You have booked your first cold session and want to know what happens in the room. Dr Callum Shields (MBChB, MRCS) leads Thriyv at 14–16 Whitworth Street, Manchester M1 3BS, and cryotherapy here is delivered under his medical governance. Thriyv is CQC registered for diagnostic and screening procedures.
This walkthrough covers cryotherapy: what to expect from the moment you arrive to the moment you head back out onto Whitworth Street. It follows the same format as our EMS session walkthrough and our pressotherapy session walkthrough. Read it once before your cryotherapy appointment and you will know what to expect, what to bring and what the team will ask you.
What happens in a whole body cryotherapy session
Your first visit starts at reception. One of the team checks you in and shows you around the clinic, so you know where the changing area and the chamber are. Then we sit down together and go through your medical history, why you have booked and anything you would like to ask.
Arrive a little early on your first visit, so there is time for the forms without rushing. Bring a list of any medicines you take and any conditions you are being treated for. It makes the history quicker and helps the team check suitability properly.
You read and sign a consent form before anything else happens. If something in your history needs a closer look, we check it first, and that can mean booking you in for another day. We will always tell you why.
Once you are cleared, you change in a private area and the team gives you a short briefing on the chamber, the kit you wear and how the 3 minutes will run. Sessions are delivered by trained Thriyv Body Transformation Specialists. The routine is short: you change, step in, step out and warm up. Your first whole body cryotherapy visit follows the same steps you can expect every time after. Service details and booking sit on the page for whole body cryotherapy at our Whitworth Street clinic.
What should I wear?
Minimal clothing is best — swimwear, shorts, or a sports bra and shorts. Underwear or sports clothing is fine, whatever you’re comfortable in.
Bring your own socks. We provide Crocs and gloves, and both are mandatory. Your feet and hands are the parts of you most vulnerable to the cold, so they stay covered the whole time. All protective items are clean and provided per session.
Take off any jewellery, watches and piercings you can remove, and leave them with your things in the changing area. Your skin should be dry when you step in, so skip body lotion and oils on the day of your cryotherapy session.
If you are unsure what to pack, a swimsuit and a pair of socks will cover it. You can expect the team to check your kit before you go in, so nothing gets missed on a first cryotherapy visit.
Inside the chamber: temperature and timing
We use a Cryoniq XC nitrogen chamber operating at -140°C. Whole body cryotherapy uses cold nitrogen vapour in a controlled chamber. The temperature drops and rises gradually, and exposure is precisely 3 minutes at peak cold.
You have one supervised cold exposure per visit. A member of the team stays with you for the full 3 minutes and talks you through it, so you always know how long is left.
Tell the team beforehand if small spaces make you uneasy, and they will talk you through what to expect inside the cryotherapy chamber. If you want to stop at any point, say so and the team will end the session straight away.
The Cryoniq XC is set up before you step in, and the session runs under Dr Callum Shields’ medical governance. You never adjust anything yourself. Your job is to listen to the team and tell them how you are getting on.
What does it feel like?
Cold, dry and brisk. The first few seconds feel sharp on your skin, and your breathing may quicken for a moment as you settle. Your feet and hands stay covered, so most of the sensation sits on your arms, legs and torso.
Everyone feels it a little differently. Many people describe tingling skin as they step out, which eases as they warm up.
Before your first cryotherapy session, expect a brisk, dry cold and a clear countdown from the team. Tell us if you feel nervous about it. We can talk you through each stage again during the briefing, and you can ask as many questions as you need.
Stepping out and warming up
A session is 3 minutes in the chamber, about 15 minutes in total. When the 3 minutes end, the door opens and you step out, and the rest of the time covers changing and a gradual warm-up.
Take the warm-up at your own pace. Keep your socks on, get dressed in layers and have a drink of water if you would like one. Our changing area has a shower, and the team will talk you through timing on the day.
There is no rush to leave. Sit down, get warm and head off when you feel ready.
If you feel unwell, dizzy or unusually cold after the session, tell the team straight away. If symptoms carry on after you leave, contact the clinic, or use NHS 111, or 999 if it is urgent.
How you feel afterwards varies from person to person. Individual results vary. After a first session, you can expect cryotherapy to feel more familiar on your next visit, because you already know the routine.
Who should not have it?
Every new client is medically assessed before their first session. Contraindications include uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, Raynaud’s syndrome, recent surgery, and pregnancy.
If any of these apply to you, or you are unsure, tell us before you book and we will talk it through with you. We may also move your session if you are unwell on the day.
If your health changes between visits, for example a new diagnosis, new medication or a pregnancy, let us know before your next session.
Answer the screening questions fully. That is how we decide whether cryotherapy suits you, and what you can expect if it does. We confirm suitability with you before you step into the chamber.
Planning your next visit
Once you know what to expect from cryotherapy, the next question is usually timing. Our guide on how often to book a session covers that in detail. A single session is £50, and our page on what cryotherapy costs explains the options.
You can book online through Fresha, where whole body cryotherapy is already selected for you. If you would like to talk it through first, call 0161 566 5099 or email info@thriyv.co.uk. Bring your socks and give yourself time for the warm-up.
A quick checklist for the day: swimwear or shorts, your own socks, dry skin, and your jewellery left at home. That covers most of what to expect before cryotherapy at Thriyv, and the team handles the rest.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for whole body cryotherapy?
Minimal clothing is best — swimwear, shorts, or a sports bra and shorts. Bring your own socks. We provide Crocs and gloves, and both are mandatory. All protective items are clean and provided per session.
Can you shower after cryotherapy?
Yes. Our changing area has a shower, and the team will talk you through timing on the day.
What does whole body cryotherapy feel like?
Cold, dry and brisk. The temperature drops and rises gradually, and the team talks you through the 3 minutes at peak cold. Everyone feels it a little differently.
How long is a whole body cryotherapy session?
A session is 3 minutes in the chamber, about 15 minutes in total. The extra time covers changing, a short briefing and a gradual warm-up. Our guide on how often to book a session covers timing between visits.
How cold is the cryotherapy chamber?
We use a Cryoniq XC nitrogen chamber operating at -140°C. The temperature drops and rises gradually, and exposure is precisely 3 minutes at peak cold.
Who should not do whole body cryotherapy?
Every new client is medically assessed before their first session. Contraindications include uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, Raynaud’s syndrome, recent surgery, and pregnancy. We confirm suitability with you before you step into the chamber.
Thriyv In the city
Thriyv Wellness & Aesthetics is located in the heart of Manchester City Centre, right between Manchester Piccadilly Train Station and Kampus.
We’re just a few moments walk from major rail, tram and bus hubs, with a multi-story carpark next door. This means it’s never been easier to start your journey at Thriyv, whether you’re based in Manchester City Centre or travelling from further afield.
Our full address is Thriyv, 14-16 Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 3BS. See you soon!
Telephone: 0161 566 5099 · Email: info@thriyv.co.uk
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