Contrast Therapy
aka Fire & Ice
Contrast therapy.
it’s really hot, and it’s really cold.
Going back and forth between the two is an ecstatic experience that benefits your body & mind in many ways, including:
Benefits of Contrast Therapy
Our fire & ice room is available for private sessions of 1 to 3 people. The sauna & cold plunge are in the same private room, along with a double shower. We recommend you bring a large water bottle and your birthday suit. If your small group prefers to wear swimsuits together that is fine too of course.
Please note that if we have guests floating during your contrast therapy session we will ask that you respect their session by keeping your volume down. We will let you know during check in what kind of noise level is acceptable at that time. If you don’t want to worry about noise as much please contact us to schedule a good time.
Fire & Ice Pricing
60 minutes
Private $79
+ add a guest $30 (max 3 guests)
90 minutes
Private $99
+ add a guest $54 (max 3 guests)
* 3 hour sessions are also available by request.
At the last screen when booking online feel free to let us know if you have any modifiers for your appointment.
Modifiers for Fire & Ice are:
Dark Mode. The only light in the room comes from the Himalayan salt backrest, the water bucket, and the cold plunge. There are two light switches in the room to add light on your own if you end up wanting more light.
Sunset Mode. In addition to the backrest, water bucket, and cold plunge lights there is an LED strip above the shower and an LED strip behind the cold plunge that are coordinated in a slow dynamic exchange of sunset colors.
Bright Mode. All lights at max brightness. This mode is not our favorite but some people like bright lights before noon.
Add LMNT or CBD tincture doses.
Add more participants (max 4 total in the room).
Q & A
How hot? And how cold?
We keep our sauna around 185°f and our cold water between 45° & 48°. These temperatures do wander a bit, depending on how many people are cold plunging and how long the sauna door is left open during your session.
Isn’t 90 minutes way too long? And forget 3 hours!
It’s true that 90 minutes in either the sauna or the cold pool would be a very, very bad idea. Together, however, they make it rain. 45 minutes is enough time for a sauna, rinse off, then cold plunge before getting dressed. 90 minutes is enough for a couple sessions of each. 3 hours is enough to do many rounds, with an optional airing out on our back patio at your leisure. You may find the sessions get better and better, and that at 1 hour you are just getting started..
Can I bring beers?
Our fire is so hot and our ice is so cold, you will not need any mind altering substances. Trust us. If you stay in the cold pool for 4+ minutes you’ll experience your very own free euphoria.
And on a serious note, no drugs or alcohol are allowed. Further, if we sense you are impaired in a way where you may damage our facility or bother our other guests we will not serve you and we will still charge for the session. Please don’t mess around.
What are those funny hats all about?
Silly sauna hats are great! Sauna is meant to raise your core temp, not to cook your brain. Also the high heat can cause hair to have split ends. Wearing a wool sauna hat will allow you to stay in longer and get more benefit out of your sessions. We have wool sauna hats for sale at deep for $20-$25. We also have rental hats for $5/session.
Monica and Luke (owners of Deep) enjoying a session with their beloved sauna hats on.
Is this an infrared sauna?
No. This is a traditional sauna, where you may choose to pour water over the rocks to make steam.
What’s the difference?
While infrared saunas max out around 150°f, traditional saunas maintain 180°+f. We have a traditional sauna because that’s what we love, and because we feel contrast therapy is best served with high heat.
Is this safe for me?
That’s a great question. You should DEFINITELY ask your doctor if you have any question about that. Also, our motto in this room is listen to yourself, and be gentle. Contrast therapy provides many of the same benefits as rigorous exercise, including an increased heart rate. While this kind of stress to your body is beneficial if you’re ready for it, it can also be taken too far to your detriment. These are powerful therapies, so proceed with caution.
I have a physical injury right now, can I still come?
Yes! Depending of course on you and perhaps your helper’s ability to maneuver safely around the facility. Contrast therapy is helpful to injuries, as it cycles blood & lymph through the areas that are not able to exercise as normal.
“The fire & ice room at deep has been very important for my recovery, both mentally and physically. I feel like I am able to take some control in my recovery and gain the benefits of some cardiovascular exercise without the risk of injury and while potentially decreasing my healing time.” ~ Luke Kretschmar
Can the cold pool give me frost bite or hypothermia?
Hypothermia yes, but your body will give you clear signals to get out long before that time. If you get goosebumps and start to shiver during your cold plunge that is natural. It is also common to experience intense feelings of euphoria after a few minutes, along with some temporary impairment to your motor skills. Even these intense physical sensations are still 15 minutes or more before the point where most people would start to get in trouble. Just listen to yourself, and move slowly when getting out.
Can I get heat exhaustion in the sauna?
Yes you can, if you try to be some kind of sauna hero. That said, we’ve never heard of anyone in our large network of sauna bathers who got into trouble with heat exposure. If you feel too hot, just get out! It’s very natural. Have a nice cool rinse in the shower then get in the cold pool or get dressed and exit the room.
Are there any peer reviewed studies I can read on contrast therapy?
While there is not a lot out there yet on the way we choose to provide contrast therapy, the benefits of traditional sauna & cold therapy are well established on their own. Here are just a couple of items:
Another great source of information on both sauna and cold plunging is HubermanLab.com
Do you have electrolyte replacement drinks for sale at deep?
Yes we carry our favorite electrolyte drink, LMNT. This is helpful for replacing minerals during or after an intense sauna session. Available in single servings for $2 and in a box of 30 for $45. When buying a box you are welcome to mix and match flavors :)
Deep’s co-owner Luke loves the ice!
Also, fun fact, the first time Luke & Jacob hung out together was both of their first time cutting a hole in the ice and getting in. Monica used to HATE cold water. When Luke built our Fire & Ice room she had to try it though, since it was now in her business. Monica fell in love with cold water therapy, and she now hangs her arms in the water between massages to give her hardworking arms some love.