What cryotherapy is like: I stood semi-naked in a freezing chamber

Baby, it’s cold inside.

Embrace that cold. That cold is good for you.

At least that’s what proponents of cryotherapy claim. Cryotherapy emerged around 2015 as a recovery method for elite athletes like LeBron James and slowly found its way into mainstream wellness culture.

For 2-5 minutes, clothed only in socks, Crocs, and gloves, you stand in an insulated cryochamber that is filled with air that ranges between -120 and -150 degrees Celsius. Supposedly, this triggers a shock response from your body, which then redirects bloodflow from your limbs to your core.

Cryotherapy proponents claim that the treatment offers a whole host of benefits, including increased metabolism, heightened endorphin levels, weight loss, muscle pain relief, improved skin, and glossier hair.

However, the science behind cryotherapy is a little shaky. Although some research suggests cryotherapy may help reduce inflammation, there are no credible studies that conclusively support claims that cryotherapy is a cure-all.

Read more: I spent 55 minutes in a boiling hot infrared heat bed watching TV at an ‘urban sweat lodge.’ I almost didn’t make it through.

Still, a cryotherapy session is only 2-5 minutes long. Always curious, I went to a cryotherapy clinic in Lower Manhattan to see what it was like for myself.