Contrast Therapy in Lymington
Move between a traditional sauna at 85–90°C and two ice baths at 3–7°C, then finish under the red light panels. One hour, £18 per person, guided for first-timers.
- £18
- Per person, 1 hour
- 85–90°C
- Sauna
- 3–7°C
- Two ice baths
- Free
- Red light therapy
What is contrast therapy?
Contrast therapy is simply alternating between heat and cold. You warm right through in a hot sauna, then cool down quickly in cold water, rest, and repeat. It has a long history in Nordic sauna culture, and today it's popular with athletes, people recovering from training and anyone who wants a reset from a busy week.
At Revitalise Hub every one-hour session includes the whole circuit: our eight-person traditional sauna heated to 85–90°C, two ice baths kept between 3°C and 7°C with timers alongside, and the red light therapy room, which is included free. You decide how long to spend in each, and our team is on hand to guide you.
What happens in a contrast therapy session?
Sessions last an hour. A typical visit looks like this:
- Arrive and settle in. First-timers get a quick tour, safety guidance and a short health questionnaire. Shoes stay outside the main hub space, and there are private changing rooms.
- Warm up in the sauna. Spend 5–20 minutes in the heat — less if you're new.
- Cool down in an ice bath. Start with 1–3 minutes. Around 3 minutes is enough for most people, and we recommend no more than 10.
- Rest and repeat. Most guests do 2–4 rounds, depending on how they feel.
- Finish with red light. 10–15 minutes under the red light panels is a calm way to wind down.
There are no strict rules — listen to your body and step out whenever you need to. Our first-visit guide covers what to bring and what to expect.
Who is contrast therapy for?
Our guests include runners, gym-goers and people training for events who use the hub for recovery, busy professionals who want to switch off, and people who come for the clear-headed feeling afterwards. You don't need any experience: the hub is beginner-friendly, and plenty of guests have never been in an ice bath before their first visit.
If you train regularly, our fitness and recovery package combines coaching with contrast therapy, and a membership makes regular sessions cheaper.
What does the research say?
Most research on contrast therapy looks at recovery after exercise. A 2013 systematic review and meta-analysis in PLOS ONE found that alternating hot and cold water was better than passive rest for reducing muscle soreness and loss of strength after exercise, although the authors note the trials were small and at high risk of bias, so the results aren't definitive (Bieuzen, Bleakley and Costello, 2013).
The evidence for each half is similar: a Cochrane review found some low-quality evidence that cold-water immersion reduces muscle soreness after exercise compared with resting (Cochrane, 2012), and long-term Finnish research has linked regular sauna bathing with better heart health, though it shows an association rather than proof of cause. We explain more in What is contrast therapy? and Sauna vs ice bath.
Contrast therapy is a wellbeing practice, not a medical treatment. If you have a heart or circulation condition, high or low blood pressure, are pregnant or have other health concerns, speak to your GP before booking.
Communal or private?
A communal session costs £18 per person and you share the hub with up to five guests in total, so it never feels crowded. A private session gives your group the whole hub for an hour, for up to seven people, at a flat £75 — ideal for friends, families, teams and celebrations.
New to contrast therapy? The introductory offer gives first-time customers 3 sessions for £35 to use within three months. Regulars save with a membership from £48 a month, and gift cards start from £18 for a session.
Prices
Every session lasts one hour and includes both ice baths, the sauna and the red light therapy room.
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Communal session | £18 | Per person, 1 hour. Share the hub with up to 5 guests. |
| Private session | £75 | The whole hub for 1 hour, for up to 7 people. |
| Introductory offer | £35 | 3 sessions for first-time customers, to use within 3 months. |
| Memberships | From £48/month | 4 sessions a month for £48, or unlimited for £60. |
Getting here
Revitalise Hub is at Ensign Yard on Ampress Lane, on the northern edge of Lymington just off the A337, with free parking outside. It's easy to reach from across the New Forest and the coast:
- Lymington town centre and station: a short drive or cycle north of the high street.
- Brockenhurst and the New Forest: head south on the A337 towards Lymington.
- Milford on Sea, New Milton and Christchurch: follow the A337 east towards Lymington.
- Southampton: come through Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst on the A337.
- Isle of Wight: the Wightlink ferry from Yarmouth arrives at Lymington Pier, a short drive from the hub.
Address
Parking
Free parking at the hub.
Opening hours
- Tue – Sat
- 8:30am – 8:00pm
- Sunday
- 8:30am – 5:30pm
- Monday
- Closed
Contrast Therapy FAQs
Quick answers before you book.
Contrast therapy means moving between heat and cold. At Revitalise Hub that's our eight-person traditional sauna (85–90°C) and two ice baths (3–7°C), with free red light therapy to finish, all within a one-hour session.
A one-hour communal session is £18 per person and includes the sauna, both ice baths and red light therapy. A private session for up to 7 people is £75. First-time customers can buy 3 sessions for £35, and memberships start at £48 a month.
Most guests do 2–4 rounds in an hour. A typical round is 5–20 minutes in the sauna followed by 1–3 minutes in an ice bath, with a short rest in between. Go at your own pace and stop whenever you need to.
Yes. First-timers get a tour of the hub and clear guidance on timings and safe ice bath use from our team, so there's no need to have tried it before and no pressure to push yourself.
It's generally safe for healthy adults. If you have a heart or circulation condition, high or low blood pressure, are pregnant or have other health concerns, speak to your GP before booking. First-time guests fill in a short health questionnaire.
Communal sessions are priced per person and shared with up to 5 guests, which suits individuals and couples. A private session gives your group the whole hub for up to 7 people at a flat rate — good value for groups of four or more.