Tricryo: Erie's Holistic Wellness Center
Photo Credit: Tricryo Erie
Everyone who knows me knows that one of my favorite wellness rituals to do in Erie is the infrared sauna at Tricryo. I put in my headphones, grab my water bottle and whatever book I’m reading at the moment, and bask in the 150 degree warmth for 45 minutes.
It’s pretty much my definition of heaven. Not only are the mental benefits there, but so are the physical like detoxification and immune support. And that’s the same with all the services at Tricryo—they help you both mentally and physically.
No one knows this more than Founder and Owner of Tricryo, Anne Maleno, whose personal journey with cryotherapy inspired her business.
After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2016, she suffered from fatigue and side pain, among other things. Add in weight gain from menopause and neck issues from her gymnastics days, it’s no wonder Maleno was struggling to find her wellness footing.
That was until her yoga instructor suggested she try cryotherapy. Living in Florida at the time, the last thing Maleno wanted to do was immerse herself in cold temperatures. Nonetheless, she tried it and stuck with it.
“I was doing all the things—red light, cryo, compression, throwing a sauna in there—and I started feeling better,” she said.
Her mood was better, her energy increased, her pain decreased, and she lost all the weight she had put on. She credits these services with decreasing the inflammation in her body.
“Inflammation is rough,” Maleno said. “When you start doing cryo, you actually feel lighter even if you haven’t lost any weight because the inflammation kind of weighs you down. So, it just makes everything so much easier.”
When she would come back up to Erie, Maleno’s first question was always, “Where’s the cryo?” After being met with confusion and apprehension, it didn’t take long for her own career ambitions to line up with the answer.
“One day it just hit me. I think I’m supposed to open up a cryotherapy place in Erie,” Maleno said. “You know how they say you get that thing and people always wish they could have it? Well, I really got that thing.”
The two units for Tricryo opened up at the perfect time, and the space was just what Maleno wanted, offering natural light through glass windows.
“My wellness journey evolved into wanting to help people in Erie,” she said. “I love cryo so much, and I want to do it everyday and own a place where I can use everything, and share it with everyone.”
There are five core services Maleno shares with Erie. Let’s learn more about them!
Red Light Therapy
10 minutes of red light therapy is equivalent to two and a half hours in the sun. “All of the Vitamin D that you’re looking for, all of the good benefits from sunlight you’ll get from red light, without the harmful rays of a tanning bed or the actual sun,” Maleno said.
This therapy is good for fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, cellulite, and skin issues like Eczema and Psoriasis because all of those things are inflammation based and red light decreases inflammation and pain.
“Red light penetrates at a cellular level, so it gets to the mitochondria which is the powerhouse of our cells, and it helps to regenerate those,” Maleno explained. “It speeds up the healing process because it produces new cells for us.”
Not to mention, if you live in Erie during the winter, you need some source of sunlight for overall mood. Red light therapy might be exactly what you need to help with your seasonal affective disorder (SAD). I know that’s why I’m using it!
Salt Therapy
If you struggle with sinus or respiratory issues, you need to try salt therapy. “It helps drain out sinuses because it’s decreasing inflammation in your nasal passages,” Maleno said. “It’s also good for your skin. It will help with Eczema and Psoriasis.”
Some people have even said they sleep better after salt therapy because their nasal passages have been opened up and they’re breathing easier at night.
Sick with a cold? A lot of people use salt therapy to help them feel better in the moment. Since salt helps open up your respiratory system, this therapy is also good for Covid long haulers, people with COPD, and athletes who want to expand their lung capacity.
Infrared Sauna
My bread and butter 😊 We all know that our bodies are meant to filter out the toxins we take in from metals, plastics, and the air we breathe in, but with more and more toxins being absorbed, our bodies have a hard time handling detoxification.
Infrared sauna aids in detoxifying, boosting metabolism, relieving muscle pain, and decreasing your risk of cardiovascular disease up to 40% depending on how much you use it.
“It helps with people who are looking to lose weight because it mimics a workout,” Maleno said. “While it doesn’t replace exercise, it does raise your heart rate in the same way.”
PSA to anyone who uses the sauna, it’s important to wipe the sweat off your skin while you’re in there. You don’t want sweat to build up on your skin and reabsorb itself, you want to get the sweat off!
Whole Body Cryotherapy
-160 degrees. Three minutes. Choose your song. See your breath. I won’t lie, it’s cold as fuck, but the list of benefits far outweighs the short-term discomfort.
“When you go in there, your body's like, ‘Oh my god I'm dying.’ So all of the blood rushes to your core, and that's where all your visceral fat is,” Maleno explained. “When you come out of there, all the blood comes rushing back to the limbs in your body and that’s where you’re getting all the good nutrients.”
Endorphins flow and you feel great, almost like you could run a race. The cryo process reduces inflammation, decreases aches and pains, improves migraines, sleep, mood, energy, and helps flush out toxins.
Want to get your body moving after the cold? Use the Tricryo vibration plate to stimulate your lymphatic system and keep the toxins draining.
Compression Therapy
If lymphatic drainage is a priority for you, compression therapy is the best thing. “It’s really good for athletes or if you’re working out because it helps massage your muscles and break up the blood,” Maleno said. “So let’s say your knee is really tight, compression therapy will bring circulation back to that area.”
It’s important that toxins be released otherwise your lymphatic system will become clogged and the toxins will just stay in your body.
Compression therapy promotes circulation, increases flexibility, and speeds up recovery. Even if you don’t actively workout, compression is a helpful tool in keeping your body’s functions up to par.
Tricryo also offers three specialty services that focus on one area of the body:
Local Cryotherapy — like an instant ice pack to any area that’s suffering. Decreases inflammation and helps with pain management.
Cryofacial — the natural Botox alternative. Produces collagen and tightens skin of the face.
Cryo Slimming & Toning — aimed at losing weight or tightening the skin of the body. Breaks down fat cells and sculpts the body.
I’d be lying if I said I’ve tried every service at Tricryo. But trying everything is on my to-do list! Why? Because I believe in the importance of preventative care and holistic wellness.
If inflammation is the root of all disease and there are measures I can take to keep inflammation down, I’m listening. And I hope you are too. These services helped Maleno avoid surgery, injections, and the never ending Advil bottle refill.
“I always tell people, just start out with the sauna or red light and make it a commitment. It’s like going to the gym. You’re not going to see results going to the gym one time, and you’re not going to see results coming to Tricryo one time. It is a consistent thing,” she said.
Consistency can be a really hard thing but the truth is, leading a healthy lifestyle is important to me. Regular visits to Tricryo help me keep wellness at the forefront of my mind, and what a privilege that is.
If you’re curious to see what Tricryo is all about, mention ‘Butterfly’ to get a free core service! I promise you won’t regret it.
