in saunas that discourage this adaptation of our metabolism. Sauna and ice baths are both great tools for recovery and overall health. Saunas have been shown to improve cardiovascular health, while ice baths have been shown to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation. Using them together as contrast therapy can have a powerful impact on the body's circulation and recovery. 

However, it's important to consult with a doctor or physical therapist before starting a contrast therapy routine, especially if you have any underlying health conditions. Please read our FAQ section on this page before booking a session or purchasing a membership.

Cold Plunge Therapy

Drift Studio is your gateway to rejuvenation and peak wellness with our cutting-edge Cold Plunge therapy services. Cold plunge therapy, also known as cold water immersion or Cryotherapy, is a revolutionary wellness practice, involves immersing oneself in cold water, typically around 50°F (10°C), for short durations. This practice has been revered for centuries for its remarkable health benefits, combining modern scientific understanding with traditional healing wisdom.

At Drift, we use a specially designed cold plunge pool that maintain a consistent temperature, ensuring a safe and effective experience. Our plunge also has advanced filtration and Ozone purification system that automatically helps keep the water clean and fully sanitized by discharging ozone into the water to help eliminate bacteria, viruses, and metals.

During a cold plunge session, your body's natural response to the cold triggers a range of physiological reactions. As your body works to maintain its core temperature, blood vessels constrict, reducing inflammation and promoting faster recovery. The reason cold water helps with pain is that it causes your blood vessels to constrict. This reduces blood flow to the area which helps reduce swelling and inflammation.The cold water causes your body to release chemicals known as cytokines, which can also help to boost the body's ability to fight off harmful bacteria and viruses. Cold water triggers the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions, such as heartbeat and breathing. The autonomic responses strengthen with each exposure. This stabilizes blood pressure, improves circulation and balances other bodily functions, such as the sleep and wake cycle. Additionally, the cold stimulates the release of endorphins, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalized.

Why Cold Plunge?

  • Treats Sore Muscles

    Cold plunge therapy can provide relief by reducing inflammation and promoting muscle recovery.

  • Healthy Hair + Skin

    Cold water immersion can smooth the hair cuticle, reducing frizz, as well as reduce redness and puffiness in the skin, promoting a healthy, glowing complexion.

  • Boost Energy Levels

    Triggers the release of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that increases alertness and energy levels, leaving you feeling invigorated.

  • Mood Enhancement

    The release of endorphins during cold plunge therapy promotes feelings of well-being and relaxation, helping to alleviate stress and improve mood.

  • Strengthens Immune System

    Activates the lymphatic system, helping to flush out toxins and boost immune function, keeping you healthy and resilient year-round.

  • Builds Resilience

    By exposing your body to controlled cold stress, cold plunge therapy strengthens your stress response, helping you better adapt to life's challenges.

  • Boosts Metabolism + Supports Weight Loss

    Activates brown fat, a type of fat that burns calories to generate heat, aiding in weight management and metabolism regulation.

  • Improves Sleep

    influences the circadian rhythm, helping to regulate sleep-wake cycles and improve overall sleep quality.

Infared Sauna Therapy

In the heart of Livingston, Drift Studio is pioneering a holistic approach to wellness and rejuvenation through our state-of-the-art Infrared Sauna services. Unlike traditional saunas, which heat the air around you, Infrared Saunas use infrared light waves to penetrate the skin and warm the body from within rather than warming the air around it. Our saunas offer a deeply penetrating heat that encourages a more intense and purifying sweat.

Sauna therapy stimulates the body’s natural sweat mechanisms at a lower temperature than conventional saunas, making it accessible and comfortable for a wider range of individuals. At Drift, our Infrared Saunas are equipped with the latest technology, providing you with a deeply detoxifying experience as you relax in the gentle warmth of our facilities.

Instead of heating the air within the enclosure, our infrared saunas heat the body directly. Approximately 80% of the heat heats your body and 20% of the heat heats the air. This results in deeper tissue penetration. In our infrared sauna, the body perspires and receives all of the healthy benefits, but avoids the harmful and extremely hot air of a traditional sauna. Our saunas are all set between 140-150 degrees F.

