Long before cold plunges became a fixture of boutique wellness studios, Chicagoans embraced their own bracing rituals: polar plunges off North Avenue Beach, post-game ice baths and steam rooms humming through winter. The city has always had a taste for rigorous recovery—and now it meets a modern approach.
SWTHZ (pronounced “SweatHouz”), a contrast-therapy brand with private infrared saunas and cold plunge suites across the U.S., delivers a science-backed, immersive experience that blends heat, cold and quiet reflection into one personalized session. Following the success of its recently opened studio, the brand has expanded its Chicago presence with locations in Lakeview, the West Loop and Naperville, with Highland Park set to open later this year. “Chicago has an incredibly vibrant wellness scene, with a community that’s always seeking the next level of health,” says Hunter Mitchem, co-founder and CEO of 6G Holdings, the health and wellness franchise operator behind SWTHZ’s Chicago-area locations. “We knew we had to be a part of it.”
At SWTHZ, the concept is simple: one suite, two temperatures, three experiences. Each private suite lets guests craft their own wellness routine combining infrared heat, cold immersion and moments of reflection to rejuvenate body and mind by relaxing muscles, stimulating circulation and activating the nervous system. For maximum benefit, the sauna-plunge cycle can be repeated two to three times per session, while consistency over time supports the most noticeable benefits.“We’ve hit a turning point where people are no longer viewing wellness as a luxury, but as a necessity,” says Mitchem. “Contrast therapy resonates because it’s an efficient, science-backed way to support both mental and physical health.” 1439 N. Wells St.; 913 W. Madison St.; 3101 N. Clark St., Suite F; 2555 W. 75th St., #125, Naperville; 1899 Second St., Unit 100, Highland Park (opening spring 2026), sweathouz.com
