The Blurb
We covered The Body Lab a few months ago as a rejuvenation destination for athletes, runners and beyond. We were invited back and this time they sent me, a person whose To-Do list has ’20 minutes of yoga’ listed at the bottom – a task that has stood untouched for over a year.
I wanted to use this visit to test something different. The Body Lab prides itself on science-backed spa-like treatments but is it really a good remedy for general health?
At the point of visiting, my nerves are all over the place after a particularly stressful period and all of the body ailments that accompany that for me personally (we all have our specific stress-related woes – insomnia, back pain, IBS, bladder infections – you name it, I’ve been there) were flaring up. When you’re down and out physically, you need to find something that not only relaxes and rejuvenates, but also kick-starts your immune system. Safe to say, when I have a flare-up of anything and the usual fixes aren’t hitting the sides, I always struggle to know where to go.
Aesthetically, The Body Lab fits perfectly within the up-market buildings on Kensington High Street. Chic luxury meets super comforting deep white sofas, tree-sized pot plants and still and sparkling water dispensers. The coffee is pretty good too.
The Process
The good thing about the Body Lab is that you pay for a package, so you can spend as much or as little time as you like using the varied list of treatments, working out in their gym and generally looking after your overall well-being. I was visiting today to test out Cryotherapy and the Infrared sauna for a maximum immune boost.
I’d tried Cryotherapy before but that time my head was safely sticking out of the machine and very much at normal temperature. The Body Lab provides full-body Cryotherapy: a full-sized chamber somewhere between a freezer and an oversized popcorn machine. It was like stepping into a heavily controlled and incredibly safe blizzard, possibly on an icecap in the South Pole. Once in, the biggest difference I noticed was that my breath was turning to icicles, which was initially unnerving, but once I relaxed into it, a bit exciting!
Once out, the level of endorphins rushing through my body felt on par with that of a solid workout or a dip in the sea… but this was central London and, so far, I’d only been in the building for 10 minutes.
Afterwards, I went straight into the Infrared sauna, nestled within the changing rooms, so the perfect addition to any treatment route you’ve taken that day. The sauna replicates the effects of the sun without the nasty side effects. A gentle, warming experience that involved little to no sweat. It was a joy to sit there with a book after my visit to the Arctic.
The gym is handsomely equipped and their packages include sessions with a personal trainer. You can book massages, osteopathy, the Hyperbaric Hydroxy Airpod and even nutritional advice. I opted not to visit the floating tank, as I had an event later that day and didn’t want to wet my hair.
Afterwards, I felt like I’d been on a hike, been wild swimming and spent the afternoon at the beach. I felt less rundown and notably energised, even after one session. As for the impact the experience had on my immune system, well that’s backed by science.
Plus you can do it in your lunch break. Anyone who says you can do a Swedish sauna or a Hot yoga class in your lunch break, including showering, washing your hair, cleaning up and being back in the office within an hour, clearly has a very lenient boss! For those of us who are busy bees living and working more centrally, this might be just the ticket.
The Details
151/153 Kensington High Street London, England, W8 6SU, United Kingdom
