Plunj Saratoga Springs is, first and foremost, a community. When you arrive at Plunj, you’re greeted by the friendly and knowledgeable staff. Once you get into your Plunj room, you’re able to destress and relax, moving between the sauna, bucket shower and cold plunge pool at your own pace with like-minded, supportive people. The core values of Plunj Saratoga Springs are community, accessibility and cleanliness. The Plunj community is always welcoming and judgement-free, and Plunj rooms are ADA-compliant, sanitized after every use and deep-cleaned every week.
Boyd and Ivy Hildreth, the franchise owners, understand that visitors can be nervous their first time doing a cold plunge. Even though Boyd grew up jumping between hot tubs and cold streams in his home state of Montana, he was a little scared the first time he visited a Plunj, because the cold water can seem daunting. But, he found a community that was so welcoming, and an activity that was so mentally and physically beneficial, that it drew him to open Plunj Saratoga Springs. “I went from being nervous and scared to craving it.”
Before the final inspection for Plunj Saratoga Springs, Boyd was feeling stressed about all the things he had to get done in order to have a successful opening. His wife, Ivy, said "Boyd, go plunge." He took time to disconnect from the stresses of his life, finding peace and revitalized motivation. "It’s a lot of willpower, a lot of mental strength to just submerge yourself in cold water. But once I did it, I almost instantly felt the mental and physical rewards, the satisfaction of how my body felt, but also that I did something that was difficult, and that I could do it, and I overcame it.”
A Nordic sauna experience is a social event. Finns, Swedes and Norwegians spend hours running from the heat of the sauna to the frigid lake, ocean or tub nearby. Plunj is no different! With a cold plunge pool and a traditional bucket shower steps from the sauna, you can alternate between the hot and cold experiences on your own timeline.
Sauna and cold plunge contrast therapy benefits include alleviated anxiety, reduced muscle spasms, lessened inflammation and tissue congestion, decreased swelling and joint stiffness, improved sleep quality, enhanced blood circulation, increased range of motion, faster metabolism, higher energy levels, elevated mood, toxin removal, improved immune response, faster-post-workout and injury recovery, healthier skin and complexion, and higher levels of focus.
Plunjers at Plunj Saratoga Springs have started contrast therapy for a variety of reasons—to manage chronic pain, to destress and reconnect, to sleep better, because their favorite podcasters inspired them, and even because of a dare! Through regular Plunj visits, they've found help with their cardiovascular systems, anxiety, autoimmune diseases, joint pain, sleep quality, complexion, confidence, workout recovery and mental clarity. Now, they've found a community of like-minded people from all walks of life. Wendy Komoroski, a regular Plunjer, said, “Every time I come to Plunj, I’ll end up talking to someone and it’s exactly what I needed to hear that day.” People have built relationships inside Plunj that have grown outside Plunj as well. Many regulars have found true friendships, getting together for barbecues and hang outs, or even taking business meetings in the sauna, like true Scandinavians!
Every time a first-timer comes to Plunj, they’re cheered on by everyone around them, encouraged to breathe through the contrasting heat and cold of their first Plunj experience, and to destress and disconnect from the outside world. No judgement is found in a place like this, so come try Plunj for yourself!
Every time I come to Plunj, I’ll end up talking to someone and it’s exactly what I needed to hear that day.