AUSTIN — I was a human in need of a recharge. So why not visit a "human recharging station?"
I know, I know. It sounds super sci-fi, woo-woo, all the adjectives imaginable. But when the people behind the Ammortal Chamber – a $159,500 wellness machine combining red light therapy, molecular hydrogen, vibro-acoustics and voice-guided mediation – offered conference attendees a chance to test it out, how could I refuse? I'd already spent a few days at the SXSW conference in March 2026, and sleep and proper nutrients eluded me. As a wellness reporter, skepticism runs in my veins. But when it comes to calming down my nervous system, I'll try almost anything.
"We're overstimulated as humans daily, by people and meetings and everything going on," Sue Rabin, head of customer experience at Ammortal, tells me. "The chamber allows you to reset your nervous system, so getting out of that fight-or-flight mode."
You don't need to spend six-figures for the experience, though you certainly can. Fitness clubs, hotels and spas have Ammortal Chambers of their own available for rented time slots. Prices vary by location and time spent (think around $150 per session, according a suggested price on Ammortal's website); session options range from 15 to 60 minutes. That said, one-third of the company's chambers sell to private individuals.
