Infrared pod membership in Calgary

Renu's infrared pod membership is $129 + GST for one month of unlimited cocoon pod use, subject to availability, with 20-minute sessions and the 40-minute session that only members can book. There is no ongoing contract and no automatic renewal, and you join by calling the front desk. At $25 for a single 20-minute session, the membership pays for itself from your sixth visit in a month.

The infrared pod membership at Renu costs $129 + GST and gives you one month of unlimited use of our cocoon pod, subject to availability. Members can book 20-minute sessions and the longer 40-minute session that is not sold on its own. There is no contract and nothing renews automatically: you buy a month when you want one. This page is for people deciding whether the membership is worth it, and how to use a month of unlimited heat sensibly.

How the membership works

The membership is deliberately simple. What you get and how it runs:

• Price: $129 + GST for one month.
• Use: unlimited pod sessions during that month, subject to availability.
• Session lengths: 20 minutes, or 40 minutes. The 40-minute session is for members only.
• Commitment: no ongoing contract and no automatic renewal.
• Joining: through the front desk, by calling 403-270-2111.

“Subject to availability” matters in practice. The pod is also used by clients adding a session to a massage, facial or lymphatic treatment, and by every Full BodyTox client. Booking your sessions ahead, rather than walking in, is the way to get the times you want.

When the membership pays off

The break-even point is your sixth 20-minute session in a month. A single cocoon session on its own is $25, so:

Sessions in a month	Paying $25 each	With the membership
4 (once a week)	$100	$129 + GST
6	$150	$129 + GST
8 (twice a week)	$200	$129 + GST
12 (three times a week)	$300	$129 + GST

Once a week, you are better off paying per session. From about six visits a month, or as soon as you want 40-minute sessions, the membership is the cheaper way to use the pod. If you are only curious, the cheapest first try is the 20-minute session included with the new client massage special or with a Full BodyTox. Our page on infrared session costs in Calgary covers single-session pricing in more detail.

Using a month of unlimited sessions sensibly

Unlimited does not mean daily. Cleveland Clinic suggests limiting infrared sauna visits to three or four times a week, keeping sessions under 30 minutes, and starting at a lower temperature for five to ten minutes to see how you respond. Infrared saunas run at about 110 to 135 F, compared with about 150 to 195 F for a traditional sauna, which is part of why they feel gentler.

A sensible way to use a membership:

1. Week one: two or three 20-minute sessions. Notice how you feel that evening and the next morning.
2. Week two onward: up to three or four sessions a week if you are feeling well.
3. The 40-minute session: treat it as an occasional longer rest once 20 minutes feels easy. It is longer than the under-30-minute guideline Cleveland Clinic gives for infrared saunas in general, so if you have any health condition, ask your doctor before using it, and get out early if you feel lightheaded.

Bring water into every session and drink afterwards. A 2025 study that measured people in a far infrared sauna for 45 minutes found they lost about half a percent of their body weight in sweat, at roughly 0.46 litres an hour. Our page on how often you can use the infrared cocoon pod goes deeper on frequency.

What regular sessions may and may not do

Regular sauna use looks promising, but the evidence is modest. A 2018 systematic review of regular dry sauna bathing found 40 studies with 3,855 participants. Most reported benefits, but only 13 were randomized controlled trials and most were small, and the authors said more work is needed on the best frequency and duration.

For recovery, the same 2025 study is useful. Muscle temperature rose most near the skin, by about 3.0 C at 1.4 cm deep, and only 1.1 C at 3.4 cm, with negligible heating beyond 3.8 cm; core temperature did not change at all. In plain terms, an infrared session warms the outer layers of muscle rather than heating you through. That is a good reason to treat the pod as warmth and rest, not as a treatment for an injury. See whether an infrared sauna helps muscle recovery for more.

Who should not buy a membership

Heat several times a week is not for everyone. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding infrared saunas if you:

• are pregnant (see whether the cocoon pod is safe during pregnancy) or trying to conceive
• have multiple sclerosis, since people with MS tend to be heat intolerant
• are currently sick; wait until you are better

It also advises talking to your healthcare provider first if you have a pre-existing condition. The National Lymphedema Network recommends that people with lymphedema, or at risk of it, avoid saunas altogether. If that applies to you, a membership is not a good buy, and Meeghan Mackenzie, our Certified Lymphedema Therapist, can talk you through other ways to support your lymphatic health.

Joining at Renu

Call the front desk at 403-270-2111 to join, and ask how they would like you to book your member sessions. The pod is in a private room at BodyTox by Renu, inside our clinic on 19 Street NW in West Hillhurst, with free street parking. The clinic is open seven days a week, which makes three or four visits a week easier to fit around work.

Questions people ask

Can I share my pod membership with a partner?

The membership is described as one month of unlimited pod use for the member, so plan on one membership per person. If two of you want to use the pod often, ask the front desk when you call to join.

Does the membership start on the first of the month?

The membership is sold as one month of use, joined through the front desk. Ask them to confirm your start and end dates when you call, so you can plan your sessions across the whole month.

What happens when my month ends?

Nothing, unless you choose to buy another month. There is no automatic renewal and no ongoing contract, so you will not be charged again without asking for it.

Is the pod membership worth it if I only come once a week?

Probably not on price alone. Four or five 20-minute sessions at $25 each comes to $100 to $125, which is below the $129 + GST fee. The membership makes sense once you are coming more than five times a month, or if you want the longer 40-minute session.

Sources

1. Cleveland Clinic: Infrared sauna benefits
2. Hussain J, Cohen M, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2018): Clinical effects of regular dry sauna bathing, a systematic review
3. Reed EL et al., Journal of Applied Physiology (2025): Muscle temperature increases during a single far infrared sauna session without changes in intestinal temperature
4. National Lymphedema Network: Lymphedema risk reduction position paper (2026)

Page reviewed October 5, 2026. This page is education, not a diagnosis. For your own situation, talk to your doctor, surgeon or care team, or ask us.