HBOT at R1SE Sheffield.
Hard-shell chambers up to 2.0 ATA and soft-shell at 1.3 ATA. Sessions from 30 to 90 minutes at our Kelham Urban Spa. What a session actually looks like, from arrival to first descent — and how to book your first.
Location
Kelham Urban Spa
Pressure
1.3–2.0 ATA
Session length
30–90 min
Oxygen delivery
Mask / ambient
01 · The chambers we run
Two chamber types. Two different jobs.
Most other Sheffield wellness providers run only soft-shell. We run both so the chamber matches the goal. The hard-shell delivers therapeutic-grade pressure for longevity and post-injury protocols; the soft-shell is the gentlest possible introduction to hyperbarics.
Hard-Shell Chamber
Up to 2.0 ATA
Best for: Therapeutic-grade protocols. Longevity-focused (Hachmo telomere replication). Post-concussion, long-COVID, post-injury programmes. Members who want the strongest cellular signal per session.
Session length: 60–90 min including pressurisation and depressurisation
What it feels like: Rigid steel, viewing window, lit interior, climate-controlled, oxygen delivered via mask or hood. You can sit up, read, listen to audio, or sleep.
Soft-Shell Chamber
1.3 ATA
Best for: Entry-level use. Recovery between training blocks. Frequent-use protocols. Members who want the calm + clarity benefit without committing to medical-grade pressure. First-time HBOT users.
Session length: 30–60 min including pressurisation and depressurisation
What it feels like: Flexible inflatable envelope, soft and quiet, full lighting, ambient oxygen enrichment. You lie horizontally, can read or listen, and most members fall asleep.
02 · A session, step by step
What actually happens in 90 minutes.
Arrive at Kelham Urban Spa
We're at 8 Shepherd Street, Sheffield S3 7BA. HBOT runs exclusively from Kelham — not Brook Place. Arrive 10 minutes before your session for a quick health check and chamber orientation.
Health check & briefing
Our team confirms there are no new contraindications since your last visit (ear health, recent illness, new medications), walks you through equalising if you're new, and briefs you on what to expect at depth.
Settle into the chamber
You'll be wearing comfortable cotton clothing (no synthetic fibres, no electronics inside the hard-shell). Lie or sit, get comfortable. We pass you a mask (hard-shell) or you'll breathe enriched air (soft-shell).
Pressurisation (descent)
The pressure rises gradually over 5–10 minutes. Your ears will feel full — swallow, yawn, or use the Valsalva manoeuvre to equalise as you would on a plane. Once at depth, the sensation disappears.
At depth
30 to 75 minutes at pressure depending on protocol. Most members read, listen to audio, or sleep. You can talk to the team via intercom at any time. Oxygen breathing alternates with brief air breaks (the hyperoxic-hypoxic protocol).
Depressurisation (ascent)
Another 5–10 minutes back to surface pressure. Ears equalise the other way; same techniques. The chamber unseals and you step out.
Hydrate & log
Drink 250ml of water on exit. We'll note any subjective effects in your member log so we can track response over a protocol. Most members feel calm, slightly cool, and unusually clear-headed for the next several hours.
03 · The protocols we offer
Match the protocol to the goal.
These are starting templates. Our team will tailor frequency, pressure, and duration to your goal, recovery markers, and time. Tracking HRV and sleep weekly is part of how we calibrate.
Intro
1–2× per week
Your first three sessions. Get comfortable in the chamber, learn to equalise, see how your body responds. Most members notice better sleep and clearer thinking within these first sessions.
Recovery
1–2× per week
Athletic and post-load recovery. Schedule within 24 hours of high-load training for the strongest signal. Pair with red light and compression for the full recovery stack.
Performance
2–3× per week (training blocks)
Athletes preparing for competition, demanding cognitive work, or returning from injury. Tracks HRV and sleep weekly. Best paired with structured strength and conditioning.
Longevity
5× per week, ~3 months
Replicates the Hachmo telomere protocol — 60 sessions over 90 days. The largest evidence base for cellular regeneration and cognitive enhancement. Discuss with the team before committing.
Post-Concussion / Long-COVID
3–5× per week, 8–12 weeks
Modelled on the Shamir Medical Center / Efrati protocols. Members frequently report a step-change at sessions 12–18. Track symptoms weekly.
04 · Stacks (combinations)
The combinations members ask for most.
Recovery stack
HBOT 1.5 ATA → Red Light 660 + 850nm → Compression. Post-training, same-day. 90 minutes total. The complete cellular and circulatory recovery loop.
Longevity stack
HBOT 2.0 ATA 90 min → Red Light Therapy → Cold plunge 2-3 min. 2× weekly. The most-evidenced anti-aging signal combination available outside a research protocol.
Cognitive stack
Morning breathwork → HBOT 1.75 ATA 60 min → Cold finish. Designed around the Hadanny cognitive findings and the catecholamine afterglow.
Post-illness stack
HBOT 1.5 ATA daily → Red Light 3× weekly → Light yoga 2× weekly. For long-COVID, post-viral fatigue, and post-surgical recovery. Avoid pushing intensity.
Common questions
Ready to step into the chamber?
Book your first session at Kelham Urban Spa. First-time HBOT users book the 30-minute soft-shell intro — we'll progress from there based on how you respond.
Continue Reading
More from the R1SE HBOT Library
HBOT Knowledge Hub
Every hyperbaric oxygen page on the R1SE knowledge library.
ReadThe Science of HBOT
Telomere lengthening, cognitive enhancement, neuroplasticity — every claim cited.
ReadThe Benefits of HBOT
Cellular regeneration, recovery, anti-aging signals.
ReadConditions HBOT Treats
Post-concussion, long COVID, ulcers, stroke, fibromyalgia.
ReadHow to Use HBOT
Pressure, duration, frequency — from beginner to protocol-grade.
ReadTypes of Hyperbaric Chamber
Hard- vs soft-shell. 1.3 vs 2.0 ATA. Monoplace vs multiplace.
Read