Cold Plunge at Beit Sisu

When we received an invitation from Beit Sisu to explore their new wellness studio in Dubai Media City, Team What’s On felt it was an opportunity we couldn't miss.

Conveniently located near our headquarters, the studio promised an experience that might make some people hesitate. Here's why...

Beit Sisu is crafted as a sanctuary for individuals looking to reset, refocus, and rejuvenate.

It isn’t your typical gym, spa, or salon. Instead, it offers contrast therapy and features cold plunge baths along with a low EMF infrared sauna equipped with red light therapy.

This setup might make you shiver just thinking about it, right?

On the day of our visit, we navigated through the Arjaan by Rotana Hotel and arrived at the studio where Alicia Payne, the founder of Beit Sisu, kindly welcomed us and gave us a tour.

Alicia explained that ‘Sisu’ means to muster the inner strength to persevere through challenges.

Inside the private suite, the bath immediately caught our attention, prompting us to instinctively dip in our fingers.

I exchanged a nervous glance with Tamara, who was filming for the day, essentially making me the test subject.

The water, Alicia informed us, maintains a chilly temperature between three to eight degrees Celsius.

She noted the benefits, including enhanced circulation, reduced muscle soreness, better sleep quality, and increased mental resilience.

Alicia introduced us to the ‘hot and cold technique’—a few minutes in the cold plunge followed by time in the sauna.

The sauna, she mentioned, is equipped with a red light therapy tower to enhance skin appearance by reducing wrinkles, scars, redness, and acne.

After the tour, it was time for me to take the plunge. I changed into my swimsuit and found myself hesitantly standing on the wooden step bench.

I slowly dipped one foot in and told Tamara, “Oh okay, this isn’t so bad...” But when the other foot went in, I felt the full force of the cold.

I tugged at my swimsuit for comfort and tried to laugh off the discomfort.

I took deep breaths, slowly lowered myself onto one knee, then the other, enduring the pins and needles sensation in my feet while calming my rapid breaths.

Once I was calmer, I maneuvered to the back of the tub, quickly ending up in a seated position.

I'm not sure if the suites are soundproof, but if not, Alicia would have heard my amusingly owl-like sounds from the reception area. I refocused on controlling my breathing.

With some encouragement from Tamara, I finally submerged my arms and hands. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing amid intermittent howls and comments.

After 40 seconds, I transitioned to the sauna, where I was immediately relieved by its warmth and the red light therapy.

Three to four minutes later, it was time for round two. This time, knowing what to expect, I submerged myself more swiftly. It didn’t feel as cold as before... at first.

“Submerge your shoulders,” Tamara suggested. I tried but found it too intense. Still, I managed to stay in the water longer than during the first round before retreating once more to the sauna.

I went through this hot-cold cycle one more time before showering—Aesop products were available—and getting dressed. I might have felt what others feel after a cold bath; a bit lighter.

Back in the lobby, I shared with Alicia that it was a fantastic experience and that I would certainly return. And that’s no exaggeration.

Curious to give it a try?

The studio houses two private suites featuring both the sauna and cold plunge, plus one suite with just the cold plunge. We suspect it will be sought after, especially by the Media City professionals.

You can choose between 30-minute or one-hour sessions, and if you're uncertain, there’s no shame in starting with a shorter session.

Regardless of your choice, you’re bound to leave feeling better than when you arrived. I certainly did.

Contrast therapy prices begin at Dhs160 for 30 minutes, while the cold plunge alone starts at Dhs85 for a 15-minute session.

P.S. – If you don’t have a cheerleader like Tamara, don’t fret! You can either distract yourself with Netflix or enjoy some calming music.

Visit Beit Sisu at Arjaan by Rotana, Dubai Media City, Al Sufouh 2, Dubai. Open daily from 6 AM to 7 PM.

Source: whatson

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.