I love the cold, and cryotherapy makes me both alert and calm.

Mikael, 46, speaks highly of cryotherapy: “I love the cold, and cryotherapy makes me both alert and calm”

Mikael Brogren likes the cold. More specifically, he loves the transition between hot and cold. Since Hagabadet opened Vitality Lab in November 2023, he has already had over 23 cryotherapy sessions.

– It was when I participated in a guided mountain hike in Sarek last year that I discovered the positive effects of the cold. Sleeping in a tent at minus 30 degrees for eight nights was an eye-opener, and I became curious to continue exploring how the shifts between cold and warmth affect my body, my health, and my well-being, says Mikael.

Outdoor life is a central part of Mikael’s life. He tries to sleep outdoors several times a month. There have been occasions when he has slept in a sleeping bag in minus 15 degrees, and during the fall of 2023, he slept in a tent outdoors every weekend for ten weeks.

– Sleeping outdoors is wonderful; more people should try it. I have a Facebook group called Tält & Brasa, where you can follow me and get inspiration.  

The first time Mikael tried cryotherapy he was a bit tense at first, but his body quickly adjusted inside the cabin.  

– As soon as I stepped out after my first three-minute session, I felt the rush; in my body, in my blood, and mentally. At the same time, I felt a great sense of calm.

Balance between movement and rest, activity and relaxation

Mikael started a new weekly routine at Hagabadet. Cryotherapy is just one part of his investment in his everyday well-being.

– Cryotherapy is part of a whole. My weekly visits to Hagabadet start with cryotherapy in the Vitality Lab, followed by rest and tea. Then I sauna for about an hour, take a dip in the Roman bath, sauna for another ten minutes, and finish with an ice bucket. After this, I treat myself to rest in one of Hagabadet’s calming environments, read a book in a hanging chair, or spend some time in the red-light room.

”I want to bring the calm into everyday life” 

For Mikael, cryotherapy has now become an essential part of a healthy weekly routine.

– It’s so easy to get stuck in a stressful hamster wheel, just running around and rushing. After the cryotherapy session, a great calm sets in, which I take advantage of and appreciate. For me, the cryotherapy session preserves a calm feeling for a long time.

The positive effects of cryotherapy on training are one of the reasons more and more people are starting to use it.

– I have always been a health enthusiast and train a lot, about five hours in the gym per week. Since I started cryotherapy, I have been able to train more and get better results.

Cold benefits sleep and the immune system

Good sleep is essential for overall health. Even though Mikael has rarely had problems with his sleep, he now finds that he sleeps even better.

– I sleep exceptionally well the night after cryotherapy. And I haven’t been sick a single time since I started the treatments. Everyone around me has been sick, but not me. And the alertness is truly noticeable!

“Cryotherapy is a good health investment”

For Mikael, health and freedom are the most important things in life; everything else is secondary.

– Thanks to investing time at Hagabadet each week with cryotherapy, sauna, bathing, and rest, I get more out of life.