Since our saunas are heating your body more so than heating the air, it takes about 10 to 20 minutes for the body to start to sweat. After that time, the infrared heat has started to stimulate the various systems in your body and you will start to sweat. Of course, this timing will vary from person to person and from day to day. Some people sweat more easily than others. For some people, it may take several sessions for the infrared heat to kick-start the sweating process.

Why Sauna?

  • Detoxification

    Using the heat produced by a Swift Recovery Sauna, you can increase perspiration, which helps remove toxins and impurities from the body.

  • Lowers Cortisol Levels

    Relaxation of the body, mind and soul allows for deeper breathing which helps reduce cortisol levels in the body and increase circulation.

  • Increases Circulation + Improves Heart Health

    Sauna sessions help to reduce blood pressure, strengthen the cardiovascular system, and reduce artery stiffness.

  • Supports Healthy Metabolism

    The body sweats in an infrared sauna, enabling it to get rid of unused fluids that lead to an improved mood & increased energy levels.

  • Soothes Muscle Soreness

    When you increase your heart rate through dry sauna sessions, metabolic waste like lactic acid is broken down and blood flow to the affected areas is improved significantly.

  • Enhanced Relaxation + Stress Reduction

    The soothing infrared heat relaxes muscles and reduces tension, allowing your body to drift off into a calm and 'rest and digest' state.

  • Oxygenates Blood

    Improve skin health through increasing blood flow and oxygenation while promoting cell growth and repair.

  • Chronic Pain Management

    Sauna warmth can also trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, providing a sense of relief for those suffering from conditions such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.

 FAQs

  • We’re not just cold curious around here, we’re sober curious, too! No drugs, alcohol, or vaping is allowed anywhere in the lounge. We’re all about the detox and never judge a retox, but hydration is key to you feeling your best and getting the full benefits of the Drift experience.

    No pets or guests under the age of 18 are allowed in the lounge or amenities for safety and sanitary reasons. Please show us all the dog and kiddo pics though!

    Please postpone your lounge sesh if you have any active symptoms of sickness, open wounds, or active skin breakouts. However, reach out to our team to learn more about booking our private room for a session to help your body heal!

    We love an instagrammable moment, too, but we do not allow any photos or video (remember: no phones!) in our shared spaces to ensure a comfortable experience for everyone.

    Our team knows how to get all the angles and will be happy to capture a moment for you at your request aligned with our guest privacy guidelines.

    If you have any issues, please contact us at 406-220-6298.

  • Experience the rejuvenating benefits of contrast therapy in our thoughtfully designed communal wellness space. Each session includes access to a private infrared sauna cabin with integrated red light therapy, paired with a communal single-person cold plunge tub for an invigorating cycle of heat and cold. Our sauna cabins comfortably fit up to two guests, and each guest must sign a waiver prior to use. We recommend arriving 10–15 minutes early to allow time for check-in, paperwork, changing, and restroom use, as your session begins promptly at your scheduled time and cannot be extended. Two small private changing areas are available, and while there are no showers on-site, lockers are provided for personal belongings. A complimentary drink bar with water, tea, coffee, and more is available to keep you refreshed before and after your session.

  • A bathing suit or form-fitting athletic wear must be worn at all times in the lounge space. No butts allowed! We love all bodies, but don’t allow nudity and prefer full-coverage over butt floss in the shared spaces so keep it modest while hottest. (Avoid shorts with pockets as they hold a lot of water.)

    Wearing a non-slip sandal or slide is encouraged at all times for safety.

    Stay hydrated before and after your visit! Bring a water bottle in for free filtered refills or purchase a bottle of water or a Drift Cup to fill up before your session.

    We’ve got you covered with a towel, but feel free to bring another towel, and/or your own robe or cover up to use as you move between amenities.

  • Contrast therapy is a remarkable wellness practice that taps into the power of temperature changes to invigorate your body. By alternating between soothing warmth and revitalizing cold, it enhances blood flow, eases muscle tension, and refreshes your senses.

