Location
The wellness industry has a new genre, “Performance Wellness”. The RCVRI (pronounced recovery) studios are not your average repair space—they are high-performance labs for the mind and body. At intersection of cutting-edge science and self-care, RCVRI delivers evidence-based recovery experiences previously reserved for elite athletes. With four studios across Sydney, the newest recently opening in the heart of the CBD.
The Martin Place studio is leaning to the left of the industrial side of industrial chic with the ceiling completely exposing the HVAC systems. This is by design, with a lot of air flow going on it needs to be filtered out. The stripped-back ceiling complements the minimalist, modern interior that gives off a clean edge and calm energy. Every detail is engineered to lower your heart rate and elevate your state – step into RCVRI and instantly down-regulate.
The Founding Team
The team are highly trained and knowledgeable about the equipment and benefits. Annabel is our wellness concierge and provides a full orientation of all the modality spaces from the compression lounge, saunas and cold plunge pools to the executive suite – totally private and apparently in high demand for group sessions.
Created by performance-obsessed founders Nick Bardetta and Steve Hoiles (affectionately known as “the wallaby”), who’s mission is to democratise access to elite recovery tools, once reserved for pro teams. The first RCVRI established in Coogee six years ago and has been growing in popularity ever since.
The Performance Wellness Solutions
Performance wellness is a system: a science-backed sequence of modalities designed to reduce fatigue, accelerate recovery, boost cognitive clarity, and keep your physical and mental systems running at peak. The modalities vary across the four studios and include:
- Contrast therapy – alternating hot and cold plunge to stimulate circulation, activate cellular repair and fire up dopamine levels.
- Traditional and infrared saunas – detoxification and deep tissue muscle recovery.
- Zero gravity – for a sensory deprived relax.
- NormaTec compression boots – dynamic pneumatic compression.
- Hyperbaric chambers – hydroxy therapy.
- Massage – human-powered, not robotic. Because sometimes old-school is exactly what your body needs.
As a long-time gym-goer, disciplined in routine but admittedly light on downtime, I take a seat on a NormaTec lounge to kick off the experience. Compression boots wrap your legs while rhythmic pulses work through the muscles to flush lactic acid, reduce inflammation, and enhance lymphatic drainage. Used by NBA, AFL, and UFC athletes, they’re a game changer after leg days. If you spend a lot of time on your feet, or train regularly these are for you.
With lighter legs we move over to what looks like something out of a flight simulator for HBOT. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a 60-minute biohack. This pressurised chamber delivers 100% oxygen, enabling your body to absorb 10–15x more oxygen than normal. Research indicates it is anti-inflammatory, particularly beneficial for wounds, injuries and post-surgical recovery. The client who steps out before me tells us that he has recently had open heart surgery and that his surgeons have observed his accelerated recovery from the sessions. Resist the urge to take a book, laptop or other device with you and allow the pressure to rise, oxygen to flow, clear your mind let your body begin a reset.
The vibe
If you are wellness-curious seeking a smarter way to recover, this is one for the weekday warrior who needs more than a protein shake to bounce back. Priced in the same range as other niche therapies, although it does take a series of sessions before you start to feel the benefits. There are a variety of weekly subscriptions or one-off of passes, check out their intro offer.
The Verdict
What we are Addicted to?
Access to science-backed affordable recovery.
What we do we need to be more Addicted?
The hyperbaric chambers while they look like a flight simulator capsule are not soundproof, if you are there to unplug, bring some headphones.
RCVRI Martin Place,17 Castlereagh St, Sydney NSW 2000
Open 7 days a week
