For many women, self-care means treating themselves to a new face cream or coffee with friends. But one contrast therapy studio in Tucson is treating the whole woman: heat, cold, sound and stillness in a single hour. Opening Oct. 27, El Ritual is a serene, upscale recovery studio for women, offering a self-guided, sensory experience that gets them out of their minds and into their bodies.
Founder Jaqueleen Larson moved to Tucson from New York with a background in group fitness and corporate beauty, and she said she is not a practitioner but “a brand builder and a busy woman and someone who really wanted to see a place like this and experience it.” She said contrast therapy, which alternates heat and cold, was on the rise in the U.S., but the first few Phoenix studios she saw had big TVs on the wall. “There was a way to do this so much better,” Larson said.
How a Session Works
El Ritual takes four to eight women at a time. Guests book circuits ahead on a posted schedule, as they would for a Pilates or spin class, and can unwind alone or with friends. There are currently no walk-in appointments, and sessions are for women unless a listing says otherwise.
The studio describes itself as “a wellness practice built around our actual lives.” It is a social space that nurtures self-love and self-care.
Larson said a couple of Japanese spas in San Francisco that label sessions by gender inspired El Ritual’s approach. “I truly believe that I am here to serve women,” she said.
The Order Matters
Larson said the team researched how to stack the circuit’s steps so the body is ready for each one. Sauna comes first, when “your nervous system is told that it’s safe,” she said. A cold plunge follows, and Larson said it brings people into the present: “I am here in this moment, and that’s what I love about contrast.”
After the cold plunge, guests move to a room with red lights for sound therapy with Andrea Copeland, whom the studio lists as a neuro-therapist. They listen through earphones, much like sound healing, to original recorded sound baths. “The brainwave treatment is all the more potent,” Larson said, because guests are already out of fight-or-flight.
Room for Groups
A lounge after the sound session offers tea, mineral-replenishing drinks and journaling prompts. Larson said doing it alongside others is part of the appeal, along with how dedicated time “protects the practice.” “There’s more that you can choose to do than just grab a coffee or go get a meal with someone,” she said.
Groups can reserve private sessions for occasions such as bridal showers and bachelorettes. A few local business owners have told Larson they like the idea of a team retreat there.
A First-Timer’s Take
Kelly Hart took her first cold plunge at an El Ritual pop-up, where Larson coached her through the breathing. “Once you’re able to drop into your mind a little bit, it makes it so much easier,” Hart said. The experience gave her confidence: “I can do these hard things.”
Book Your Hour
El Ritual is at 410 N. Toole Ave. in Tucson. Arrive 10 minutes early with a swimsuit or sauna suit, since latecomers may not be able to join. The studio provides a towel and a linen robe, and you leave your phone in your locker.
An hour for yourself
Larson said she set out to create “a very low barrier to entry place” for Tucson residents, with a taste of the desert’s grounding feel for visitors, too. Book a session with a friend or on your own, and spend the hour unwinding and restoring.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.