  • Contrast therapy has scientifically proven to strengthen the immune system, stimulate the lymphatic system, lower inflammation, enhance muscle recovery, detoxify the body, assist on weight loss, lower cortisol levels, increase serotonin and dopamine levels, improve blood circulation, calm anxiety and depression, rejuvenate the skin, reduce stress and improve sleep.

  • Our red light 2 to 3 person saunas employ 7 oversized FAR infrared carbon tech heaters to deliver the ultimate therapy and detoxification experience. These heaters generate very low electromagnetic fields (EMFs) ensuring safe operation and enjoyment. Known as one of the most therapeutic saunas, it is designed to enhance your immune system, increase blood circulation, assist in cellulite reduction, improve skin tone, and help eliminate toxins and waste. Experience the potential to burn up to 600 calories in just 30 minutes. Additionally, these saunas feature two extra light therapies. Firstly, the multi-color Chromotherapy lighting, known to affect mood, allows you to choose the color that best suits your well-being. Secondly, the red light therapy emits red low light waves through the skin, naturally initiating tissue recovery and rejuvenation through increased blood flow, collagen stimulation, and mental clarity.

  • The cold plunge and sauna combo works like a powerful health booster. The sauna opens up your blood vessels, increases circulation, and promotes relaxation. Then, the cold plunge contracts your vessels, reduces inflammation, and invigorates your body. It's like a one-two punch for wellness, making this combination highly effective for feeling revitalized, reducing stress, and supporting your overall health.

  • Cold plunge and sauna therapy do wonders for your skin! The sauna opens pores, helping to cleanse and rejuvenate your skin. When you follow it with a refreshing cold plunge, it tightens those pores, promoting a healthy, radiant complexion.

  • The magic lies in the temperature difference! When you're in a sauna, the heat causes your blood vessels to expand, improving circulation. This helps muscles relax and encourages the release of endorphins for a great feeling. Then, the cold plunge causes vessels to contract, reducing inflammation and promoting recovery. The alternating "hot-cold" effect creates a fantastic boost for your body, leaving you feeling refreshed and invigorated.

  • Depending on your goals, 2-3 times a week is generally a good starting point for experiencing the full benefits of these therapies.

  • Yes, both therapies can aid in post-workout recovery by reducing muscle soreness and enhancing circulation, which promotes healing.

  • Absolutely! The alternating temperatures in these therapies can stimulate your immune system by promoting blood circulation and reducing inflammation. By embracing cold plunge and sauna sessions, you're giving your immune system an extra boost, supporting your overall well-being.

  • The sauna's warmth relaxes your muscles, and the release of endorphins brings a sense of calm. Then, the refreshing cold plunge invigorates your body, creating a unique relaxation-inducing cycle. It's a wonderful way to unwind, de-stress, and find a peaceful balance.

  • Absolutely! The combination of the relaxing sauna and the refreshing cold plunge creates a fantastic sleep-enhancing effect. The relaxation and improved blood circulation can lead to deeper and more restful sleep. Prepare for nights of blissful rest as these therapies work their magic on your body, leaving you feeling rejuvenated each morning.

  • A single session can burn an impressive 400-600 calories, helping you on your fitness journey. By increasing your metabolic rate and promoting detoxification through sweating, these therapies will contribute to your weight loss efforts.

  • By alternating between hot and cold, these therapies expand and contract blood vessels, creating a fantastic boost in circulation. It's like a revitalizing workout for your body, promoting healthier blood flow and leaving you feeling refreshed.

  • While contrast therapy (alternating hot and cold exposure) is generally considered safe for most adults, it’s not recommended during pregnancy due to potential vascular implications and the possibility of affecting blood pressure and heart rate, which could be harmful to both the mother and the fetus.

  • Individuals with certain conditions, including wounds, skin issues, severe heart problems, high blood pressure, peripheral neuropathy, Raynaud's syndrome, are pregnant, or acute injuries should seek medical advice before trying it.