Inspiring Conversations with Pia Vasconi of Whole Life Cryo

Hi Pia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was involved in a three-car car accident, being the middle car. I sustained herniations in my back that caused me a lot of pain. After trying all kinds of therapy to alleviate the pain, I saw a friend of mine posting about Cryotherapy on her social media platforms. I inquired about Cryotherapy, what it was and how it worked. She told me that it helped her overcome her back pain, so I decided to give it a try. I bought a membership after the first session and continued to go consistently. I felt amazing, and my pain was gone. A few years ago, my best friend and I connected with our friend in the Cryotherapy industry and discussed a business plan. Since it worked for us so well, we knew other people would benefit from it as well. We wanted to open a small business that catered to others’ recovery and wellness, but at an affordable price. We dove headfirst into the industry and became business owners shortly after that. We have been open since December 1, 2018, will continue to help our community heal naturally.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Opening a business was not easy. I was new to the business world with very little guidance on how to make things work and run. What I did have was faith that it was a great business to be in. I signed up to be part of the local Carrollwood Area Business Association and built a network of great contacts. I think the biggest struggle I have had is getting the word out about Cryotherapy. Education on this topic is key to our success. So the more word of mouth references we get, and the more we can educate individuals on how great Cryotherapy can be for their overall wellness, the better we will become. The first year was slow but picked up as we moved into 2020.

I had high expectations of having the business flourish in 2020. Then came COVID-19. The business took a huge hit, as did many other small businesses. We managed, just barely, to make past the worst of it after being closed for so long. I took a risk and relocated the business in August of 2020. I felt that we were not in a good location. Visibility was low, and we weren’t getting the traffic we were expecting. I picked up and moved to the Carrollwood Village area into the cutest little plaza. Of course, that was not as easy as I thought it would be. I ran into multiple problems with the move, which delayed the re-open date. Now that the business is up and running in the new location, things are starting to look up. We have more traffic, and the word is spreading better about the business and what we are all about.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Whole Life Cryo is a wellness and recovery studio. I know the miracles Cryotherapy has worked for many people, including myself. We believe in close relationships with our clients, where you can expect to be known by name when you arrive. We will treat you like family and make sure you have the best experience while with us. We are not a franchise; we are a small business. We put our heart, sweat, and tears into this business because we wanted to have a place, people could come to recover, but at a reasonable and affordable price. Our logo, the lotus flower with the lifeline running through it, hits to the very point of why we opened. People who suffer from chronic pain, injuries, arthritis don’t feel “whole” when in such pain. You don’t function in “life” the same way you can when you are pain free, and feeling well. That is why we chose our logo, a pure, pain free, whole life, is what we strive to give out to clients. We currently offer Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC), Local Cryotherapy, NormaTec Compression Therapy, and Oxygen Therapy. Our WBC chamber is one of the safest on the market and manufactured in the USA. When you enter the chamber, your head is exposed with the rest of your body within the chamber. The chamber targets your entire body with temperatures ranging from -150 degrees Fahrenheit to -230 degrees Fahrenheit for three minutes. This three-minute session significantly reduces inflammation, allowing the body to heal and recover faster. Our localized Cryotherapy treatment can be used for three different modalities. The local treatment is a 10 minute, more direct treatment of troubling areas such as the neck, knees, elbows, ankles, etc. Most combine the WBC with a localized treatment after their session.

Our second modality for local Cryotherapy is Cryotherapy facials! Cryotherapy facials are 10 minutes sessions that help ease inflamed skin, reducing redness and acne, tightening the skin, promoting collagen production, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and close pores for a flawless glow. Our third modality of local Cryotherapy is cellulite freezing. We all have troubling cellulite that won’t go away! Our 30-minute sessions help reduce the appearance of cellulite by killing troubling fat cells, which are later released through the lymphatic system. Our NormaTec Compression therapy is used to treat the legs, arms, and hip areas. The compression sleeves systematically inflate and deflate, forcing inflammation and lactic acid out of the area and into the core to be flushed through the lymphatic system. Our oxygen therapy is a non-medical oxygen treatment. We have an oxygen concentrator that delivers pure oxygen through a cannula worn on your nose. You can enjoy this treatment in our reclining massage chairs as well. This therapy is great for those who suffer from migraines, are recovering from a hangover as a result of a late-night out, are experiencing jet lag or stress, or want to have a relaxing lunch break. We have many combinations of services available in packages and memberships. We offer discounts for first responders, teachers, military, and students. We also have sports team group rates.

What are your plans for the future?
My future plan for the business is to expand into a larger location to accommodate more clients.

Pricing:

• First Time Client WBC Single Session-$25
• Local Cryotherapy -$30
• Single NormaTec Session-$25
• Cryotherapy Facial-$35

Contact Info:

• Address: 4530 West Village Dr. Tampa, Fl 33624
• Email: Cryotherapy@gmail.com
• Website: www.wholelifecryo.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/wholelifecryo
• Facebook: Facebook.com/wholelifecryo