Contrast Therapy
Rediscover the balance your body was designed for.
For most of human history, we lived in rhythm with nature, feeling the heat of the sun, the chill of rivers, and the changing of the seasons. Today, we move through life in constant comfort, surrounded by the same temperature from home to car to office, disconnected from the very elements our bodies evolved to respond to.
Contrast Therapy invites us to gently return to that natural rhythm, to reconnect with our environment, our senses, and the incredible adaptability of our own bodies.
It’s a simple, powerful reminder of what it means to feel fully alive.
By returning to these elemental practices, we give our bodies the chance to remember, activating innate processes that build strength, resilience, and healing from the inside out. In a world of quick fixes and modern lifestyle diseases, this is preventative health in its purest form.
What is Contrast Therapy?
Contrast Therapy involves alternating between cold and heat exposure, such as cold plunges and saunas, to stimulate internal processes like circulation, metabolism, and recovery. These shifts in temperature activate the body’s natural healing systems, improve resilience, and help regulate stress responses.
This practice mimics the environmental challenges our ancestors naturally faced, now guided by modern science to ensure safety and maximise benefits. By working with temperature variation, we engage both body and mind, encouraging balance, adaptability, and a deeper connection to our innate strength.
At its core, Contrast Therapy supports homeostasis, the body’s ability to maintain internal stability despite external changes. Many modern lifestyle diseases stem from a disruption of this balance. By gently challenging the body through temperature extremes, we help restore its natural rhythm, building resilience and supporting long-term health from the inside out.
Why It Matters Today
Modern science now confirms what our ancestors knew intuitively: small doses of heat and cold can have powerful effects on both body and mind. Regular practice can help to:
Boost circulation and metabolism
Reduce inflammation and muscle soreness
Strengthen the immune system
Improve mood, focus, and energy
Support better sleep and stress balance
Build resilience to everyday challenges
These benefits come from reactivating the body’s natural healing and regulatory systems, processes that once thrived in nature, and that many of us have simply lost touch with.
Is Contrast Therapy Safe For Everyone?
Contrast Therapy is safe and effective when practised mindfully and with proper guidance. It’s important to listen to your body, stay present, and progress gradually.
However, this practice is not recommended for anyone with the following conditions:
Heart conditions of any kind
Unregulated blood pressure (high or low)
Epilepsy
Pregnancy
Raynaud’s Type 2
If you’re unsure whether Contrast Therapy is suitable for you, please consult your GP or healthcare professional before taking part.
If it’s not the right time for you to explore Contrast Therapy, you may find one of our other wellbeing experiences more suitable for your current needs. Feel free to browse our other offerings or get in touch for guidance, we’re happy to help you find what feels right.
Ready to Experience Contrast Therapy in Action?
Join a Thermalist Method® Workshop, a guided, science-backed session with structured protocols, breathwork, and mindfulness designed to help you reconnect with your body, manage stress, and build resilience.
For Retreat Hosts, Venue Owners and Wellness Professionals
Contrast therapy is growing in popularity, but not everyone has had the opportunity to train in the science and safety behind these powerful practices. As a rigorously trained and certified Thermalist Method® Instructor, Chantelle (Founder of The Naturally Curious) offers expert-led workshops, guest education, and collaborative retreat support to help venues deliver safe, enriching experiences. (Read more about Chantelle below.)
Whether through brief safety sessions, guided acclimatisation workshops or co-hosting immersive retreats, Chantelle helps guests build confidence, understand their limits, and engage with contrast therapy in a way that supports long-term wellbeing and not just a trend.
This is an opportunity for you, as a venue owner or retreat host, to stand out as a safety-first, guest-focused leader. By offering informed and responsible experiences, you not only elevate your offering but also demonstrate your commitment to your guests’ health and well-being.
Below is a brief breakdown of the areas where we can support you.
Safety & Guest Readiness
Lay the foundation for safe, informed practice.
This is a short, focused session designed to prepare guests before they use your contrast therapy facilities. Chantelle delivers expert-led workshops that explain the evidence-based protocols, health considerations, and safety practices essential for unsupervised use.
Includes:
Educational safety briefings for venue teams and guests
Science-backed insights into contrast therapy
Breathwork and nervous system regulation techniques
Clear, practical protocols for safe, independent use of saunas, cold plunges, or natural water access
Ideal for venues looking to introduce contrast therapy responsibly and ensure guests are informed, confident, and safe before using facilities on their own.
Acclimatisation & Self-Practice Confidence
Offer guided, supportive sessions that empower your guests.
These in-person workshops are designed to help guests safely experience contrast therapy while building confidence and body awareness. With Chantelle present throughout, guests are supported every step of the way, learning the science, history, and health benefits of the practice, alongside techniques for long-term acclimatisation and self-regulation.
Includes:
Safe acclimatisation to heat and cold exposure
In-person guidance using saunas, cold plunges, or natural water access
Breathwork and nervous system regulation techniques
Confidence-building for ongoing, independent practice
Ideal for venues looking to enhance their offering with regular, guided sessions, creating community experiences that go beyond open access, and positioning themselves as safety-conscious providers committed to guest wellbeing.
Event & Retreat Collaboration
Co-create meaningful, restorative experiences with expert support.
Chantelle welcomes collaboration with retreat hosts and venues who want to offer guests something truly special. As a trained contrast therapy guide, she ensures safety and depth while helping guests learn, evolve, and integrate the practice into their wellbeing journey.
Whether you're planning a single-day event or a multi-day retreat, Chantelle can:
Deliver contrast therapy workshops with a strong focus on safety, science, and guest empowerment
Facilitate guided sessions that integrate breathwork, mindfulness, and nature connection
Co-create immersive experiences that align with your retreat’s values and elevate your guest offering
Ideal for venues and hosts looking to collaborate with a qualified practitioner, enrich their retreat programming, and offer guests a truly holistic, evidence-informed experience.
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, Contrast Therapy Coach and Thermalist Method® Instructor
Chantelle is one of only 25 certified Thermalist Method® instructors worldwide, trained directly under Dr. Susanna Søberg in Sweden. She combines rigorous, science-backed training with a grounded, empathetic approach that helps participants feel safe, supported, and confident.
Her workshops and events are held in carefully chosen natural settings that invite you to slow down, reconnect, and immerse yourself in the restorative rhythms of nature. Through mindfulness and grounding practices, Chantelle guides participants to tune in to their breath, body, and surroundings.
Chantelle maintains the highest standards through annual recertification and ongoing access to the latest research, ensuring a safe, evidence-informed experience.
View Chantelle’s official profile on the Søberg Institute website
FAQs
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Absolutely. Whether you’re completely new or just curious 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.
