Contrast Therapy
Rediscover the Balance Your Body was Designed For.
For most of human history, we lived in rhythm with nature, feeling the warmth of the sun, the chill of rivers, and the natural shifts of the seasons.
Today, many of us move through life in a narrow band of comfort, surrounded by stable indoor temperatures from home to car to office. In that comfort, we can become disconnected from the very elements our bodies evolved to respond to.
Contrast Therapy gently invites us back into that natural rhythm. By moving between heat and cold, we reconnect with our environment, our senses, and the incredible adaptability of the human body.
It’s a simple yet powerful reminder of what it means to feel fully alive.
By returning to these elemental practices, we give the body a chance to remember, activating innate processes that support strength, resilience, recovery, and healing from the inside out. In a world full of quick fixes and modern lifestyle-related health challenges, this is preventative health in its most natural form.
Whether you’re curious to explore contrast therapy for the first time, want to experience it in a guided session, or are looking for a more personalised, hands-on approach, there’s a way to reconnect with your body that feels right for you.
What is Contrast Therapy?
Contrast Therapy involves alternating between cold and heat exposure, such as cold water immersion and sauna, to gently activate the body’s natural healing and regulatory systems.
These deliberate temperature changes help stimulate circulation, support nervous system regulation, aid recovery, and build physical and mental resilience over time.
At The Naturally Curious, our approach combines modern, science-backed principles with a deep connection to nature. Sessions are designed to be safe, supportive, and empowering, helping you build adaptability and restore balance in the body, without forcing or extremes.
Why It Matters Today
Modern science now confirms what humans have intuitively known for generations: short, intentional exposure to heat and cold can have meaningful benefits for both body and mind.
When practised regularly and with care, contrast therapy can help to:
Improve circulation and support metabolic health
Reduce inflammation and ease muscle soreness
Support immune function
Enhance mood, focus, and mental clarity
Encourage deeper sleep and better stress regulation
Build resilience to everyday physical and mental challenges
These benefits come from reactivating the body’s natural healing and regulatory systems, processes that once thrived through daily interaction with nature, and that many of us have gradually lost touch with in modern life.
Contrast therapy offers a simple, accessible way to gently reintroduce these signals, helping the body remember how to adapt, recover, and restore balance.
Is Contrast Therapy Safe For Everyone?
Your safety is always our priority.
At The Naturally Curious, contrast therapy is offered in a supportive and considered way. You’ll be guided throughout the experience, with the option to adapt or opt out at any time, ensuring you feel informed, comfortable, and in control.
Contrast therapy isn’t suitable for everyone, and that’s okay. Before attending, we ask that you review the full safety guidelines and contraindications on our Contrast Therapy Terms & Conditions page. If you’re unsure whether an experience is right for you, you’re very welcome to get in touch, we’re happy to talk it through with you.
If contrast therapy doesn’t feel like the right fit for you right now, you may find one of our other nature-based wellbeing experiences more supportive for your current needs. You’re always welcome to explore other options or reach out for guidance, we’re here to help you find what feels right.
How you can experience contrast therapy with The Naturally Curious
Contrast therapy can be experienced in different ways, depending on your curiosity, confidence, and what you’re looking for right now.
The Foundations Workshop
Learn the basics
Ideal if you’re new to heat and cold exposure
Learn safe best practices and simple techniques
Hands-on guidance in a calm, supportive setting
Time to experience the benefits and ask questions
These shorter sessions focus on building confidence, understanding your body’s signals, and learning how to practise contrast therapy safely.
The Deep Dive Workshop
Go deeper
These fully guided workshops are designed for those who want to explore contrast therapy in greater depth, with personalised support every step of the way.
You’ll be guided through:
The history and science behind contrast therapy
What happens inside the body during cycles of heat and cold exposure
How contrast therapy influences the nervous system, circulation, and stress response
Breathwork and mindfulness practices to support safety, regulation, and awareness
A fully personalised, hands-on experience, adapted to your needs and goals
These sessions offer time, space, and structure, allowing you to build a deeper understanding of your body, develop confidence in the practice, and explore contrast therapy as a long-term wellbeing tool rather than a one-off experience.
