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It’s Not New — Just New to Us: The Longevity Secret of Heat and Cold For centuries, people around the world have known a secret that we’re just starting to rediscover in the U.S.: alternating between intense heat and extreme cold is one of the most powerful things you can do for your body. From Russian banyas and Finnish saunas to icy Nordic plunges, cultures have long practiced contrast therapy — not because it was trendy, but because it worked. It made people stronger, calmer, clearer, and more resilient. At Valley Cryo, we’ve built our most popular service around this very concept: the Heat + Freeze combo. And our clients can feel the difference — better energy, better sleep, faster recovery, and yes... even better metabolism. 🔥 Why Heat Works When you spend time in our infrared sauna, your body goes into a beautiful stress response — the good kind. You sweat, your heart rate increases, and your cells start working harder to protect and repair themselves. Here’s what’s happening inside: You release heat shock proteins that protect your cells Your circulation increases, improving oxygen flow You sweat out toxins through your skin (your biggest detox organ!) Your metabolism kicks into high gear as your body tries to cool itself This is a time-tested way to build health, reduce inflammation, and feel renewed. ❄️ Why Cold Works Then comes the freeze — a full-body immersion in cold that flips your nervous system into a completely different mode. Benefits include: Activation of brown fat, which boosts metabolism and burns calories A surge of norepinephrine, improving mood, focus, and resilience Decreased inflammation and joint pain A powerful circulation response as blood vessels constrict and dilate Cold therapy resets the system. You’ll walk out feeling refreshed, clear, and focused — like your body just got a hard reboot. 🔄 Why the Combo is So Powerful The magic happens when you combine heat and cold in the same session. Going from one extreme to the other: Boosts your nervous system adaptability Improves metabolic flexibility Enhances circulation and lymphatic drainage Encourages hormetic stress, which makes your body stronger over time In short, it trains your body to handle stress better, burn more efficiently, and recover faster. 🌍 Old World Roots, Modern Science The truth is: we didn’t invent this — we just perfected the experience. Cultures in Russia, Finland, Japan, and beyond have been practicing this hot-cold-hot cycle for centuries. And now that science has caught up, we finally understand why it works so well. At Valley Cryo, we’re not about fads. We’re about what feels good and what actually works. And the Heat + Freeze combo? It works. 💥 July Special: Heat + Freeze for Just $75 To celebrate what’s possible when ancient tradition meets modern wellness, we’re offering our signature Heat + Freeze combo for just $75 through July 31. No code. No gimmicks. Just come in and feel it for yourself. And if you want to do sauna → cryo → sauna again? You totally can. A lot of our clients do it — it deepens the detox and helps them leave feeling balanced and blissed out. And honestly? We’re cool like that. We’ve never been about following the norm. Whatever feels good to your body — that’s what we support. Come get hot. Then get cold. Then get hot again. We’ll be here cheering you on, every step (and sweat) of the way. — Valley Cryo

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🔴 Why Power Matters in Red Light Therapy: Not All Beds Are Created Equal When it comes to red light therapy, most people are focused on wavelengths and depth of penetration — and yes, those matter. But there's one factor that’s just as critical (and often ignored): ⚡ Power Output — measured in watts . 💥 Our Red Light Wellness Bed: 9600 Watts of Clinical Power At Valley Cryo, our bed delivers a whopping 9600 watts of power — that’s unmatched in the industry. Why does that matter? Let’s break it down: ✅ Why High Wattage = Better Results 1. Greater Intensity = More Cellular Activation Low-wattage beds (like those in spas or home units) may offer the same wavelengths, but the light is too weak to activate deep cellular repair. With 9600 watts, we’re delivering enough power to reach mitochondria in skin, muscle, organs, and even hormone-producing glands. 2. Stronger Output = Shorter, More Effective Sessions Most beds on the market need 30–40 minute sessions. ⏱ With our power output, 15 minutes is all it takes to get maximum results. Less time. More impact. 3. Therapeutic, Not Just Relaxing Let’s be clear — red light therapy isn’t just for beauty and relaxation. When done right, it can support: 🔥 Inflammation reduction 🧠 Cognitive clarity 💪 Muscle recovery 🧬 Mitochondrial energy 🩸 Hormone support 🛌 Better sleep 🌟 Skin health + collagen ⚖️ Weight loss + metabolic reset But that’s only if the bed delivers enough power to make it happen. 🧠 Pro Tip: Power + Depth = Results Wavelength tells you how deep the light can go. Power tells you if it gets there with enough energy to do anything. 👉 A weak light with the “right” wavelength won’t do much. 👉 A powerful light with the right depth? Game changer. 📍 At Valley Cryo, we’ve invested in the strongest, highest-performing red light bed on the market — because you deserve treatments that work, not ones that just look pretty. Ready to feel the difference? 📲 Book your session. Your mitochondria will thank you. #valleycryo #redlightwellness #redlighttherapy #biohacking #mitochondria #hormonehealth #functionalwellness #cryotherapycharlottesville

