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Rytual is the premiere contrast therapy bathhouse in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, UT. We offer hourly guided session of sauna and cold exposure therapy, while elevating the experience with guided breath work, light therapy, and an immersive soundscape to engage all of your senses. Book a Session, Change Your State, Change Your Life.
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We get it, ice is cheap and saunas are not rocket science. What makes Rytual so unique and unparalleled in the wellness industry is our expertise in curating the entire environment to create an immersive and responsive experience for all senses. It took us many years to accrue and synthesize this knowledge to be able to orchestrate the perfect sequence, pair breath work correctly and guide it all along with carefully selected sounds and rhythms. While our tools and technology are cutting edge, it is our knowledge, experience and understanding that sets us apart. We experimented, tinkered, obsessed, and studied different modalities and recovery techniques for many years to create this perfect blend. We hope you will join us to experience it for yourself and feel the life-changing difference.
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Human beings sometimes have a tendency to seek public approval and kudos when doing difficult things — ice baths included. Rytual is not guided by this ethos. We do not use cold or heat exposure as a badge of honor or a measure of toughness. We do not encourage or condone shocking the Central Nervous System in a painful "baptism by ice". Feeling pain and discomfort is sometimes necessary, but it should not be the goal of this practice.
Contrast therapy is a relative, subjective and individualized practice. What temperature level is used and how long a client is exposed to certain temperatures should be guided by the client's intuition and their unique needs and goals for the practice. The level of difficulty should not be unilaterally dictated by the practitioner. At Rytual, we seek powerful and meaningful experiences. This means that we teach our clients to connect to their internal guidance system and intuitively gauge how to best apply our modalities gradually and progressively. We act as guides to our clients, and will never pressure them into taking on more than they are able to comfortably handle. In fact, we will often pull clients back and advise a more gradual progression to ensure that the client is using appropriate levels of cold and heat to assist with healing and recovery. Our goal is long-term improvement, not short term bragging rights.
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The simple answer is Yes… To Both. Heat and cold exposure therapy will absolutely improve your health and recovery. If you're a science or data nerd, check out our references below for a more rigorous deep dive into the documented benefits of cold and heat exposure therapy.
And yes, in some ways, these contrast modalities are a fad that keeps making a comeback through various cultures and societies. Contrast therapy was widely practiced in the Ancient Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, Feudal Japan (among others) and it remains a widely accepted practice in most Scandinavian cultures to this day. Contrast therapy is currently experiencing a revival in our allopathic-oriented Western society, and we are here for it.
Contrast therapy benefits
Personal Well-being
Contrast therapy has emerged independently as a cultural practice across disconnected cultures and societies around the globe for thousands of years. Why is that? We have only recently been able to find answers to this fascinating phenomenon.
With advances in science and research, we are now able to accurately measure the physiological effects of hot and cold exposure on the human body. Once thought of as a way to simply reduce inflammation for sore muscles or invigorate the body, we now understand that there is a deeply complex feedback loop that affects the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal), a neuroendocrine system that regulates the body's stress response. Research and our direct experience are now showing that contrast temperature exposure is directly correlated with reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease, improved protection against Alzheimer's, Dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases, as well as statistically significant improvements in longevity and reductions in all-cause mortality.
Most importantly, contrast therapy feels good to the human body. And when the body feels good, our minds follow suit in the healing process.
communal growth
In addition to the overwhelmingly positive research showing mental and physical benefits of contrast therapy (research articles cited below), heat and cold therapy have also been used to create and maintain tight-knit communities for centuries. Paired with breath work and carefully curated soundscapes, we are able to completely transform our professional and personal relationships. Sharing challenging experiences of healing and growth also encourages relational prosperity, community and wellbeing.
Contrast therapy spaces were historically used (especially in the Ancient Roman Empire) as a place to gather and discuss philosophy, politics, and society and make enormous civilizational advances. Book a session for your personal or professional community today to experience how contrast therapy can create a bonding environment, build trust in your teams, encourage brainstorming and innovation, or simply create a safe space for your community members to connect with each other. There is something profound in sharing a healing space with those we care about or create and innovate with, whether it is your friend group, your company's executive team, or even your competitors. Join us and unleash the dormant power of your team today.
The overwhelming evidence for practicing contrast therapy
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Sauna bathing has been shown to improve arterial compliance and cardiovascular function. It can reduce the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease incidences, with a dose-response relationship observed between sauna frequency and cardiovascular mortality rates. 1 2
Regular sauna use is associated with improved endothelial and microvascular function, reduced blood pressure, and arterial stiffness, which contribute to overall cardiovascular health. 1
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Sauna sessions can improve ventilation, lung function, and reduce pulmonary congestion. These benefits may be due to the direct effects of heat on the airways and lung tissue.
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Sauna exposure can boost mental health by promoting relaxation and well-being, potentially through increased production of endorphins. It has also been studied as a treatment for depression, with findings suggesting that heat therapy can help alleviate symptoms by engaging the body's self-cooling mechanisms. 1.2.
Heat exposure has been studied for its potential to reduce depression symptoms. The physiological response to heat, such as sweating and subsequent cooling, may help regulate body temperature and improve mood 3.
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Sauna use may relieve pain in musculoskeletal conditions by affecting sensory nerve endings in the skin. The combination of heat stress and cooling-off periods can enhance analgesic effects, reflected by increased circulating levels of β-endorphins. 1.
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The effects of sauna bathing on oxidative stress are mixed. Some studies show a reduction in oxidative stress after a sauna session, while others report an increase. This area requires further research to clarify the mechanisms involved 1.
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Heat exposure, such as through sauna use, can improve cellular heat stress tolerance, which is linked to a reduction in pro-inflammatory markers and improved lipid profiles. This can contribute to better cardiometabolic health and longevity. 1.
The process of thermogenesis and mild hyperthermia during heat exposure helps regulate core temperature and can have broad health benefits, including improved blood flow and muscle function. 1.
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Cold exposure can activate brown fat, which helps in thermogenesis and improves insulin sensitivity. This can be beneficial for metabolic health and weight management. 5.
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Cold exposure activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to the release of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine. This can enhance mental alertness and mood. 4.
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Cold exposure, such as through cold water immersion, can reduce post-exercise muscle soreness and inflammation, aiding in faster recovery 6.
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Cold therapies, including cryotherapy and ice baths, have been explored as treatments for depression. The physiological stress induced by cold exposure may help improve mood and mental health 7.