The Ice Zone, new from Viking Saunas, is said to be the gentler, yet just as beneficial, alternative to jumping into a freezing cold shower between sauna or steam room sessions.
As a simplified form of cryotherapy, the Ice Zone delivers a constant supply of ice particles at -0.5 degrees C., the structure of which is such that they don't freeze together into hard lumps. They are completely non-abrasive to the skin and can't cause ice burn or damage underlying tissue.
Explaining, Pam Senior, director of the Wigan-based company, says: “During a 10 minute sauna session, skin temperature can reach 40 degrees C and body temperature 38 degrees C.
"The sensation of rubbing flaked ice over the body is cooling, refreshing and invigorating, closes the pores, and helps exfoliate and tighten the skin. This can be far more pleasurable than the shock of a cold shower."
Ice Zones can range from a simple wall mounted ice station to a complete room with seating, feature crystals and lighting. The ice machines which Viking supplies are constructed from stainless steel, delivering up to 375kg of ice flakes per 24 hrs.
The ice is discharged to a basin via pipework fitted with infra-red sensors to detect when the bowl is full in order to prevent spillage.