Episode
No pain, no gain? Ice baths, new-age therapies and why we pay to suffer in the name of health
- Podcast
- AB Majlis
- Published
- Jul 29, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 1515
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://rss.com/podcasts/abmajlis-arabianbusiness/2141941
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Summary
What if we told you there's a $5.6 trillion industry built on making people deliberately uncomfortable — and it's projected to hit $8 trillion by 2027? Arabian Business journalists Tala Michel Issa and Nicole Abigael dive into the counterintuitive world where paying hundreds of dollars to sit in ice baths, hyperventilate through breathwork, and sweat in saunas has become the ultimate status symbol. From Dubai's luxury spas targeting stressed-out executives to Thailand wellness retreats designed specifically for Middle Eastern clients, they unpack how discomfort became the new luxury. Discover why the cold plunge industry alone is worth $450 million (growing to $820 million by 2032), the dark side of wellness tourism, and the shocking health risks behind the Instagram-perfect ice bath photos. This episode explores the psychology of why we believe "if it hurts, it must work," the role of social media in driving dangerous wellness trends, and Nicole's firsthand experience working for a cryotherapy company. From 12-year-olds dying from ice baths to record-holders sitting in freezing water for over 2 hours, they examine when wellness becomes genuinely dangerous. Topics covered: Cold plunge economics, cryotherapy risks, breathwork dangers, sauna science, Dubai's wellness boom, post-COVID health obsessions, and why discomfort has become the ultimate luxury commodity in the Gulf region.