Let’s get the obvious out of the way: we run a cryotherapy studio, so you’d expect us to say yes. Instead, here’s the answer we’d give a friend — what the research actually supports, what it really costs, who gets the most out of it, and who shouldn’t bother. By the end you’ll be able to decide for yourself, which is the only answer that matters.
The short version: whole body cryotherapy may be worth trying if you want a brief, staff-guided cold-air experience and the cost fits your budget. It is not a substitute for medical care and does not guarantee a recovery, mood, performance, or weight-loss result.
What you’re actually buying
A whole body cryotherapy session is about 3 to 5 minutes in a chamber at temperatures around −110°F, in dry cold (much more tolerable than it sounds — cold water at 50°F feels harsher than dry air at −110°F). Your skin cools rapidly, and most people walk out feeling alert, loose, and unreasonably good for the next several hours.
At NOLA Chill on Magazine Street, a single session is $50 and your first is $25. Packages bring the per-session price down: 5 for $200 ($40 each), 10 for $350 ($35 each), 20 for $500 ($25 each) — and the Chillest membership is unlimited, so you can come every day (some members come twice a day), which works out to under $12 a session. Every price is public on our pricing page, because “worth it” is impossible to judge when studios hide the number.
What the evidence supports — and what it doesn’t
Some evidence, with limits: short-term relief of exercise-induced muscle soreness, perceived recovery between training sessions, and an immediate mood and alertness lift many users report. This is why athletes are the core users. (The 2015 Cochrane review found the formal evidence base limited — we’re honest about that too: the strongest signals are soreness and perceived recovery, not miracles.)
Mixed or modest: effects on chronic pain and inflammatory conditions vary widely between studies and individuals. Some people report meaningful relief; the research overall is promising in places and unconvincing in others. Fair-minded reading: worth testing if you have a specific issue, with realistic expectations. (Updated review of the literature.)
Not established: meaningful weight loss from the calorie burn of cold exposure. A session does raise energy expenditure, but not enough to change your body composition by itself. If a studio sells cryo as a weight-loss program, walk out.
One more honest note: cryotherapy is a wellness service, not medical treatment. Nothing here replaces a doctor, and people with certain cardiovascular conditions, uncontrolled hypertension, or cold sensitivities shouldn’t do it at all — we screen for this before your first session.
The actual math
| Option | Upfront | Per use (realistic) | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryo at NOLA Chill (packages/membership) | $0 | $25–40 (under $12 for daily Chillest users) | Requires showing up on Magazine St |
| Cryo single sessions | $0 | $50 | Adds up if you come often — packages exist for a reason |
| DIY ice barrel at home | $150–1,500 | ~$1–3 | Water at 45°F is harder to tolerate, needs maintenance, and most barrels become planters by October |
| Doing nothing | $0 | $0 | Also does nothing |
A home cold plunge genuinely wins on cost per use if you’ll actually use it — we’d rather tell you that than have you find out after buying a membership. Where the studio wins: dry cold you’ll actually tolerate (and therefore repeat), colder temperatures than water can reach, three minutes instead of ten, no maintenance, and the 175°F sauna forty feet away for contrast therapy. Full comparison: cryotherapy vs ice baths.
Worth it if / not worth it if
Worth it if you: train hard 3+ times a week and feel soreness limiting you · want a reliable, drug-free energy and mood reset · are stacking recovery (cryo + compression + sauna) around a race or season · respond well to your first few sessions — the honest test.
Probably not worth it if you: expect one session to fix a chronic issue · won’t realistically come at least a few times a month · are looking for weight loss · hate cold so much you’ll white-knuckle it once and never return (try the sauna instead — heat has its own recovery case).
The cheapest way to answer the question
No article settles this — your nervous system does. That’s the entire reason our first session is $25: it’s the price of finding out whether the post-cryo feeling is worth $25–50 to you, on repeat. If it is, you’ll know within an hour. If it isn’t, you spent $25 and three cold minutes learning something true, and we’d rather you know than guess.
Frequently asked questions
How much does cryotherapy cost?
At NOLA Chill in New Orleans: $50 per whole-body session, $25 for your first, packages of 5 for $200, 10 for $350, 20 for $500, and the unlimited Chillest membership for daily users. All prices are public on our pricing page.
How many sessions until I notice anything?
There is no guaranteed session count or universal schedule. Some clients report a noticeable experience after one visit and others do not; start with one session and decide from there.
Is cryotherapy better than an ice bath?
They are different experiences: NOLA Chill’s chamber uses dry cold for 3 to 5 minutes, while an ice bath uses cold water. Preference, access, and professional guidance can determine which is appropriate. See our full comparison.
Is it safe?
Whole-body cryotherapy has risks and is not appropriate for everyone. Sessions here are supervised, timed to 3 to 5 minutes, and preceded by screening. If you have a cardiovascular, circulation, blood-pressure, nerve, or cold-sensitivity condition — or are unsure — ask your healthcare professional before booking.
Is cryotherapy worth it for weight loss?
No. NOLA Chill does not present cryotherapy as a weight-loss service. Body-composition goals require a broader plan, and a cryotherapy session should not be sold as a calorie-burning shortcut.