Hot & Cold: Mystic River Drives Contrast Therapy Category
Partnership
Sponsored By Mystic River Cold Tubs
Although ice baths date back to Ancient Greece and the sauna goes back 2,000 years, both are making a huge splash in the market today.
Together, the demand for wellness practices has brought both of them back both as individual experiences and together as contrast therapy.
The global cold plunge tub market is expected to grow from $318.6 million in 2023 to $552.7 million by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from 2024 to 2034. The sauna and spa market is expected to reach USD 5.178 billion in 2028, with a CAGR of 4.79%.
As the demand for both continues to swell, we see all shapes, sizes and designs, but are the outcomes and experiences the same between brands and products?
Mystic River Cold Tubs says absolutely not.
“There is a place for all of these different products in the market, but the experiences they deliver are vastly different,” says Mystic River Cold Tubs Founder, Daniel Schmitt. “For gyms and spas and even homes, it’s about aligning the desired outcome with the product choice and expected usage.”
Mystic River Cold Tubs – A Masterpiece Lies Within the Details
Meticulously engineered and thoughtfully hand-crafted, Mystic River’s namesake cold plunge tubs are deliberately intended to provide an unmatched and unexpected user experience.
Fittingly, Schmitt brings an unexpected background to this marketplace himself.
Coming from a line of plumbers, electricians and craftsmen, Schmitt learned his way through the trades doing everything from remodeling to floor-covering to cabinet-making,
In 2020, Schmitt found himself doing a house remodel where the owner wanted a box built for his cold plunge. When he saw it, his instinct was to take the entire cold plunge tub and make it better – so he did. He discovered that this one product involved HVAC, design, woodworking and plumbing – all of the things he’d been doing his entire career. So he got into the business and has not looked back.
While Schmitt admits to his propensity to spend countless hours on the smallest detail of the tubs he builds, he points to three things he says are most critical.
“The three components that ultimately drive a perfect ice bath experience are first, the ability to maintain the water temperature, second, the cleanliness of the tubs and third, flow rate,” he said.
Schmitt has found solutions.
One is the addition of a water agitator that keeps the body in the desired “Cold Shock Mode” throughout the plunge, which doesn’t allow the body to create a barrier around the skin/body, leading to a cold shock at higher temperatures. Schmitt is the first person to introduce this to the cold plunge experience.
And when it comes to cleanliness, Schmitt uses a robust three-filter system with nine points of filtering.
A Fitting Duo
Alongside Schmitt as a partial owner of Mystic River Cold Tubs is industry veteran and Recovery and Longevity Product Sales Expert, Jason Stella. Having worked for Life Time Fitness, IDEA Health & Fitness Association, 24 Hour Fitness and more, Stella brings with him over thirty years of leadership on the operational and programming side. He founded Jason Stella’s Path to Personal Excellence Consulting (PPE), which leverages his years of experience in the health and wellness field.
“When I saw the work Daniel was doing, everything about his approach and intention awed me – he is the Einstein of cold plunge engineering,” said Stella.
The duo has also aligned with Dr. Susanna Søberg and the Søberg Institute Thermalist Education program, further positioning them as experts and consultants in the field and offering a robust package to clients in the fitness, spa and wellness industries.
The Rise of Contrast Therapy
Soon after Stella and Schmitt partnered, they set out to incorporate the benefits of heat and contrast therapy into their offering.
“We recognized the growing popularity and profound benefits of hot, cold, and contrast therapies for health, wellness, longevity, and recovery,” said Stella. “These therapies have gained substantial traction due to their ability to improve energy and mental focus, enhance cardiovascular health, boost immune function, promote mental well-being, and enhance recovery. Given these extensive benefits, we felt it was essential to offer a comprehensive range of thermal therapy solutions.”
In pursuit of this goal, Mystic River partnered with Salus Saunas, one of the most reputable and widely recognized online sauna companies globally.
As with their cold plunge tubs, Salus saunas are distinguished by superior craftsmanship, innovative technology, and unparalleled support.
“Each sauna is designed with the user experience in mind, offering features like advanced temperature controls, efficient heating systems, and comfortable seating arrangements,” explained Stella.
The company offers traditional, Infrared (Far-infrared and Full-Spectrum), and Hybrid options, barrel saunas, cabin saunas, and luxury saunas, all of which have indoor and outdoor options, and sizes from single-person to eight-person models. This versatility allows Mystic River to cater to the unique needs of different clubs and their members.
Stella says it’s also essential to understand the type of location where the sauna will be installed. For large commercial gyms with thousands of members, he recommends custom-built saunas rather than stand-alone units. Salus Saunas has a partner to support these custom builds, ensuring they meet the demands of heavy usage.
“Most traditional saunas sold online are more suitable for home use or smaller boutiques where staff can monitor their usage,” he says. “In gyms, traditional saunas often face issues due to misuse, such as pouring water over the heaters or covering thermostats with wet towels, leading to frequent breakdowns.”
Intention & Execution
Despite the quality of Mystic River products, Stella says that having great wellness equipment means nothing if operators and facilities don’t know how to position and program it.
“We are committed to not only providing top-of-the-line (hot and cold) therapy products but also educating our clients on the best practices for using these tools effectively,” he explained. “As a partial owner of Freedom Longevity and Wellness in Lake Norman, North Carolina, I have firsthand experience with the challenges that can arise in this industry.”
Stella noted that the studio once faced significant setbacks “due to a corrupt business owner,” which, for Mystic River Cold Tubs, has “only strengthened our resolve to meet our clients where they are, providing tailored equipment selection and understanding how certain products will not last or perform as needed in a commercial setting.”
“Our team offers consultative services and ongoing support, seeing it as a long-term partnership that prioritizes their success and the well-being of their members,” he added.
Stella is confident in the future of Mystic River Cold Tubs, bolstered by the brand’s quality and its partnerships with key players.
“We are excited to see the positive impact that our solutions are having on clubs around the world, and we look forward to continuing to lead the way in hot & cold therapy solutions,” he said. “With our partnership with Salus Saunas, combined with our unwavering commitment to quality and customer support, we are confident that we offer the best solutions for clubs looking to enhance their wellness offerings. Additionally, our exclusive partnership with Discovery Land Company, one of the premier real estate developers and private residential communities and resorts in the world, further solidifies our position as the premier, high-end cold tub manufacturer in the industry.”
This article originally ran in the The Business of Prevention, Recovery & Longevity Report 2024. Download the report now to read more insights into how fitness and wellness brands are making strides in key markets.