ALTRINCHAM · WA14 5HH

Contrast Therapy in Altrincham

RE:UP Altrincham offers contrast therapy sessions combining Finnish and infrared saunas with two cold plunge baths at 4–7°C. 90-minute free-flow sessions from £20 at 20 Huxley Street, Broadheath. Open seven days a week, 7am to 9pm.

Book a Session — from £20 Full Session Details →

£20

Sessions from

Saunas

Cold plunge baths

90 min

Session length

THE QUICK ANSWER

RE:UP is a sports recovery centre at 20 Huxley Street, Broadheath, Altrincham. It has two saunas (Finnish dry sauna at 80–90°C and infrared at 50–60°C) and two cold plunge baths maintained at 4–7°C. Contrast therapy — alternating between the sauna and the cold plunge in rounds — is the primary use of the facility. A 90-minute free-flow session costs from £20 and includes access to everything: both saunas, both cold plunges, Normatec compression, mobility zone and free refreshments. Open seven days a week. Free parking on site.

WHAT IT IS

Sauna and ice bath, alternated in rounds

Contrast therapy is the deliberate alternation between heat and cold. You go from the sauna into the cold plunge, then back to the sauna, then back to cold — repeating the cycle 3–4 times in a 90-minute session.

The heat dilates blood vessels and relaxes muscle tissue. The cold narrows them rapidly, redirecting blood to the core. Moving between the two forces repeated cycles of vasoconstriction and vasodilation — a vascular pumping effect used to clear metabolic waste and accelerate recovery after training or competition.

RE:UP sessions are free-flow — there is no fixed protocol or instructor timing you. Most people find a rhythm of 3–4 rounds naturally within 90 minutes. Staff are on hand if you want guidance.

Full guide: what is contrast therapy and how it works →

Sauna — 10–15 minutes

Finnish dry sauna at 80–90°C or infrared at 50–60°C. Heat raises core temperature, relaxes muscle tissue and opens blood vessels in preparation for the cold.

Cold plunge — 2–3 minutes

Cold water immersion at 4–7°C. Vasoconstriction and the norepinephrine response happen within seconds. Controlled breathing makes the cold manageable even for first-timers.

Repeat — 3 to 4 rounds

Return to the sauna, allow blood vessels to reopen, then back to cold. Each round reinforces the vascular pumping effect. Most people complete 3–4 rounds in 90 minutes.

Finish on cold

Most protocols end on cold — it leaves the body in a calm, low heart rate state with the norepinephrine response still active. Some prefer finishing on heat for relaxation.

THE FACILITY

Two saunas and two cold plunge baths at 20 Huxley Street

Having two saunas and two cold plunges means there is never a queue. You always have something to go into when you are ready to switch.

Finnish dry sauna — 80–90°C

Traditional dry heat. Higher temperature and lower humidity than infrared. The most commonly used sauna for contrast therapy protocols — the intense heat primes the body quickly for the cold plunge transition.

Infrared sauna — 50–60°C

Lower temperature with a different heat mechanism. Effective for those who find the Finnish sauna too intense, or for longer sessions. Both saunas are included in every session — you choose which to use.

Cold plunge baths — 4–7°C

Two purpose-built cold plunge units maintained at 4–7°C by a chiller system. Temperature is monitored daily. Deep enough to submerge the whole body to the shoulders — the same standard used in professional sports recovery.

Normatec compression

Pneumatic compression boots for lymphatic drainage and venous return. Included in every session. Many people use them between rounds — they complement the vascular effect of contrast therapy.

THE PHYSIOLOGY

What the body does during contrast therapy

Each temperature transition triggers a distinct response. Here is what happens at each stage — no claims beyond the established physiology.

Vasoconstriction (cold)

On entering the cold plunge, peripheral blood vessels narrow rapidly. Blood is redirected to the core. This happens within seconds of immersion at 4–7°C.

Vasodilation (heat)

On entering the sauna — or on exiting the cold — blood vessels reopen. Oxygenated blood floods back into peripheral tissue, clearing metabolic waste products including lactate.

Norepinephrine release

Cold exposure reliably produces a large norepinephrine surge — the same neurochemical involved in alertness and focus. Most people feel sharp and clear-headed immediately after a cold plunge.

Parasympathetic recovery

After the session, as core temperature normalises, the body enters a pronounced parasympathetic state: heart rate drops, cortisol falls, and sleep quality is commonly reported as improved that night.

There is consistent evidence that contrast water therapy reduces perceived muscle soreness (DOMS) and accelerates subjective recovery in the 24–72 hours after exercise, particularly for endurance and team sport athletes. Read the full evidence guide →

WHO COMES HERE

Who uses contrast therapy at RE:UP

Runners and endurance athletes

The most consistent users. Heavy mileage accumulates systemic fatigue and local muscle damage that contrast therapy clears efficiently. Many marathon and triathlon athletes in Altrincham, Sale and Hale book 2–3 times per week during training blocks.

Team sport players

Used within 24 hours of a match. Rugby, football and cricket players commonly book the morning after a game. The vascular pump clears lactate and reduces DOMS fast enough to allow full training to resume within 48–72 hours.

Gym users and strength athletes

For DOMS management and recovery between sessions. Some concern exists that frequent post-lift cold immersion may blunt hypertrophy signalling — for most recreational gym users training 3–5 times per week, the recovery benefit outweighs any marginal effect.

People using it for wellbeing

No sports background required. The norepinephrine spike from cold exposure followed by the parasympathetic shift produces a reliable mood and sleep effect. Once or twice a week, consistently, is enough.

Opening Soon

Recovery Sessions & Memberships — Opening Soon

Our sauna and ice bath recovery suite is launching soon at 20 Huxley Street, Altrincham. Join the waitlist and we'll let you know the moment we open — register your interest for launch dates, founding-member offers and first access.

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