Why are ice baths popping up around Perth, and what good do they actually do?

If they were not freezing cold, they would be so hot right now.

Ice baths are everywhere.

They are popping up in Perth gyms and beaches, often alongside saunas in what is known as contrast therapy — the practice of alternating between very hot and very cold temperatures.

They are namechecked in the wellness routines of celebrities, from Kim Kardashian to Mark Wahlberg, and beloved by athletes such as NBA legend LeBron James and NFL star Tom Brady, arguably better known in Australia as the former Mr Gisele Bundchen.

They are even starting to appear in people’s homes, with some people paying to convert chest freezers to ice baths and others shelling out a little more for the custom-built variety: $150 can buy you a basic portable model, while closer to $14,600 gets you what’s known as a Cold Stoic, the ice bath reportedly favoured by Wahlberg.

For devotees, ice baths offer everything from better mental health and faster recovery from exercise to fewer colds and weight loss.

The science on the benefits of ice baths isn’t settled — and bathing in near-freezing temperatures unsurprisingly comes with health risks for some — but there is research to suggest regular immersion in very cold water can boost the immune system, aid post-exercise recovery and boost your mood.

Professional athletes have been using cold baths for decades as part of their recovery.

At Clear Mind Studio in Inglewood, there is about a seven-week wait for a weekend spot to use the centre’s Finnish sauna and ice bath.

Owner Craig Aird said it was so popular they are preparing to open a second studio in Fremantle in June.

“There’s real demand for it,” he said.

“It’s very much an anecdotal experience but once you do one and feel the difference . . . you do just notice there’s a change in your energy.

“There’s a lot of hype around how amazing it is but what is driving the craze at the moment is how people feel afterward.”

Mr Aird said it was particularly popular among working mothers whose time was limited.

“Our target demographic is women 25-50, like working parents who are just doing everything and trying to find the space and time to recharge the batteries mentally and physically,” he said.

“I think a lot of people in today’s world are looking for something that works first time.

“You’re starting to see a lot more (in people’s homes) in the last few years and people converting chest freezers into ice baths.”

At Rec Lab in Dianella, which opened only about a year ago, owner Peter Carbone is also preparing to expand into a bigger space in Wembley to meet demand for both the businesses’ ice baths and its contrast therapy, which also uses a sauna.

“A lot of people come in for the physical benefits . . . but people end up coming back for the mental side of things,” he said.

“I think that mental side of things is something that’s understated in the space.”

He said about two-thirds of his customers were men and nearly three-quarters were between the age of 26 and 45.

“It seems to be early to middle-aged people that are seeking something more out of their body,” he said.

He said some people, mostly men, became competitive about how long they could stay in an ice bath — TikTok is awash with videos purporting to show people taking a 30-minute ice bath — but the benefits of an ice bath needed only just three to five minutes, making it a modest time commitment.

“It’s a very easy way to experience something,” he said.

“It’s three minutes and then you can see how it feels. You just sit there and breathe and if you don’t feel great afterwards, it’s not for you. But you will feel great afterwards.”