🧠 T he Truth About “Clean Living” — and Why You Might Still Feel Like Crap You eat clean. 🥗 You exercise. 🏋️‍♀️ You hydrate. 💧 You take your supplements. 💊 So why do you still feel bloated, inflamed, fatigued, foggy — like your body is working against you? At Valley Cryo, I see this all the time — men and women over 40 doing all the “right” things but still battling symptoms that just don’t make sense. Let me be clear: 👉 It’s not in your head. Your body just needs deeper support. 🚫 “Clean” Isn’t Always “Correct” Living clean is a solid foundation — but that doesn’t mean your systems are in sync. In midlife, stress, hormone changes, environmental toxins, and years of wear and tear catch up. And the cracks start to show. On the outside you look “healthy” — but inside, you might be battling: 🔥 Hidden inflammation 🧬 Hormone decline (in both men and women) 🧪 Poor detox capacity 🦠 Gut dysfunction 📉 Glucose dysregulation ⚡ Mitochondrial burnout 🔍 What Could Really Be Going On? 1️⃣ You’re Experiencing Glucose Dysregulation — Even If You Eat Clean Blood sugar instability in midlife is common — and often missed. Why? Because it’s not just about sugar — it’s about hormones, stress, muscle mass, and mitochondrial function. Symptoms include: 😵 Midday energy crashes 🌙 Waking up at 3 a.m. 🍭 Intense cravings 😤 “Hangry” between meals 🧊 Stubborn belly fat Your body may no longer be processing glucose efficiently — and this is one of the first signs of metabolic dysfunction. 💡 Why Insulin Resistance Happens in Midlife: ⚖️ Hormonal decline — Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all regulate insulin sensitivity. As they drop, blood sugar control gets harder. 😩 Chronic stress — Years of elevated cortisol blunt your insulin response and store more fat. 💪 Muscle loss — Less muscle = less glucose uptake. Resistance training becomes non-negotiable after 40. 🔋 Mitochondrial slowdown — Aging mitochondria don’t burn glucose as efficiently, leading to more circulating sugar. 🥶 Over-restriction or under-eating — Skipping meals or not eating enough protein can spike cortisol and tank your metabolism. 2️⃣ Your Gut Is Sabotaging You Even with a clean diet, hidden gut infections like: 🦠 H. pylori 🍄 Candida 🔁 Dysbiosis …can cause bloating, fatigue, nutrient malabsorption, and hormone chaos. Your gut affects everything — and no amount of kale will fix a microbial war zone. 3️⃣ You’re Running on Empty Hormones For Women 💁‍♀️: Estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone plummet in perimenopause and menopause. This affects: 🧠 Brain fog 🛌 Sleep 💃 Mood 🔥 Metabolism For Men 💁‍♂️: Testosterone decline starts in your 30s and impacts: 💪 Strength 🧠 Focus ❤️ Libido 😴 Recovery Being told your hormones are “normal for your age” ≠ optimal. Let’s raise the bar. 📈 4️⃣ Your Cortisol Is Wrecking You Cortisol controls your energy, fat storage, blood pressure, and more. Signs it’s out of whack: 💤 Fatigue after workouts 😵 Lightheaded when standing 😮‍💨 Wired at night, tired in the morning 🧂 Salt cravings 🪫 Sudde n belly fat gain This isn’t laziness or “just aging.” It’s adrenal dysregulation — and yes, you can fix it. 5️⃣ Alcohol Is Quietly Undoing Everything Here’s the truth: 🍷 Alcohol is the #1 cause of breast cancer. ❤️ A major driver of heart disease. ☠️ A Class 1 carcinogen, according to the CDC. I used to drink regularly. Now? Maybe a glass every few months. It took time to face the fact that it has zero health benefits — and quietly unravels so many of the gains we work hard for. 🙋‍♀️ And Let Me Tell You Something… You might even be a personal trainer, a fitness coach, or the person everyone comes to for wellness advice. 💪 You know what healthy looks like — and still, something feels off. And when it happens to you? It’s confusing. It’s frustrating. And honestly — it can be embarrassing to ask for help. Because people think you should have the answers. But listen: Even the most educated, disciplined, wellness-minded people need support — especially when it’s their own body. This isn’t about willpower. This is about biochemistry. And it’s time to go deeper. 💡 This is Where Functional Medicine Meets Longevity At Valley Cryo, we don’t just hand you a protocol — we educate. We help you understand and apply cutting-edge tools like: 🧬 Peptides 🌱 Bioregulators 🔥 Red light & cryotherapy 🧖‍♀️ Infrared sauna 🍽️ Functional nutrition And most importantly — we listen. We take the time. We connect the dots. 🧩 👋 Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again? If you’ve been doing everything “right” and still feel wrong — this is your sign. Reach out when you're ready. Let’s stop piecing things together — and finally make sense of what your body’s been trying to tell you.

