Health Update: Health Update: Wellness studio brings medical-grade red light therapy to Tulsa – What Experts Say– What Experts Say.
A new wellness studio focused on recovery, movement, and non-invasive therapy is set to open in South Tulsa by the end of February, bringing medical-grade red light therapy and complementary fitness technologies to 8222 S. Harvard Ave.
Red Light Method South Tulsa is owned by Michelle Hensarling and Rich Hensarling and managed by Deborah Kight. The studio centers on red light therapy — also known as photobiomodulation — a treatment that uses low-level red and near-infrared light to stimulate cellular energy production, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.
“Red light therapy works at the cellular level by energizing mitochondria, which helps the body repair itself,” Michelle Hensarling said. “We wanted to create a space where people could access these benefits consistently and affordably.”
The South Tulsa location uses medical-grade Contour Light® devices, which are FDA-cleared for non-invasive body contouring and the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain, arthritis, stiffness, and muscle spasms. The system uses flexible, wrappable pads that allow the light to be placed close to targeted areas such as joints, hands, feet, hips, waist, and thighs.
Contour Light® technology delivers two specific wavelengths: 635 nanometers of visible red light for surface-level cellular stimulation, and 880 nanometers of near-infrared light, which penetrates deeper into tissue to support circulation, fat-cell response, and muscle recovery.
Red Light Method South Tulsa pairs red light therapy with Power Plate vibration training, Pilates reformer classes, PEMF grounding mats, and an infrared sauna. Power Plate uses PrecisionWave Technology to send rapid vibrations through the body, activating more muscle fibers, improving circulation, and supporting recovery. Pilates reformer workouts offer low-impact, full-body strengthening with benefits for posture, balance, rehabilitation, and chronic pain reduction.
The studio also offers pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) grounding mats, commonly used for pain relief, inflammation reduction, improved circulation, nerve repair, stress reduction, and enhanced sleep quality. Infrared sauna sessions round out the offerings, with benefits linked to cardiovascular health, muscle relaxation, mental stress reduction, and improved sleep.
The origins of red light therapy date back more than a century. Danish physician Niels Ryberg Finsen won the Nobel Prize in 1903 for using concentrated light to treat skin tuberculosis. Modern red light therapy was later discovered accidentally in the 1960s by Hungarian physician Endre Mester, who observed faster wound healing and hair growth in mice exposed to low-level laser light. NASA research in the 1990s further advanced the field after red LED lights were found to accelerate wound healing during plant-growth experiments.
“We like to say God invented red light, because it shares the same frequency as the rising sun,” Hensarling said. “Science just helped us understand how powerful it really is.”
The idea to open a Red Light Method location came after the Hensarlings tried multiple red light treatments themselves and saw noticeable results — along with the high cost of long-term use elsewhere. After connecting with Red Light Method founder Allison Beardsley, they decided to bring the franchise to Tulsa with a focus on accessibility.
“Our goal is to make medical-grade red light therapy and recovery tools available to everyone, not just elite athletes or people who can afford expensive spa memberships,” Hensarling said.
To celebrate the opening, Red Light Method South Tulsa is offering a no-contract, four-week trial for a limited time. Customers who join during the promotion can lock in a discounted rate for the lifetime of their membership. The studio is also hiring staff interested in health and wellness.
The facility has no strict age limit, though anyone under 18 must have a parent present to sign a waiver, and parents are required to remain in the room for clients 16 and under during treatments.
Red Light Method South Tulsa officially opens at the end of February at 8222 S. Harvard Ave., Tulsa, OK 74137. Social media links and additional information will be available with the station’s web story.
