Original Article: Glamour – By Petra Guglielmetti
Last week, we had Gwyneth Paltrow steaming her vagina. Now we have Minka Kelly and Mandy Moore freezing their bums off. Everyone, check out the latest weird spa treatment that’s winning celebrity fans: cryotherapy, where you expose your body to extreme low temperatures.
Moore announced her new obsession with cryotherapy to the world via Instagram last week and has since gotten famous friend Kelly to join her for another session at L.A.’s Cryo Healthcare. There, for $65, you can spend 2 to 3 minutes in the Cryochamber, chilling to the tune of -200 to -240 degrees Farenheit. No that’s not a typo. Negative two hundred to two hundred forty degrees. Whaaat?
“She may not but a convert YET but @minkak got through her first #cryotherapy session like a baller! #friendsmakefriendstrycryotherapy #feelinglikeamillionbuck,” Moore writes in her caption.
“Cutie pie and #cryotherapy warrior, @mandymooremm warming her booty up after freezing it off!!,” Kelly writes.
Now for the important question: What the heck are these ladies thinking? Well, there are a few forms of cryotheraphy out there, and expert opinions on their benefits vary, but here’s Cryo Healthcare’s specific claim: “The skin reacts to the cold and sends messages to the brain that acts as a stimulant to the regulatory functions of the body. It produces the scanning of all areas that may not be working to their fullest potential. The skin exposure to the extreme temperatures also triggers the release of anti-inflammatory molecules and endorphins.” Cryo Healthcare also offers cryotherapy facials that purportedly reduce pores, fine lines, and dark spots; I contacted several dermatologists before posting this, but none felt comfortable commenting on this technology, as they aren’t familiar enough with it.
Hmm. I also haven’t yet reviewed the studies behind these cryotherapy claims, but I have to admit, my inner daredevil is intrigued. I’m a native Mainer with a high tolerance for cold, I enjoy those sub-zero vodka lounges, and while I’ve never done a polar-bear plunge, I can’t say I’d say no if pressured. So unlike with Gwyneth’s vadge steaming, this is one crazy-sounding spa treatment I’d actually be willing to try at least once or twice. I can also see it being a fun girls’ bonding activity, which is probably just what Moore needs right now (she’s going through a divorce).
What do you think of the idea of freezing your bum off in a cryotherapy session? Would you be adventurous enough to try something like this? Or would you sooner steam your vagina?
Photos: Instagram