Written by Dr.Marcus - Published on Feb 28, 2024

"Purchased the Sauna for a Christmas present for me and my partner, what a great addition to the house absolutely love it. Great product really enjoying the relaxing time after a workout. Falling asleep has become so easy since making this part of my routine!" Steve (41 years old)

As we get older, life gets busier — work, family, and daily responsibilities take over, and for many, fitness and recovery take a backseat. It’s easy to fall into the mindset that slowing down is just part of aging. But the truth is, this is when looking after your body matters most. After 35, muscle recovery slows, joint stiffness increases, and energy levels start to dip. The key to staying strong, pain-free, and feeling your best isn’t to do less, it’s to double down on recovery and longevity habits. The combination of hot and cold exposure is a scientifically backed way to combat these effects and keep you stronger, healthier, and more resilient. Here’s how regular ice baths and saunas can help counteract the key challenges of aging:

One of the biggest challenges with aging is a slower metabolism, making it easier to gain fat and harder to stay lean. Hormonal shifts, such as declining testosterone and estrogen, further contribute to fat storage especially around the midsection. Ice baths activate brown fat, which helps burn more calories and improve insulin sensitivity. 

Saunas increase heart rate and circulation, mimicking the effects of cardiovascular exercise and stimulating fat metabolism. By regularly exposing your body to both hot and cold, you can naturally boost your metabolism and maintain a leaner physique.

As we age, cartilage breaks down, leading to joint pain, stiffness, and an increased risk of osteoarthritis. Cold therapy helps by reducing joint inflammation and swelling, keeping mobility high and pain levels low. 

Saunas improve blood flow to joints, delivering nutrients that support cartilage repair and lubrication. This combination of hot and cold therapy helps protect your joints, relieve stiffness, and keep you moving pain-free.

As we get older, muscle recovery slows, and age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) can start in our mid-30s. This leads to longer recovery times, increased soreness, and a higher risk of injury. Ice baths help by reducing inflammation and muscle soreness, allowing you to bounce back quicker from workouts. 

Saunas work in the opposite way by increasing circulation and muscle relaxation, delivering oxygen and nutrients that speed up repair. Together, they create the perfect balance of repair and recovery, keeping your muscles stronger for longer.

Aging causes blood vessels to stiffen, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, poor circulation, and heart disease. Ice baths improve cardiovascular function by strengthening blood vessels and improving heart rate variability (HRV), which is a key marker of heart health.

Saunas work by increasing circulation and lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. By incorporating contrast therapy, you effectively train your circulatory system, keeping your heart and blood vessels in peak condition.

From testosterone and estrogen to human growth hormone (HGH), key hormones decline as we age, impacting energy, muscle mass, libido, and overall vitality. Cold therapy has been shown to increase testosterone and HGH naturally, promoting better muscle retention, fat loss, and energy levels. 

Saunas help balance hormonal health by reducing cortisol (the stress hormone) and stimulating HGH production. By using both therapies consistently, you can support healthier hormone levels and maintain peak performance well into your later years.

The Polar Recovery Steam Sauna is a fully portable, insulated steam sauna, designed to deliver the luxury and benefits of a £5,000+ spa sauna—at a fraction of the price. Its tent-like structure effectively retains heat, allowing you to enjoy deep relaxation, detoxification, and enhanced recovery from the comfort of your home.

Powered by steam technology, it works by heating water to generate soothing steam, raising both humidity and temperature to create an immersive sauna experience that supports circulation, muscle recovery, and overall wellness.

For the ultimate recovery experience, pair it with an ice bath to harness the power of contrast therapy—boosting circulation, reducing inflammation, and leaving you feeling refreshed and recharged.

In early 2022, Polar Recovery set out on a mission to make cold water therapy accessible to everyone, launching their now best-selling ice baths. By 2023, they had sold over 50,000 units worldwide, proving just how powerful cold therapy could be. But recovery doesn’t stop at the cold—so with their success, they decided to take things a step further. Using their momentum, they set out to develop the world’s most affordable portable sauna, bringing heat therapy to even more people.

After months of trial, testing, and perfecting, the Polar Recovery Sauna Tent was born. It quickly became a runaway success, selling out over five times, earning award nominations, and receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers. What started as an ambitious idea has now become one of the most affordable and effective ways to experience full-body recovery at home—and with both hot and cold therapy now within reach, Polar Recovery is only just getting started.