Take a Pause
A RECOVERY TREATMENT AT PAUSE STUDIO RESETS SORE MUSCLES
If you’ve ever pushed through a tough workout only to spend the next few days dreading a walk up the stairs, you know how recovery can take longer than expected. The soreness that once disappeared like a light wind now lingers as a heavy fog, slow to fade. After feeling how a simple trip up the stairs felt like a workout on its own, I started looking for something that could help me recover faster.
Located in the Plaza Coral Gables, the aptly named Pause Studio is all about recovery, from the way the space is arranged to the range of treatments it offers. The studio feels more like a lounge, with dim lighting, neutral tones, and shelves near the entrance that are lined with teas and supplements. On the menu: cryotherapy, LED light therapy, and vitamin shots like Vitamin D3 and Methyl B12. On this visit, however, I opted for compression therapy, a 30-minute session that helps muscles recover by improving circulation, like the cooldown most of us (guiltily) skip after a hard workout.
Left: Led Light Therapy Room at Pause Studio
Middle: The Sauna Room With Warm Low Level Lighting to Induce Relaxation
Right: The Writer Undergoes Compression Therapy for Muscle Recovery & Circulation
The session took place in one of the IV drip rooms, quiet with low lighting. The chair was deep and angled just enough to make you want to stay awhile. I sank into it, already comfortable. A staff member explained that the Normatec sleeves I was going to be clad in use chambers that inflate in sequence, starting at the feet and working their way up the legs. The idea is to create a steady wave of pressure that promotes blood flow, reduces stiffness, and gives sore muscles a head start to recovery, a kind of massage on steroids.
When the boots turned on, I felt the pressure immediately. The squeeze at my toes was snug, like someone wrapping both hands firmly around my feet. The feeling moved up to my calves, holding for a few seconds then slowly releasing. It wasn’t sharp or painful, but more like a controlled hug that shifted upward in steady pulses. Each time the chambers inflated, the air pressed in from all sides, dense but even, as if my legs were being molded into place. The release came just as gradually, leaving behind a light tingling that made the muscles feel looser with each cycle.
Every few minutes the staff checked in to make sure the settings felt right. The pressure was strong enough to notice but never overwhelming. With tea in hand and the quiet of the room around me, I let the boots do their work. The half-hour moved by easily, the steady rhythm making it simple to settle in and focus on how the sensations shifted with each cycle.
When the boots were unzipped, faint lines on my legs showed where the sleeves had pressed. As I stood up, I noticed the difference right away. The soreness had slipped away, leaving my steps lighter. Recovery felt like part of the routine instead of a waiting game.