Fibromyalgia: The Dumpster Diagnosis No One Deserves Let’s be honest: “fibromyalgia” has become a catch-all label when conventional medicine hits a dead end. You're in pain. You're exhausted. Your body hurts in ways that feel impossible to describe. And after countless appointments, tests, and shrugs from your providers, you're handed a vague, chronic label: fibromyalgia. But what if fibromyalgia isn't the real problem? What if it’s just a name for symptoms that have a root cause — one that’s been missed? What’s Really Going On? In our experience working with chronic illness, we often find that what gets diagnosed as "fibromyalgia" is actually a symptom of something deeper. Some of the most common root causes we see include: 🕷️ Tick-borne infections (like Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia) 🌫️ Mold illness and biotoxin exposure ⚡ Mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic dysregulation 🥬 Nutrient deficiencies (magnesium, B12, CoQ10, and others) 🦠 Gut dysbiosis and systemic inflammation 🧠 HPA axis dysregulation (your stress and hormone systems out of sync) 🦋 Thyroid dysfunction or improperly medicated thyroid conditions — a massive and often overlooked contributor to fatigue, widespread pain, brain fog, and mood swings These conditions often go undiagnosed or dismissed, especially by providers who weren’t trained to look for them. Instead of investigating why your body is inflamed, depleted, and hurting — the system slaps a label on your symptoms and sends you home. Jenny Siepka, RN — Root Cause is Her Language Founder of Valley Cryo, Jenny Siepka brings over two decades of experience as a registered nurse and nearly nine years in the functional nutrition and wellness field. With deep clinical insight and advanced training in complex chronic illness, Jenny knows how to look beyond the label. She is proficient at reading labs and helping you order your own when Drs won't. She specializes in neutraceuticals and develops individualized treatment plans for her clients. No cookie cutter approaches here! She doesn’t treat “fibromyalgia.” She treats you — as a whole person. With a sharp clinical eye and a deep understanding of biochemistry, she’s helped countless clients uncover hidden root causes that were completely missed by conventional care. Valley Cryo’s Tools for True Healing At Valley Cryo, we don’t chase symptoms. We support the systems your body needs to heal — detox, repair, and reboot — using advanced, natural therapies that restore your cellular function and calm inflammation. 🔹 Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna Gently increases circulation, supports detox (especially helpful for mold and Lyme), reduces muscle stiffness, and improves mitochondrial health. 🔹 Ozone Steam Sauna Combines ozone therapy with warm steam to help kill pathogens, enhance oxygen utilization, and deeply detoxify — highly effective for stealth infections and systemic inflammation. 🔹 Red Light Bed The most powerful in the region — used by Joe Rogan and Kid Rock — this full-body clinical-grade red light bed helps reduce pain, support mitochondrial function, and stimulate healing at the cellular level. 🔹 Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Boosts oxygen delivery to tissues, reduces neuroinflammation, and supports healing in those with chronic fatigue, tick-borne illness, and long-haul symptoms. 🔹 Functional Nutrition + Root Cause Coaching Jenny provides in-depth consults and wellness plans tailored to each individual, supporting hormonal health, detox pathways, gut repair, and nervous system balance. You’re Not Crazy. You’re Not Broken. You Deserve Better. “Fibromyalgia” is a word — not a full explanation. If you’ve been dismissed, told it’s all in your head, or stuck in the same cycle of flares and fatigue, we invite you to come experience what true root-cause support feels like. At Valley Cryo, healing isn’t just possible — it’s expected.

