Chill out with your yacht out

As the world’s jet set descend on Monaco for the world’s greatest superyacht show, local Monégasque residents turn to cryotherapy and lettuce wraps to keep in shape for summer.

- Dominique Afacan

I’m standing in an ice-cold cabin, wearing a bikini, socks, gloves and a facemask. Coldplay’s Adventure of a Lifetime is pumping into the enclosed space at full volume. I am dancing slowly, lifting my arms above my head, but the movement is definitely not keeping me warm. After all, it’s -79 degrees Celsius in here. It’s absurd to think I am in Monaco.

Outside, as the world’s super yacht crowds tread the trademark blue carpets at the Monaco Yacht Show, I’ve decided instead to freeze myself in the name of health and beauty. It’s an unusual choice, I know. Cryotherapy is the latest spa trend to hit the headlines, and if you believe the hype, it improves joint function, cures insomnia, clears the mind and dramatically improves jet lag. Given that NetJets alone have seen 97 flights touch down here for the world’s most high-end yacht show, it’s a wonder they could fit me in. The technique is already widely used by athletes – but the Thermes Marins spa in Monte Carlo is one of the few places in Europe that caters to the likes of you and I.