Training to be an athlete is a full-time job, and while it is highly rewarding, there is also physical challenges, intense pain, and thresholds to push through. When I trained to compete in the Junior Olympics fifteen years ago, pain and discomfort were familiar as I marched toward my goals. Back then, the only solution to sports injury and intense soreness was stretching it out and ice. These are pretty basic remedy’s and not entirely effective in eliminating pain and allowing rigorous physical activity to continue at full steam. I was thrilled to hear about cryotherapy and even more excited to recently partner with San Antonio and Boerne's Cryofit locations to support my son’s physical evolution. Aiden’s personal journey to the Junior Olympics recently began, and we set out to see how 30 day’s of cryotherapy with Cryofit could help him heal faster and perform better than ever.

I drove Aiden to his first Cryofit session after a brutal lacrosse game. The game had gone on for hours with lightning pulling the boys off the field every 30 minutes to take shelter under metal bleachers. For some reason, they never called the game and did end up finishing it. Aiden was battered, bruised, and soaked to the bone after this heinous game. When we arrived at the Cryofit office, Aiden was dragging his feet and beat. Sheryl, the owner, was warm and inviting and settled him into a zero gravity chair right away. The zero gravity chair reclines back, and long compression sleeves are zippered onto the legs for about 10 minutes to improve overall body blood circulation. He said it It also didn’t hurt that there was a flatscreen and Netflix.

Next, it was Aiden’s turn to enter the cryotherapy chamber. I was genuinely excited for this part, to see for myself what all the hype was about. The cryotherapy chamber itself is a large capsule that a person steps into and shuts. Your head is still above the capsule, and the cold air is contained inside, for the most part. Warm hand mitts for gloves and warm boots were provided before entering the cryotherapy chamber. I had no idea how nervous Aiden was. The representative asked him to undress to his skivvies and step into the cryotherapy chamber, and we left him alone. Once he was safely inside, he rang a bell and the rep, and I were able to return to the cryo room to witness the therapy. I noticed the Cryofit rep always turned on fast-paced music to Cryofit to, and I think it also helps to keep the patient focused. As the music began, so did the liquid nitrogen. A bath of cold air began to cloud around Aiden in the tank, and his nerves kicked in. He was a shaking, nervous mess. The owner was present and continued to direct him to turn around at specified intervals and asked him conversational questions to help him calm his nerves until the therapy was over. He made it! Aiden’s first session ever at Cryofit I left laughing to myself at such a big strong dude who ended up shaking in his boots, not because he was cold but because of the unknown. After he exited the Cryofit chamber and got into the car, he said he felt great, which was a massive contrast to how he felt when we arrived.

I attribute his bump in energy to the cold therapy. He said he also felt noticeably better in general in regards to exhaustion and soreness, just after the first visit. Whole body cryotherapy or (WBC) exposes the skin to temperatures of -130 - -160 for a short burst of time, less than 3 minutes. At this extreme temperature a few things happen to the body that have significant medical and cosmetic benefits; inflammation and pain are reduced, activated collagen production, bursts of energy have been reported, the body’s metabolic rate increases burning calories and releasing several positive hormones including endorphins which is why cryotherapy has been said to help with depression, arthritis, mood disorders, and depression. Cryotherapy has also been recommended for post-surgery usage to expedite recovery and manage inflammation and pain.

I continued to take Aiden to Cryofit sessions for the next 30 days after his eventful first session. He loved it and would ask before and after practices if we were going to Cryofit that day. With his busy schedule, it wasn’t always easy to get him to Cryofit, but I could always tell the difference when he did go. Many professional athletes swear by using cryotherapy several times a day to recover from intense physical exercise so they can keep at their sport daily with minimal pain, extra energy, and increased stamina. These are the specific benefits I saw in Aiden on our 30-day journey with Cryofit. He would often ask to go to Cryofit before practice because he felt like he was performing his best after cryotherapy. He would also ask to go to Cryofit after practices. At one point he was playing Lacrosse, Football, and Track. His body was under intense physical pressure to perform. Our part at home is to ensure a proper diet and plenty of rest for him to stay at the top of his game. I believe Cryofit gave him the extra element his body needed to battle through the challenges and competitions. During Aiden’s 30 day’s at Cryofit, he learned his hard work had landed him an opportunity to make All American for Track and Field and was more than eligible to compete in the Junior Olympics in North Carolina this year. We are ecstatic, honored, and can say that Cryofit supported his body in such a way that he was able to push through the hard stuff and succeed physically in the areas he needed to.

The journey before Aiden is rough. A lot of dedication, sacrifice, and training is ahead of him. I am so glad to walk this road with him, a path I know well. We are also thankful that we have a resource like Cryofit to support him in his journey. The days of ice baths and stretching are outdated. Cryofit supports the whole body in such a way that an athlete can succeed with minimal stress and controlled pain. Stay tuned to see us on the road this summer to the Junior Olympics and check the links below to get started on your Cryotherapy journey!

cryofit boerne, texas

cryofit leon springs san antonio, texas