Why The Plunge Recovery Station Is Becoming a Wellness Anchor for Broward County
- Choose954
- Dec 31
- 6 min read
In Broward County, fitness culture is strong. Gyms are full, studios are packed, and people are constantly pushing themselves to do more. What has been missing is a place that focuses just as intentionally on recovery.
The Plunge Recovery Station in Deerfield Beach is helping fill that gap, offering a science-backed approach to cold plunging and sauna that supports not only individual health, but the long-term wellness of the community as a whole.
This is not about extremes or chasing trends. It is about sustainability, resilience, and helping people feel better in their bodies so they can keep showing up for their lives.
Built From Experience, Not Hype
Owner Jason Foltz knows firsthand what happens when recovery becomes non-negotiable.
After spending the last eight years traveling the world racing Ironman events, Jason learned quickly that training alone does not build longevity. Recovery does. Cold plunging and sauna became part of his regular routine, not something he did occasionally.
Less soreness. Fewer aches. Better energy. More consistency.
“When the opportunity came up for The Plunge, it was an easy yes,” Jason shares. “I remember thinking, everyone should be able to feel this good. The Plunge is really just me sharing what I was already doing for myself, but on a bigger scale.”
A Missing Piece in the Local Wellness Ecosystem
Broward County has no shortage of places to work out, but very few spaces dedicated specifically to recovery.
“There were plenty of gyms and fitness studios, but no place focused solely on recovery,” Jason explains. “Recovery was either something elite athletes had access to or something people tried to figure out at home.”
The Plunge was designed to make recovery intentional, accessible, and consistent. Not intimidating. Not exclusive. Just reliable.
For a community filled with active professionals, parents, creatives, athletes, and entrepreneurs, that matters.
Recovery That Is Welcoming, Guided, and Human
One of the most common fears people have is thinking they are not built for cold plunging.
“You don’t need to be an athlete, a biohacker, or tough to belong here,” Jason says. “Everything is scalable and guided. Almost everyone walks in nervous and walks out feeling better than they expected.”
Manager David Judge sees this transformation daily.
“This isn’t a gimmick,” David says. “People walk in stressed, sore, or burned out and leave noticeably calmer and more grounded.”
Physically, people recover faster and sleep better. Mentally, the shift is even bigger.
“People become calmer under stress, more confident in discomfort, and more intentional with their health,” David explains. “You can see it in how they carry themselves after a few weeks.”
The Science Behind Cold Plunging and Sauna
Much of the modern understanding of contrast therapy has been popularized by research discussed on one of the top health and wellness podcasts in the world, the Huberman Lab podcast hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., who is a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the Departments of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine. His research laboratory, the Huberman Lab, has made significant contributions to our understanding of brain development, the neuroscience of visual perception and repair from blinding diseases such as glaucoma, the neural mechanisms of stress and resilience and neural plasticity—the nervous system’s ability to change and learn in response to experience. Through the Huberman Lab podcast, Dr. Huberman translates science and science-based tools into actionable protocols for improving brain function, enhancing mood and energy, optimizing physical health and performance and developing new skills and behaviors.
According to Huberman Lab, consistent cold exposure can help:
Improve stress resilience and mental toughness
Reduce inflammation and muscle soreness
Improve mood through dopamine regulation
Support metabolic and immune function
Regular sauna use has been linked to:
Improved cardiovascular health
Reduced all-cause mortality risk
Better sleep quality
Enhanced relaxation and nervous system recovery
The key insight from the research is consistency over intensity.
Expanding Recovery Beyond Cold and Heat
While cold plunging and sauna anchor the experience at The Plunge, they are not the only tools available. The space also offers compression boots and red light therapy, rounding out a recovery approach that supports circulation, inflammation reduction, and cellular repair.
Compression boots use rhythmic pressure to help move blood and lymphatic fluid through the legs. This can reduce swelling, flush metabolic waste, and speed up recovery after workouts or long days on your feet. Many people notice lighter legs, less stiffness, and faster bounce-back when compression is used consistently.
Red light therapy works at a cellular level, using specific wavelengths of light to support mitochondrial function. Research suggests it may help reduce inflammation, improve muscle recovery, support skin health, and promote overall tissue repair. It is a passive modality that pairs well with both sauna and cold exposure, especially for people managing chronic soreness or high stress loads.
Together, these modalities allow members to tailor their recovery based on how their body feels that day. Some days call for heat and stillness. Others benefit from circulation and light. The goal is not to do everything every time, but to build a recovery practice that adapts with you.
Suggested Protocols for Reference
Based on Huberman Lab discussions, general guidelines include:
Cold plunging at temperatures around 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 to 3 minutes per round, aiming for a total of about 11 minutes per week across 2 to 4 sessions.
Sauna sessions between 170 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 30 minutes, 2 to 4 times per week, with research suggesting around 57 minutes per week for cardiovascular and longevity benefits.
At The Plunge, these protocols are adjusted to the individual, emphasizing safety, breath control, and comfort. Nothing is required and everything is optional based off of preference. If you have a question, David and the staff are glad to answer and guide you to a comfortable experience.
Why Spaces Like This Matter for Broward County
As stress, burnout, and chronic inflammation become more common, spaces like The Plunge offer more than personal benefit. They offer preventative care.
When people recover better, they move better. They think clearer. They show up with more patience and energy. That ripple effect matters in a community.
Very few places in Broward County provide this kind of intentional recovery environment. The Plunge is helping normalize self-care as a foundational practice, not a reward for overworking.
A Real-Life Recovery Rhythm
Choose954 & Zero Empty Spaces Co-Founder Evan Snow lives a busy life and has made The Plunge an essential part of his Sunday self-care routine, as he shared in his first book Learning To Choose: "to be your best you need to feel your best, so you can do your best".
After a Sweat440 HIIT workout in the morning, where Sundays focus on full-body conditioning, Evan heads into recovery mode with a cold plunge and sauna session at The Plunge. From there, the day flows into a healthy lunch, grocery shopping, meal prepping salads for the week, and an evening Yin Yoga class focused on relaxation and recovery.
When prioritized with the right intention, recovery becomes the bridge between effort and sustainability.
Join the Community Plunge Meetups in January
Cold plunging can feel intimidating alone. That is why Choose954 is hosting community meetups designed for people who have been curious but might need a little extra encouragement and support.
Two January meetups are scheduled:
Sunday, January 4th at 12pm
Sunday, January 11th at 12pm
RSVP Can Be Found Here - https://www.meetup.com/choose954-meetup-group-find-things-to-do-in-the-954/events/312659396/
These gatherings are intentionally framed as shared experiences. A way to step slightly outside your comfort zone with others who are doing the same.
After the session, anyone interested is welcome to join for an optional lunch nearby and connect with other locals who are building healthier rhythms in real life.
Advance booking is suggested for The Plunge and is available online.
The Plunge Is Located At 1574 SE 3rd Ct, Deerfield Beach, FL
Try It Free and Make It Accessible
For those new to The Plunge, you can try your first session for free using our ClassPass referral link, which includes 20 free credits to try this and other local small businesses in our community:
The Plunge is also currently running a holiday special on memberships, making it an ideal time to build recovery into your weekly routine.
About Choose954
Choose954 is a community-driven cultural platform spotlighting what makes Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County worth showing up for. From wellness and food to art, events, and local stories, Choose954 connects curious locals with experiences that support a more intentional, creative, and connected way of living. Know something we should cover or want to be featured? Share it with us to help keep the culture moving.
Comments