After a few minutes in one of Restore Hyper Wellness’ eucalyptus wood-lined, infrared saunas, my shoulders drop, my jaw relaxes and my diaphragm expands—I hadn’t noticed the tension until then. It’d been so long since I had stopped for a break that I didn’t realize the stress was clinging to me like a heavy suit of armor. My mind takes longer to catch up, and I try to distract myself with an episode of Planet Earth on the smart TV in front of the sauna. Before long, I turn off the screen and allow myself to tune inward.
Over the past few years, Restore has opened three Southwest Florida locations, including a new space off Immokalee Road in North Naples. Run by a team that includes a biotech entrepreneur; a University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University and Harvard University trained doctor; and a former SoulCycle exec, the fast-growing wellness franchise lures athletes, driven professionals and biohackers by the thousands.
Part of a growing crop of proactive wellness centers, Restore sets itself apart with a comprehensive menu (from cryotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen chambers to IV drips to biomarker testing) delivered in one sleek space with an easy-to-use system, spa-like hospitality and high-tech aesthetic. Registered nurses administer services like IV drip therapy, licensed estheticians do facials, and Restore’s medical director tests all equipment used in their 230-plus locations at the company’s Austin facility. The science behind alternative therapies like those found at Restore is still inconclusive—there isn’t enough support for traditional, large-scale research. But, it’s hard to argue with the wealth of anecdotal evidence for gains in athletic recovery and pain and stress management.
Photography Christina Bankson
Woman in cryotherapy chamber
By the end of my 35-minute infrared session, I’m drenched and feeling like I’ve sweat off all my excess cortisol. Unlike wet saunas, which heat the air around you, infrared heats your body directly, increasing sweating and reaching deeper into tissues to help expedite recovery. You choose your session length (from 30 to 45 minutes) and get a private room—equipped with a shower, Native toiletries and a smart TV—for 55 minutes. As I shower, I start to envision Restore as a regular part of my routine. With a 10-credit package, I could come back for cryo, red-light and/or compression therapy—all easily bookable on an app. IV drips (like the fountain-of-youth-seeking millionaires’ darling NAD+), facials and hyperbaric therapy are separate but easy to tack on.
I express curiosity about the cryotherapy chamber, said to reduce inflammation, improve mood and sleep, boost metabolism and a host of other benefits with a few minutes of exposure to sub-zero temps. Before long, I’m in a towel wrap, socks, booties and mittens, ready to step into a negative-210-degree, nitrogen gas-filled tank—claustrophobia and cold aversion be damned. I muscle my way through the 3-minute freeze with some music and well-timed check-ins from the staff. Afterward, I don’t feel like running laps around the parking lot, as many report, but I’m more awake and feel a rush of joy.
Photography by Christina Bankson
Woman in infrared sauna
Restore Hyper Wellness’ three Southwest Florida locations lure athletes, high-achieving biohackers, and people managing chronic illness and pain.
On the way out, I see a woman on her laptop getting a compression treatment. Inflatable sleeves squeeze her limbs to improve circulation, soreness and mobility while she squeezes in some work. I appreciate Restore’s come-as-you-are approach. No sanctimonious rules, no lectures on unplugging. You do you, and as the good vibes sink in, it won’t be long before you willfully disconnect and tune into your ever-invigorated body.