A Hot Place To ChillWhat Is a Recovery Studio, and What Happens on a Visit?
Written by: A Hot Place To Chill
Published Oct 23, 2026 · Updated Oct 23, 2026
Short answer: A recovery studio is a place where you can use heat, cold, light, and gentle squeeze tools in one visit to relax and feel better. It is not a medical clinic, and it is not a massage spa. At A Hot Place To Chill in New Buffalo, Michigan, a full visit takes about an hour and can include an infrared sauna, whole-body cryotherapy, red light, compression, and robotic massage chairs. It's an easy stop after a long drive, a round of golf, or a busy week.
What is a recovery studio?
A recovery studio puts several self-care tools under one roof. You move from one to the next at your own pace, with staff nearby to set you up and answer questions.
Most studios offer some mix of these:
- Heat, such as an infrared sauna
- Cold, such as a cold-air chamber or a cold plunge
- Light, such as red light beds or panels
- Squeeze, such as compression boots or sleeves
- Rest, such as massage chairs or a quiet lounge
People also call these places "recovery lounges" or "wellness and recovery" studios. The names vary. The idea is the same: one visit, a few tools, and time set aside for you.
How is a recovery studio different from a spa or a clinic?
The easiest way to see it is to compare what each one offers.
| Recovery studio | Day spa | Medical clinic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | You use the tools; staff set you up | A licensed therapist works on you | A doctor or nurse examines you |
| Typical tools | Sauna, cold air, red light, compression, massage chairs | Massage, facials, body wraps | Exams, tests, prescriptions |
| What it's for | Relaxing and feeling better | Pampering and relaxing | Diagnosing and caring for health problems |
We are a recovery studio. We are not a medical clinic, and we are not a licensed massage clinic, so we have robotic massage chairs, not massage therapists. If you came looking for a spa day in New Buffalo, many guests use a visit with us the same way: as a quiet hour to warm up, cool down, and rest.
What can you do at our studio in New Buffalo?
Here is what A Hot Place To Chill offers, with the time each one takes:
| Service | What it is | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Heat infrared sauna | Private, dry infrared sauna | 25 minutes |
| Whole-body cryotherapy | A chamber of very cold, dry air. Not a plunge, so you stay dry | 3 minutes |
| Red light | Room 3: 3-wavelength bed. Room 4: 4-wavelength panel. Room 5: 5-wavelength bed | 12 minutes |
| Compression | Air-filled sleeves that squeeze and release, over your clothes | About 15 minutes |
| Robotic massage chairs | Rollers and air cushions for your neck, back, and legs | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Power Plate | A standing plate that vibrates | 15 minutes |
| Spinal stretch table | A table you lie on for a gentle stretch | 10 to 15 minutes |
Free high-pressure tanning is included with all memberships and packages.
What does a first visit look like?
A typical first visit goes like this:
- Check in. Our team greets you at the front desk and asks what you'd like to try.
- Get set up. Robes and towels are provided. The sauna is a private room, and in the sauna and red light you can wear as much or as little as you like.
- Move through your visit. One easy order is the sauna, then cold air, then red light or compression. There's no wrong order. If you want both heat and cold, see Sauna or cold first? for tips.
- Rest and head out. Finish in a massage chair if you like, drink some water, and get on with your day.
Plan on about an hour for a full visit. There are no showers, but towels are provided throughout.
A few simple tips:
- Drink water before and after.
- Dry off fully before cryotherapy. Damp skin raises the risk of cold injury.
- Use eye protection every red light session. Just ask our team.
- Step out of any service early if you feel too hot, too cold, or unwell.
Does a recovery studio help you feel better?
Many guests report they feel more relaxed afterward, and some people find a visit may help them feel looser after a long drive or a day on their feet. We don't promise results, and here's why.
Research on these tools is still small. A 2015 Cochrane review of cold-air cryotherapy found only four small studies, almost all in young men, and said there wasn't enough evidence to know whether it eases soreness after exercise (Cochrane, 2015). For red light, the American Academy of Dermatology says it takes time to notice a change, and not everyone does (AAD, 2024).
So think of a recovery studio as a way to relax and care for yourself, not as medical care. We'd rather be honest about that than promise more than the research shows.
Is a recovery studio safe for older adults?
Your health matters more than your age. Heat and cold are a real stress on the body, so check with your doctor first if you have a health condition. You choose which services to use, and you can stop any of them early.
Infrared saunas run cooler than traditional saunas, about 113 to 140°F compared with 176 to 212°F. A 2018 review found the side effects reported in studies were mild to moderate, such as feeling too hot or light-headed (Hussain & Cohen, 2018). Start slow, and step out early if you need to.
Who should check with a doctor first?
Talk to your doctor before your visit if any of these apply to you:
- Heart disease, a heart rhythm problem, or a past heart attack or stroke
- High or low blood pressure that isn't well controlled, or a history of fainting
- Pregnancy, or recent surgery
- A blood clot now or in the past, or poor circulation in your legs
- Medicines that affect your heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, or how your skin reacts to light
Don't use compression if one calf is swollen, warm, and painful. See a doctor the same day.
Stop and tell our team right away if you feel dizzy, faint, or short of breath. Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, or confusion.
How much does a visit cost?
A Day Pass is $67 for one visit with cold air, heat, light, and compression, about an hour. It credits toward a membership if you upgrade within 7 days.
In town longer? The Week Pass is $99 and the Month Pass is $200. Locals can choose Monthly All Access at $175 a month or Longevity Paid in Full at $1,750 a year. See every plan on our memberships and passes page.
Is there a recovery studio near me in Harbor Country?
Yes. We're at 400 S Whittaker St in New Buffalo, in the heart of Harbor Country. That's a short drive from Three Oaks, Union Pier, Lakeside, and Michigan City, Indiana. If you're up from Chicago for the weekend, an hour with us fits easily between the beach, dinner, and the drive home. Looking for more to do? See our New Buffalo and Harbor Country guide.
FAQ
Do I need an appointment?
You can book online. The massage chairs are first come, first served.
What should I wear?
Whatever is comfortable. Robes and towels are provided, the sauna is a private room, and compression goes over your clothes.
Is the cryotherapy a cold plunge?
No. It's very cold, dry air for 3 minutes. You don't get wet.
Do you have massage therapists?
No. We have robotic massage chairs only. We are not a licensed massage clinic.
How long should I plan for?
About an hour for a full visit.
Can I try it once before I join?
Yes. A Day Pass is $67, and it credits toward a membership if you upgrade within 7 days.
Visit us
A Hot Place To Chill, a recovery studio in New Buffalo, Michigan
400 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo, MI 49117
Call (269) 612-8913
Hours: Mon 8:30–6 · Tue 9–6 · Wed 8:30–6 · Thu 8:30–6 · Fri 9–4 · Sat 8:30–3 · Sun 10–2
Sources
- Costello JT, et al. Whole-body cryotherapy for preventing and treating muscle soreness after exercise. Cochrane, 2015.
- Hussain J, Cohen M. Clinical effects of regular dry sauna bathing: a systematic review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Is red light therapy right for your skin? Last updated Sept 13, 2024.
This article is for general information about relaxation and recovery services. It is not medical advice.