Being a mom can be stressful. One thing all experts agree on is that everyone deserves self-care. But the group that may need it and deserve it the most may be the most hesitant to allow themselves a little free time to focus on mental and physical wellness. Let’s focus on moms getting the self-care time they need and so deserve!
We sat down with three moms who all joined Contrast Studios and they explained why and how this club has truly been a game-changer for them.
Meet business owner Kelli Green, working mom Renée Marshall, and stay-at-home mom Heather Smith. All three do multiple sessions a week and have seen multiple benefits. Check out excerpts of our conversation below.
When did you join?
Green’s pilates center is close by and she had her first session within the first week of us opening our doors. She makes sure to do 57/11 (57 minutes in the infrared sauna and 11 minutes in the cold plunge each week) by coming three times a week.
Marshall started following Contrast Studios on Instagram and started doing sessions in November. She says, “Some people go to church. I go to contrast” and now comes three times a week.
Smith also started her contrast therapy in November, but she relies on it as a “daily reset.” She tries to come up to six times a week to feel her best.
What brought you in?
“I have been doing the same exercise routine for about 10 to 12 years,” says Green, who teaches pilates 20 hours each week. “I'm in my mid-fifties and I just thought, it's time to change it up a bit. And why not try something that's a little bit challenging mentally, as well as physically?”
Marshall came in for her free session and says “it’s like an instant Xanax.” She adds that the cold plunge is like her mountain that taught her how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Smith was searching for a therapist when she found out about cold plunges. “It's like I don't need a therapist,” she adds. “Contrast is my therapy. I really feel that way. It just puts me at a calmer baseline.”
What are the Benefits of Contrast Therapy?
Green says she has more energy and feels the inflammation decreasing in her joints. She also mentions it’s only three minutes in the cold plunge. “I can do anything for three minutes,” she says. “And the benefits far outweigh the fear.”
The mental and emotional benefits are big for Marshall. She plunges in the evenings because it helps her sleep. She uses her time in the infrared sauna to meditate since it is usually her only alone time in the day. Once she gets in the cold plunge, she tells herself, “I can do hard things.” She’s proud of her record seven minutes in the tub.
Smith saw a massive benefit when jumping from three to four minutes in the cold plunge. She explains, “I found myself kind of staring at the clock and thinking like, okay, another second gone, another second gone. When it was four minutes, it's long enough that I have to, like, settle in, close my eyes, and let go.” She adds the perfect song for her plunge is “Praying” by Kesha, which is three minutes and 50 seconds long.
What Would you Tell Other Moms About This Kind of Self-Care?
Green calls contrast therapy sessions “a gift you give yourself.” She loves the community we have at Contrast Studios. She adds, “I learned a long time ago that if I don't take care of myself, it's obvious to the clients, to my family. So I'm a huge advocate.”
Marshall also calls her sessions a gift, but for her family. She says she is calmer and happier after contrast therapy, which relaxes her.
“Why wouldn’t I just scream it from the mountaintops,” says Smith. She admits that the first one is scary and a shock to your system, so try it twice before you make a final decision.
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