Health
Relaxing Trends You Can Enjoy in the Ozarks
Trying something you’ve never done before is a great way to add a healthy habit to your life. These activities are rising in popularity, both in southwest Missouri and beyond.
by Jordan Blomquist
Jan 2025
Illustration courtesy Shutterstock
Cryotherapy
It’s for: Inflammation, pain relief, improved sleep quality, increased energy levels, boosted metabolism, enhanced immune system and increased endorphin levels.
What it’s like: After getting dressed in wool socks, slippers and gloves, you step into BelowZero’s eCabin full-body cryotherapy chamber, where six fans blow -200°F air on target areas for three to five minutes.
Where to find it: BelowZero Cryo Spa in Springfield.
Float Spa
It’s for: Chronic pain relief and overall relaxation.
What it’s like: Float therapy, also known as sensory deprivation, involves floating in a closed, soundproof, 5-by-9-foot tank filled with warm saltwater, which makes you bouyant and helps reduce sensory input as float. The tank contains 800 to 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt dissolved in water heated to 93.5°F. If you get claustrophobic, you can float with the tank open.
Where to find it: Theta Wellness Center in Springfield.
Red Light Therapy
It’s for: Helping damaged cell tissues regenerate.
What it’s like: Counter Negative uses the Theralight 360 bed, a medical-grade laser bed designed to heal bones, tendons and ligaments. They primarily treat individuals post-surgery, those with autoimmune diseases and anyone looking to restore energy and improve their overall well-being.
Where to find it: Counter Negative Recovery & Wellness in Springfield.
IV Therapy
It’s for: Boosting the immune system, increasing energy levels, speeding up recovery and promoting an overall sense of rejuvenation.
What it’s like: IV therapy is a fast-acting treatment that delivers essential vitamins, nutrients and hydration directly into the bloodstream. Patients often feel invigorated, recharged and refreshed after a session.
Where to find it: Kare Health and Wellness, located in Springfield.
Sound Bath
It’s for: An overall sense of peace and calm in the nervous system.
What it’s like: Awaken Healing + Massage creates a mini soundscape using Tibetan hammered singing bowls, each tuned to balance specific chakras. It offers a space to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with your inner self.
Where to find it: Awaken Healing + Massage, located in Springfield.
Halotherapy
It’s for: Improving general wellness, respiratory issues, skin conditions and detoxification.
What it’s like: Halotherapy, also known as dry salt therapy, at Breathe Health Spa involves sitting in zero-gravity chairs while breathing in microscopic salt particles that also penetrate the skin. There is ambient music and lighting in the 71°F salt vault, where you can nap, meditate or simply relax.
Where to find it: Breathe Health Spa in Springfield.
Vichy Water Massage
It’s for: Increasing blood circulation, exfoliation, stress reduction, reducing toxins and relieving muscle aches.
What it’s like: The Vichy water massage starts with lying on a cushioned table while your entire body is exfoliated using a sugar scrub. A warm rain massage rinses off the scrub while eight strategically placed showerheads will massage the body’s trigger points with water.
Where to find it: Grove Spa in Springfield. Check out our story about what it's like.
Chakra Workshops
It’s for: Personal growth, change and the cultivation of positive qualities.
What it’s like: Essential Yoga Studio’s workshops offer guided meditation, journaling prompts, sound healing and additional practices such as breathwork, yoga sequences and the use of crystals to support chakra work in daily life.
Where to find it: Essential Yoga Studio in Springfield.
Thai Massage
It’s for: Pain relief and relaxation.
What it’s like: It’s a blend of massage and assisted yoga, involving deep stretches and pressure. It is sometimes referred to as a Thai yoga massage, and the massage therapist uses their arms, hands, knees and even their feet to apply firm pressure through yoga-like movements.
Where to find it: Precision Wellness in Springfield.
Steam Sauna
It’s for: Relief from joint pain, muscle soreness and inflammation, improved circulation and allergy and asthma relief. It also promotes weight loss and cellulite reduction.
What it’s like: Different from a dry sauna, the steam sauna uses water to create steam that is released into the room, raising the humidity level. The moist air opens your pores and promotes relaxation.
Where to find it: Nu Essence Spa, located in Springfield.
Meditation
It’s for: Reducing stress and anxiety, lengthening attention span and improving emotional health.
What it’s like: The Ozarks Dharma Community has weekly meditation sessions on Saturdays and Thursdays. Saturday mornings begin with 30 minutes of meditation, followed by a short presentation and discussion on a Buddhist or meditation topic. Thursday evenings offer a more intimate space for exploring meditation, presence and interpersonal connection.
Where to find it: Ozarks Dharma Community in Springfield.
Juice Cleanse
It’s for: Giving your body a break from digesting processed foods, alcohol and sugar while helping to eliminate built-up toxins.
What it’s like: Homemade. Delivered. offers a juice cleanse featuring six juices to drink throughout one entire day, all made with fresh ingredients.
Where to find it: Homemade. Delivered. in Springfield.