Sauna Experiences
Nature-led sauna experiences
Our sauna experiences go beyond the usual, offering a range of ways to connect with nature, yourself, and others.
Sessions can include:
Fully sensory, nature-based experiences
Mindful sauna rituals and breathwork
Deeply connecting, immersive practices that engage the senses
Playful rituals and social experiences for friends or groups
Whether you want to join a group experience or book a private session, these experiences are designed to be restorative, fun, and memorable, giving you the chance to slow down, feel fully alive, and enjoy the restorative power of heat, cold, and nature.
First access to Contrast & Sauna experiences
For Retreat Hosts, Venue Owners and Wellness Professionals
Sauna and contrast therapy are increasingly valued in modern wellbeing experiences, especially when offered with care, intention, and respect for each individual.
At The Naturally Curious, we love collaborating with hosts and wellness professionals who share our ethos: nature-led experiences, nervous-system-aware practices, and a genuine focus on people over trends.
Collaborations might include:
Co-hosted sauna and contrast therapy experiences
Forest bathing and sauna journeys
Retreat days or thoughtfully curated events
Experiences blending heat, cold, nature, and mindful practices
Each collaboration is tailored to the space, the participants, and the experience you want to offer.
If you’re interested in creating grounded, supportive experiences for your guests and exploring what’s possible together, we’d love to hear from you.
Looking To Host A Corporate Event or Well-Being Day For Your Team Or Organisation?
We offer corporate workshops and team experiences that use Contrast Therapy and other nature-based experiences to help teams recharge, build resilience, and manage stress. Sessions are fully tailored to your group’s goals, whether you’d like us to guide your team safely through a Contrast Therapy session or collaborate as part of a larger wellbeing event or retreat.
To make an enquiry, please contact us at hello@thenaturallycurious.co.uk.
Meet your Instructor
Chantelle Manz - Founder of The Naturally Curious | Sauna Host & Contrast Therapy Guide
Chantelle trained as a Thermalist Method® Instructor under the direct guidance of Prof. Susanna Søberg in Sweden, giving her a deep understanding of contrast therapy and how to safely guide others through the practice.
Curious by nature and passionate about learning, Chantelle loves exploring new ways to create memorable, meaningful experiences for people, always with a focus on nature, connection, and long-term health and wellbeing. Her approach is friendly, approachable, and grounded in science and mindfulness, blending nature connection, breathwork, and mindful heat and cold experiences.
With a background in forest bathing and holistic wellbeing practices, Chantelle brings care, expertise, and a sense of fun to every session, whether guiding group workshops, private experiences, or immersive sauna and nature-based journeys.
Chantelle loves sharing the calm of nature, the thrill of a mindful cold plunge, or the joy of playful sauna rituals, helping people reconnect with themselves and their surroundings.
FAQs
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Absolutely. Whether you’re completely new or just curious to learn more about contrast therapy, the workshops start from the basics, guiding you gently and safely through each step so you can build confidence at your own pace. Before each session, we’ll spend time together to answer any questions you have and ensure you feel fully supported and reassured.
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Start slowly and listen to your body. Everyone responds differently depending on factors like age, lifestyle, health, and personal goals. Begin with short exposures and increase gradually over time—comfort and consistency are key.
If you’d like more support, Chantelle offers longer-term programs where you can receive a personalised plan to help you build up safely and at your own pace.
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You may have experienced cold or icy plunges or sauna sessions separately, but the Thermalist Method® offers a structured, mindful approach that combines these elements in specific, science-backed cycles. It focuses on working with your body’s natural responses through gentle, guided practices tailored to your individual needs and goals. Unlike methods that push extremes, this approach prioritizes safety, breath awareness, and sustainable gradual progress to help you build resilience and wellbeing over time.
Before each session, we’ll take time to answer your questions and ensure you feel comfortable and supported throughout.
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A full kit list will be sent ahead of your session, but in general, you’ll need a swimsuit, 2x towels, warm loose comfortable layers, a changing robe, water bottle, and some outdoor shoes you don’t mind getting wet. We’ll guide you every step of the way.
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Yes — participants must be 18 or over to attend a Thermalist Method® workshop. This ensures we can uphold the safety, focus, and emotional regulation required for this type of experience.