River Rain Renewal, a new wellness center offering ionic foot baths, infrared saunas and vitamin D delivering beds, opened its doors in Greenport last week.
“Detoxing and cleansing are something that I believe passionately in,” said River Rain’s owner Diane Gunder, 39.
The business, named after Gunder’s children Greyson River, 6, and Abbey Rain, 9, is located in the same building that houses Five Branches Wellness. Gunder teaches hooping at the Main Street center, an exercise incorporating hula hoops.
Gunder said she got the idea to open the wellness center after visiting a similar spa in western Long Island along with Five Branches owner and acupuncturist Rachel Reich.
While getting an ionic foot bath, which passes positively and and negatively charged ions through the body to help remove toxins, she said she became aware of a harmful toxin she was releasing coming from parts of her digestion tract.
She then sought medical treatment to rid her of the toxin, she said.
“With the footbath, you’re detoxing through the 4,000 pores in your feet,” she said. “The color of the water changes depending on where in your body the toxins are coming from.”
Customers can also sweat it out in either of the single- or double-person saunas, which offer a full-spectrum of infrared wavelengths.
The center’s Sunlighten brand saunas feature two wavelengths, which Gunder claims can help with weight, skin rejuvenation, pain relief, improved circulation and promote cell health.
River Rain also offers Vitamin D beds for those lacking in the essential compound.
“Many people are vitamin D deficient, especially in the winter,” she said. “It is a major concern right now.”
Harvard researchers have found deficiencies in the vitamin may increase the risk of chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and some cancers. Lack of vitamin D also had an impact on infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and even the seasonal flu, they found.
About 8 percent of Americans have a serious vitamin D deficiency, and another 25 percent are considered “at risk” of a deficiency, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
While the best way to absorb the vitamin is through the sun, when that is not an option, the stand-up bed bathes its subject in a UVB red light, allowing the body to create the vitamin. It is not considered a tanning bed.
“Anyone can benefit from these services,” she said. “Detoxing is linked to a number of health benefits and helps to raise pH levels, [the measure of acid and alkaline levels of blood] in the body.”
To help people maintain a healthy pH level, which researchers have found should be kept at a level of 7.4, Ms. Gunder also offers purified alkaline water.
River Rain Renewal will have a grand opening celebration Sunday, Aug. 31, and will offer coupons and free alkaline water, so long as people bring their own water bottles.
Services range from $15 for the vitamin D bed, to $45 for an ionized foot bath, with lower priced packages for two people. It is located on the second floor of the building at 430 Main Street. For schedules and appointments call (631) 606-2696.