At Valley Cryo, we pride ourselves on speaking the truth — even when it’s not popular. And here’s the truth: alcohol is hurting more people than it’s helping, and nobody really wants to talk about it. Why? Because nearly everyone’s doing it. Alcohol has become glamorized, woven into the fabric of how we connect — from girls' nights to date nights, to every celebration in between. It’s normalized to the point that not drinking often makes people feel like they're the odd one out. Most people intend to moderate — and many genuinely believe they are. But moderation is subjective, and the reality is: many are drinking more than they think, more often than they should, and it’s interfering with their health — whether they realize it or not. This doesn’t mean everyone is an alcoholic. But it does mean many are using alcohol in ways that directly conflict with their goals. 🚨 A Level 1 Carcinogen — Yes, Really In 2023, alcohol was officially classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, right alongside asbestos and tobacco. It’s now recognized as a leading contributor to breast cancer, especially in women who consume alcohol regularly. So what qualifies as “regular drinking”? More than 3 drinks per week, or Drinking multiple days in a row, even in small amounts Using alcohol to manage stress, fall asleep, or socialize consistently We’ve been in this business a long time, and we can tell you from experience: 💬 We rarely see individuals who drink regularly reach their health goals. That includes: Losing weight Improving labs Balancing hormones Increasing energy Healing their gut Feeling good in their skin There’s always something in the way — and more often than not, it’s alcohol. 🧬 How Alcohol Damages Your Body (Even in “Moderation”) Even just a few drinks per week can: Damage your mitochondria (your body’s energy generators) Disrupt your sleep architecture Spike cortisol and impair recovery Cause gut permeability and inflammation Halt muscle repair and fat burning Interfere with liver detox pathways and hormone balance And here's the kicker: most people don’t even feel how badly it’s affecting them until they stop. 🍷 “I Don’t Even Get Hungover” — Why That’s Not a Flex We hear this a lot: “I don’t feel hungover, so I must be fine.” But here’s the truth: just because you don't feel hungover doesn’t mean alcohol isn’t damaging your body. In fact, if you're someone who can drink without obvious next-day symptoms, you're actually in a higher-risk group. Why? Because your natural deterrent is lower — you don’t feel the consequences, so you're more likely to drink more often and in higher amounts over time. The damage alcohol causes — to your mitochondria, hormones, gut lining, and detox pathways — happens regardless of how you feel the next morning. It’s silent, cumulative, and often only shows up when real symptoms (like hormone disruption, fatigue, or stubborn weight gain) appear later. So don’t take the absence of a hangover as a green light. Take it as a sign to pay closer attention. 🧠 Your Vibration Is Higher Without It One of the most underrated benefits of cutting back on alcohol? ✨ You start to vibrate on a higher level. When you’re no longer relying on alcohol to relax, connect, or cope — you begin operating from a place of clarity, confidence, and true self-regulation. Your energy becomes more magnetic, your decisions more intentional, and your ability to socialize becomes rooted in authenticity — not escape. You don’t need alcohol to be fun, present, or likable. In fact, you’re likely more of all three without it. This is about empowerment, not perfection. And when you realize you can relax and connect without the crutch, your body — and your life — begins to shift. 🧖‍♀️ What We Offer at Valley Cryo to Repair & Support Detox If you’re drinking — whether it’s occasionally or more regularly — your body needs support. We offer multiple services that help you detox, repair, and rebuild after alcohol exposure: Red Light Therapy – supports mitochondrial repair and lowers inflammation Infrared Sauna – promotes detoxification through sweating, enhances circulation Cryotherapy – reduces systemic inflammation, improves energy, and boosts mood Lymphatic Support & PEMF – supports cellular regeneration and drainage pathways You don’t have to be perfect — but your body can’t keep fighting an uphill battle every week either. 🍹 Want to Cut Back Without Feeling Left Out? You’re not alone — Americans are joining the anti-alcohol movement in huge numbers. And thankfully, there are now better options than ever: Non-alcoholic sparkling seltzers (with adaptogens, electrolytes, or botanicals) Mushroom elixirs like reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps blends Herbal mocktails that support relaxation and clarity without the crash Kava or ashwagandha tonics for mood and stress relief These alternatives aren’t just trendy — they’re tools for those who want to feel better, live clearer, and support their bodies instead of fighting them. 💬 Final Thoughts We’re not here to judge. We’re here to support. Whether you’re ready to take a break, cut back, or just get curious — we’re behind you 100% . Your body has incredible power to heal — but it needs you to show up for it. If alcohol is holding you back, let’s change that. Your future self — your energy, your skin, your hormones, your longevity — will thank you. www.myvalleycryo.com

