17 places to try hot and cold therapy in Charlotte
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
"The Oasis" at Core24 is the popular Wilmore gym's new recovery space — complete with a cold plunge tub and 40-person sauna. Photo: Courtesy of Core24
It feels like everyone is either jumping into ice-cold waters or sweating it out in saunas right now, sometimes both.
Why it matters: Within the last year, Charlotte has exploded with businesses offering hot and cold therapy, especially cold plunge and sauna studios, also known as contrast therapy.
Between the lines: These treatments have long been touted for their potential health benefits, from assisting in muscle recovery to boosting mental clarity. Now, the centuries-old practices are some of the hottest new wellness trends.
Some popular practices include:
- Cold plunging – Brief immersion in cold water, often around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cryotherapy – Exposure to extreme cold via liquid nitrogen.
- Saunas – Both infrared and traditional options.
- Steam rooms – Like a sauna, with much more humidity.
- Contrast therapy – Alternating between hot and cold, like jumping from a sauna into an ice bath.
Driving the news: From private contrast therapy clubs to recovery spaces inside fitness studios, we've rounded up 17 spots to try hot and cold therapy in and around Charlotte.
Editor's note: This list is neither exhaustive nor in any particular order.
Contrast therapy
The Oasis at Core24 (Wilmore)
This popular gym, known for attracting "fitfluencers," recently added a massive outdoor recovery space called "The Oasis" with a cold plunge and 40-person sauna with red light therapy.
- Day passes are available for non-members.
Stop by: 2320 Toomey Ave.
Arrichion (South End)
This hot yoga and circuit training studio recently added a 200-degree traditional Norwegian sauna and a 40-degree cold plunge tub that's open to members and non-members.
- Stop by: 125 Winona St.
Sauna House (Wesley Heights)
A Nordic-inspired bathhouse with communal cold plunges, saunas and a salt room.
- Stop by: 1500 West Morehead St., next to Town Brewing.
Sweathouz (SouthPark)
A nationwide contrast therapy studio offering cold plunges and infrared saunas in a private suite.
- Stop by: 4810 Ashley Park Lane (in Sharon Square) and Plaza Midwood (coming soon).
The Health Club (Monroe Road)
An Equinox-style fitness center with recovery amenities including a co-ed cold and hot plunge, plus saunas and steam rooms in each locker room.
- Stop by: 4000 Monroe Road
Motion Fitness (SouthPark)
The SouthPark location of this massive fitness facility, which has a smaller location in Myers Park, has recently added a recovery room with a sauna and cold plunge.
- Stop by: 2101 Rexford Road
In Motion Fitness (Multiple locations/Lake Norman area)
A personal training studio with multiple locations in the Lake Norman area, offering a "recovery lab" with a cold plunge, sauna and compression boots.
- Stop by: IMF has two locations in Davidson, one in Cornelius and another in Mooresville.
The Plunge House (Lower South End)
A membership-based contrast therapy club from the team behind ISI Elite Training with over two dozen cold and hot plunges.
- Stop by: 3216 South Blvd. (The Platform in LoSo).
Sauna Culture (Cotswold Village)
A locally-owned contrast therapy studio with both communal and private saunas and cold plunges.
- Stop by: 274 S Sharon Amity Road.
The Invigory (South End/Waverly)
A health studio offering treatments like contrast therapy (ice bath and sauna) and cryotherapy.
- Stop by: 100 W Worthington Ave. (South End) and 7314 Waverly Walk Ave. (Waverly)
DI Thurma (Cornelius)
A wellness and recovery studio offering private contrast therapy with a cold plunge and infrared sauna.
- Stop by: 9606 Bailey Road
Freedom Longevity and Wellness (Lake Norman)
A lakeside wellness center with cold plunges and saunas, plus red light therapy and compression boots.
- Stop by: 8606 NC-150, Sherrills Ford
Restore Hyper Wellness (Multiple locations)
This med spa chain has three Charlotte studios and a range of recovery services, like cryotherapy machines, infrared sauna and red light therapy.
- Stop by: Visit the Carmel, SouthPark or Rea Farms spas.
Sauna studios
Beem Light Sauna (South End and Birkdale Village)
Book infrared and red light therapy sessions in a spa-like setting at this sauna studio with locations in South End, Huntersville and more coming soon.
- Stop by: 1422 S Tryon St. (South End) and 16815 Cranlyn Road (Birkdale Village)
Cold therapy
Icebox (Birkdale Village)
A cryotherapy chain offering localized and whole-body cryotherapy, plus red light therapy.
- Stop by: 16735 Cranlyn Road
Social Clubs
Chilly Coffee Club: This wellness social calls itself a "party without the hangover" and hosts pop-ups with cold plunges, saunas, and various wellness treatments like cupping and massages.
Charlotte's Community Cold Plunge holds cold plunges open to the public, often at Village at Commonwealth in Plaza Midwood.
What we're watching:
BathHouse CLT (South End)
This locally-owned contrast therapy-meets-social club is expected to open this spring in the former Charlotte Saw & Knife Co. building in South End.
- Stop by: Once open, you can find BathHouse CLT at 420 W. Palmer St.
Go deeper: Looking for more self-care guides? Try float therapy or check out one of our spas and massage studios guide.
Are there any health and wellness trends you're excited to see gain traction in Charlotte? Share your thoughts with me at [email protected].
Editor's note: This guide was originally published in June 2024 and most recently updated Feb. 21, 2025 to reflect new business openings.