Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti in Italy has introduced a new complimentary Cold Experience inspired by the therapeutic power of contrast between heat and cold as a natural path to wellbeing.
Heat therapies are known to increase blood and oxygen circulation, relax muscles and ease stiffness, while cold exposure constricts blood vessels to reduce swelling, inflammation and bruising, providing a natural soothing effect. Cold therapy is also associated with reduced stress, improved sleep, enhanced immune response, the release of endorphins and lower cortisol levels.
Developed by Lefay SPA fitness experts, the new guided group experience takes place first thing in the morning four times a week year round and begins with focused breathing exercises performed while standing on ice. Guests are encouraged to maintain a steady rhythm of breath, shifting attention away from the cold stimulus and cultivating mental resilience.
The experience then moves outdoors for a barefoot walk through the resort’s gardens, allowing guests to connect with nature as they walk across crisp grass, which could be covered with frost, snow or rain. Back indoors, the ritual continues with a cold shower concentrated on the lower limbs, followed by the Kneipp path, where alternating warm and cold water stimulates the peripheral cardiovascular and lymphatic systems, encouraging circulation and fluid return towards the centre of the body.
An invigorating ice scrub is then applied to the legs and feet before guests enter the final stage: a cold plunge at 10°C. This is completed in three progressive rounds—immersion up to the knees for 40–50 seconds, to mid-thigh for over one minute, and finally to the pelvis for more than a minute and a half—optionally followed by a full-body immersion.
The experience concludes in a dedicated relaxation area, where guests unwind with a warm herbal tea. Participants leave feeling physically energised, mentally stronger and more self-aware.
The Cold Experience takes place within the Red Phoenix area of Lefay SPA, a zone dedicated to the use of cold therapies for wellbeing. The resort’s 5,000 sqm spa is one of the largest wellness destinations in the Alps and features a full floor devoted to treatments and rituals with over 20 treatment rooms, a pool area with a year-round heated swim-in/swim-out pool and indoor lap pool and a multi-sensory area,, which includes a collection of saunas, steam rooms, a salt lake for flotation therapy and relaxation spaces. Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti is situated in the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Italian Dolomites.
www.lefayresorts.com