Medical Gaslighting: When You're Not Being Heard (And What You Can Do About It) Have you ever left a doctor’s office feeling dismissed, doubted, or even ashamed of your symptoms? You’re not alone. This experience has a name: medical gaslighting. What Is Medical Gaslighting? Medical gaslighting happens when a healthcare provider downplays, ignores, or questions a patient’s symptoms. It's when you're told: "Your labs are normal, so there's nothing wrong." "It's probably just stress." "You're overreacting." "You just need to lose weight." Over time, this can make patients doubt their own experiences, feel crazy, and worst of all—delay necessary care. Who Does It Happen To? While anyone can experience medical gaslighting, research and real-world experience show it disproportionately affects: Women (especially in perimenopause or menopause) People with complex, chronic, or invisible illnesses Patients with mental health histories But there are specific groups that suffer even more, often because their symptoms are complex, not well understood, or don't show up clearly on lab work: People with tickborne illnesses like Lyme and co-infections, who often get misdiagnosed or told it's all in their head Those with mold toxicity, whose symptoms can range from brain fog to skin rashes to debilitating fatigue Autoimmune patients, who may bounce from doctor to doctor for years without a proper diagnosis People with hormonal imbalances, especially women with fluctuating estrogen, progesterone, or thyroid levels Those dealing with heavy metal toxicity, which conventional medicine often doesn’t test for Patients with gut issues, where symptoms like anxiety, depression, or irritability are misattributed to mental illness instead of the microbiome These patients are often prescribed antidepressants or painkillers without deeper investigation, leaving the real issues unresolved. Why Are So Many People Put on Antidepressants and Painkillers? When a provider isn’t willing or equipped to get to the root cause, they often reach for the quickest fix: a prescription. That might mean: Antidepressants for fatigue or mood swings Opioids or pain meds for chronic body pain Sleep aids for insomnia Proton pump inhibitors for stomach issues These drugs may dull symptoms temporarily, but they rarely solve the actual problem. Worse, they can create dependency or mask worsening issues. Why Doctors Don't Always Dig Deeper This isn’t always about bad intentions. Many providers are: Overbooked with 7-10 minute appointments Under-trained in functional or root-cause medicine Working within insurance systems that don't reward comprehensive care Additionally, practitioners will often label a patient’s symptoms as "stress-related" simply because they don’t understand what’s happening—or they don’t want to invest the time and energy it would take to investigate further. This quick dismissal is frustrating, invalidating, and can seriously delay appropriate treatment. But here’s the truth: Your symptoms are valid. Your lived experience matters. And you deserve better. The Best Practitioners Have Been There Themselves Some of the most compassionate, thorough practitioners are the ones who’ve been through it themselves—those who’ve been gaslit, misdiagnosed, and left to figure it out on their own. They understand the importance of listening, of asking the right questions, and of not dismissing even the smallest detail. We do that here at Valley Cryo because Jenny has personally walked that road. After facing her own chronic illness and being dismissed by traditional providers, she took matters into her own hands, did the digging, and healed herself. That lived experience now drives how we care for every person who walks through our doors. What Can You Do If You Feel Gaslit? Document everything: Keep a symptom journal and bring detailed notes. Bring a support person: A second set of ears can help you feel more grounded. Ask direct questions: “What could be causing this?” "What else can we test?" Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion Work with a practitioner who listens: Functional and integrative providers often have the time and training to explore more deeply. You Deserve To Be Heard At Valley Cryo, we understand how exhausting and frustrating it can be to feel unheard or dismissed. That’s why we approach wellness differently—with curiosity, compassion, and commitment to digging deeper. If you’ve felt medically gaslit in the past, know this: It wasn’t your fault. You’re not imagining things. And healing is still possible when you have the right support team in your corner. Ready for a different kind of care? Come talk to us. Valley Cryo | Charlottesville, VA Call or text to schedule: 540-217-2831 www.valleycryo.com