Why 1.5 ATA Matters for Wellness and Recovery: Your Questions Answered

As the winter sports season comes to an end, many people are turning their attention from performance to recovery and overall wellbeing. From professional athletes to weekend enthusiasts, bodies are asking for rest and rejuvenation. One emerging wellness option is the hyperbaric chamber, but what does it actually do, and why is 1.5 ATA such a popular setting? 

What does ATA mean?

ATA stands for “atmospheres absolute”, which is a unit to measure pressure. At sea level, we live at 1.0 ATA. When you step into a pressurised chamber, the environment is gently increased beyond this baseline.

So when we say 1.5 ATA, it means the chamber environment is set to one and a half times normal air pressure. This modest increase creates a different breathing environment that supports wellness without being extreme.

Why is 1.5 ATA used in wellness sessions?

At 1.5 ATA, your body has the opportunity to take in more oxygen with each breath due to the reduction in oxygen molecule size. In a hyperbaric chamber, this means oxygen can also circulate more freely through your system.

Many people describe the experience as leaving them:

It’s a simple, non-invasive way to complement an active lifestyle.

How is this different from hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Great question. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (often called HBOT) typically uses higher pressures and 100% oxygen and is applied in hospital or clinical contexts for medical purposes.

By contrast, wellness-focused hyperbaric chambers, like those set at 1.3 to 1.5 ATA, are designed for everyday use in wellness spaces, sports facilities, or lifestyle studios. They use filtered air and moderate pressure, making them more accessible for people seeking wellness treatments as part of a healthy routine.

What makes a hyperbaric chamber appealing for lifestyle support?

Unlike a massage or sauna, a session in an oxygen chamber works by surrounding your body in a gently pressurised environment. This can leave you feeling more energised, clear-headed, and ready to take on your next activity.

The additional application of oxygen to your body in this setting gives your body relief and accelerates the bodies natural healing processes, perfect for off season recovery

It’s also a calming experience. Many people enjoy the quiet time in the chamber as part of their self-care practice.

Why is this relevant now?

As sports wind down for the winter season, the focus naturally shifts to recovery and readiness for the months ahead. A hyperbaric chamber can be part of that wellness journey, offering a natural way to recharge, support balance, and ease the transition into spring routines.

What’s next in this space?

The industry is moving quickly. Traditional chambers were large and clinic-based, but new modular hyperbaric chambers are emerging. These are easier to install, more versatile, and designed for wellness spaces ranging from gyms to recovery centres.

That means more people will be able to access advanced oxygen inspired experiences without needing a hospital environment.

The Takeaway

1.5 ATA is a sweet spot for wellness, it gently enhances the air you breathe in a way that supports lifestyle, training recovery routines, and overall vitality.

With Multiplace Chambers, this kind of experience is becoming more widely available, helping people make wellness part of everyday life.Explore more about this evolution with the team Cell Life.