Cedar hot tubs for
athletes & recovery
Heat therapy accelerates muscle recovery, drives circulation, and reduces delayed onset muscle soreness. Paired with our cedar ice plunge for contrast therapy, a cedar hot tub becomes a complete performance recovery system that professional athletes and serious amateurs use daily.
Heat therapy and cold immersion are two of the most effective and evidence-supported recovery tools available. A cedar hot tub paired with our cedar ice plunge gives you both — on your property, on your schedule, year-round.
The physiology of
heat recovery
When you immerse in hot water, blood vessels vasodilate — circulation increases dramatically throughout the body, including to muscle tissue. This accelerates the removal of metabolic waste products (lactic acid, creatine kinase) from working muscles and delivers oxygen and nutrients to support repair.
Regular heat exposure also upregulates heat shock proteins — cellular repair mechanisms that improve the rate of muscle tissue recovery over time. Athletes who soak regularly don't just recover faster from individual sessions — they build a physiological baseline that supports better performance overall.
Contrast therapy
Hot tub + ice plunge —
the complete protocol
Contrast therapy alternates between heat and cold. The rapid vasodilation and vasoconstriction drives metabolic waste out of muscle tissue while flooding it with oxygenated blood. It is one of the most effective post-exercise recovery protocols available.
Cedar Hot Tub
100–104°F. 10–15 minutes per cycle. Vasodilation — blood vessels expand, circulation spikes, muscles warm and relax. Metabolic waste begins to clear.
Available in all four standard sizes. Can be configured non-jetted (silent) or jetted.
View cedar tubs →Cedar Ice Plunge
50–60°F. 2–3 minutes per cycle. Vasoconstriction — blood vessels contract, forcing blood back to core. Anti-inflammatory response activates. Mental clarity spikes.
Our 24-inch cedar ice plunge uses the same cooperage construction as our hot tubs. Keeps water cold longer than acrylic alternatives.
View ice plunge →Common questions
Athletic recovery
questions answered
Is a hot tub good for muscle recovery?
Yes. Heat therapy increases blood flow to muscle tissue, accelerates clearance of metabolic waste, and reduces delayed onset muscle soreness. Regular heat exposure also improves muscle relaxation baseline over time.
What is contrast therapy?
Alternating between heat immersion (hot tub) and cold immersion (ice plunge). The alternating vasodilation and vasoconstriction drives circulation and accelerates recovery. Typical protocol: 10–15 minutes hot, 2–3 minutes cold, 2–3 cycles.
Do you offer a cedar ice plunge?
Yes — our 24-inch cedar ice plunge is built with the same cooperage construction as our hot tubs. It pairs perfectly with a hot tub for a complete contrast therapy setup on a single deck or platform.
What temperature for muscle recovery?
100–104°F for recovery soaking. Some athletes prefer 98–102°F for longer 30-minute sessions. Cold plunge typically 50–60°F for contrast therapy. We discuss equipment configuration at consultation.
John Cox builds every cedar tub and ice plunge at the workshop in Tivoli and installs it personally. See completed recovery setups on real Hudson Valley properties.
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