Express
A short, restorative reset in the recovery room. Move between heat and cold at your own pace.
- Early bird
Mon to Fri, 6 to 10am$25 - Weekday
Mon to Fri, 10am to 9pm$28 - Weekend
Sat and Sun$30
Contrast therapy
Contrast therapy
Moving deliberately between heat and cold. It is the thing most people come here for, and the reason the room is laid out the way it is. Everything is within a few steps, so you can keep a rhythm without thinking about it.
What it actually is
Warm through in the magnesium pool or the sauna until you are properly hot, which usually takes ten to fifteen minutes, not two. Then into the cold plunge for as long as you can hold a slow breath, which for most people is somewhere between thirty seconds and three minutes. Then sit, and let your body come back to itself.
That is one cycle. Most people run two or three in a session. There is no correct number and no target to hit. The room is not a test.
The full circuit lives under one roof in Sandgate, on Brisbane's northside, so you can move between hot and cold without ever going outside.
Who it suits: Anyone. Athletes off the mats, people on their feet all day, parents after a week of it, and people who simply want an hour where nothing is asked of them.
How we run it
- Shower before you get in, and again between hot and cold.
- Warm through properly before the first plunge. Cold on a cold body is just unpleasant.
- Breathe slowly in the plunge and keep your shoulders down. Get out when you want to.
- Rest between cycles. This is the part people skip and the part that matters.
Why people keep coming back
Muscle soreness
The most common reason people book, and the effect most obvious to them, particularly after training or a long week on their feet.
Sleep
A lot of members book evenings specifically for this. Anecdotal, but it is the feedback we hear most often after soreness.
The nervous system
The part that is hardest to name. Deliberately moving through heat and cold gives you an hour where the only thing to manage is your own breathing.
The habit
Recovery does very little as a one-off and quite a lot as a routine. That is the whole reason memberships exist.
★★★★★
“Had my first of what will be many sessions today. Such a serene and relaxing place with lovely, helpful staff. The contrast therapy has already shown some results.”
★★★★★
“After a half day moto X riding up in the Glasshouse Mtns, this was just the ticket we needed for our sore bodies. Highly recommend 90 mins — it's hard to leave this magic spot.”
Sessions that include this
Recovery 60
A balanced recovery experience designed to restore body and mind. Time to unwind, regulate and reconnect.
- Early bird
Mon to Fri, 6 to 10am$39 - Weekday
Mon to Fri, 10am to 9pm$42 - Weekend
Sat and Sun$46
Common questions
How long should a session be?
Thirty minutes is enough for one solid cycle if you are efficient. Sixty is comfortable for two or three. Ninety is for when you do not want to watch the clock.
How cold is the plunge?
Cold enough that your breath catches. Ask at reception for the current setting. We would rather tell you the real number than a marketing one.
Do I have to use the cold?
No. Plenty of people use only the pools and sauna. The cold is available, not compulsory.
Can I come without booking?
Book if you can. Sessions are capped so the room stays quiet. Walk-ins depend entirely on the day.