How are you feeling about winter now that the chill has started to set in?
If the season is all about ski trips, rugby matches, and hot chocolate, you’re probably loving it. But if the lack of sunshine, the cold weather, and the shorter days are getting you down, you’re not alone.
Whether winter is your friend or foe, Red Light Therapy, infrared saunas, and ice baths – yes, even in winter! – will help you make the most of New Zealand’s colder months.
Here’s how.
1. Red Light Therapy and ice baths are mood boosters
Ever feel blue this time of year? Low mood in winter is a common challenge there’s even a name for it: Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as S.A.D. Fitting name, right?
The good news is, you don’t have to wait until spring to feel better. Just pop into one of the treatment rooms at Gaia Wellness and Recovery and discover the potential of Red Light Therapy.
Red light waves release feel-good endorphins like serotonin, reduce the stress hormone cortisol, enhance circulation, and promote quality sleep. One session will lift your spirits and leave you feeling rejuvenated; regular Red Light Therapy sessions might banish the winter blues for good.
Now, let’s talk ice baths. Look, I get it: cold water sounds like a weird way to push back against cold weather! But the science doesn’t lie: plunging into icy waters activates your parasympathetic nervous system, the system that allows you to rest and relax. Plus, with our Contrast Therapy treatment option, you can pair an ice bath with a warming infrared sauna that’ll leave you feeling toasty warm.
2. Ice baths and Red Light Therapy help your body handle winter sports
If you’re a fan of winter sports, this is probably an exciting time of year for you. But even if you are chomping at the bit to get on the field or hit the slopes, cold weather means your joints are tighter, your muscles are less elastic, and your body craves a little extra TLC.
Along with a solid warm-up and cool-down, adding Red Light Therapy sessions to your schedule is a great way to support your physical recovery.
The deep-penetrating heat of the infrared sauna soothes tired muscles and reduces inflammation, while Red Light Therapy speeds up cellular repair and enhances blood flow, so you can bounce back quickly and tackle the next winter sporting event with confidence.
Black Ferns Sevens player, Michaela Blyde, says red light therapy has changed her recovery routine. “Now that I frequently do red light therapy, I don’t get anywhere near as fatigued as I used to after training. It has also helped my skin stay clear and fresh, which is a bonus!"
3. Treatments to help you fend off cold and flu
Heading to the pharmacy for a dose of vitamin C and zinc? As cold and flu season descends, we often search for support in fighting off the winter bugs, but if you’re eating a balanced diet, supplements might not be the answer.
However, there are other natural ways to strengthen your immune system. Yup, I’m talking about Red Light Therapy. Red light waves:
Enhance circulation
Reduce stress and inflammation
Improve communication between your body’s immune system cells, helping them work together better to fight off germs
Keep your body running smoothly by activating mitochondria (the ‘energy generator’ that lives within every cell in your body!).
Meanwhile, by taking your body to temperature extremes, both infrared saunas and ice baths trigger an immune response that will help fend off winter bugs.
4. Red Light Therapy will nourish your skin
Your skin puts up with a lot in winter: first, the cold Tauranga air is drying. Then, we’re outside less often, which means less exposure to sunlight, vitamin D, and fresh air. And finally, you’re frequently blasted with the drying heat of a fireplace or heat pump.
You can’t change the weather, but there is a way to say goodbye to dull, dry winter skin. Red Light Therapy promotes collagen production, improves blood flow, and detoxifies the skin from within. So if you’re suffering from common skin complaints like eczema, psoriasis, or just plain old dry skin, heading into a Red Light Therapy session can help you regain a radiant glow.
Embrace winter with Tauranga’s holistic health haven
Ready to brighten your winter with Red Light Therapy? Schedule a session at Gaia Wellness and Recovery in Papamoa today!
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