Blasts of cold air are like peppermint⎯invigorating and especially useful after eating a burrito. Brace yourself for bracing chills with today's Groupon: for $39, you get one cryogenic sauna session at Cryolab (an $80 value) on Burrard Street.

At Cryolab, chronic pain sufferers and weary workhorses can reap the invigorating benefits of cryogenic-chamber therapy, a treatment designed to relieve pain and discomfort by exposing subjects to extremely cold temperatures for short periods of time. Operating on the same principle that prescribes ice-pack application for black eyes, pulled backs, and lukewarm lemonades, Cryolab seeks to reduce inflammation and arrest the nerve impulses that cause pain and discomfort in joints and muscles. When clients step into a podlike cryosauna, blasts of nitrogen gas at temperatures around -110°C fill the chamber for two to three very chilly minutes, contracting swollen tissues and kick-starting the body's regulatory functions. The brief sessions can benefit those with joint pain, muscle injuries, certain skin problems, or a longing for a taste of Siberia. Cryolab doesn't recommend its services for clients with circulatory disorders, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, and some other conditions; seek medical advice prior to booking to address concerns.