The Benefits of "BioHacking"
June 1, 2023
“Life hacks” have become a popular phenomenon, offering ingenious shortcuts and innovative approaches to streamline our daily routines (for example: how to open that stubborn pickle jar!) But what if we could apply the same concept of "hacking" to our fitness journey? In this article, we'll explore how biohacking can revolutionize the way you approach fitness and wellness, empowering you to achieve your fitness goals, and beyond!
Get Personal
There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to fitness and wellness. It’s important to create a plan that’s customized to your body and lifestyle to achieve the best results. Working with a personal trainer is a great way to get started on building a customized fitness plan. Take things a step further with genetic testing to identify genetic variants that impact factors such as metabolism, muscle strength, or injury risk. The information obtained can help guide exercise selection, intensity, and recovery strategies.
Quantify Your Fitness
One common bio-hack is the use of self-tracking devices, such as fitness trackers or smartwatches, to monitor various health and performance metrics. These devices can provide real-time feedback on heart rate, sleep quality, steps taken, calorie expenditure, and more. By analyzing this data, it’s easy to identify patterns, make adjustments to your routines, and optimize fitness and wellness practices accordingly. For a deeper dive, work with one of our personal trainers for access to our on-site body composition analysis machines.
Ice, Ice Baby
Ice baths involve immersing the body in very cold water, typically around 50 degrees or lower, for a short duration, typically a few minutes. Cold exposure triggers vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and activates the body's cold shock response. This can help reduce inflammation, speed up recovery, improve circulation, and potentially enhance immune function. Curious about ice baths? We’ll be showing up with a few ice bath events this summer on the West Sundeck in Chelsea!
Don’t have a bunch of ice lying around? While taking a cold shower does not have quite the same level of intensity as ice baths, incorporating regular cold showers into your routine can still be a valuable component of biohacking, contributing to overall well-being and potentially providing some benefits for recovery and mental clarity.
Some Like it Hot
Available at all of our fitness clubs, the sauna and steam room are a great and simple biohack to speed up recovery. The heat induces sweating, which can help eliminate toxins, improve circulation, relax muscles, and potentially reduce stress. In the steam room, steam helps to open up the pores, induce sweating, and potentially aid in the detoxification process. Heat therapy sessions are commonly followed by cold exposure, such as taking a cold shower, to enhance the contrast and stimulate additional physiological responses.
Eat it Up
Another way to biohack your mind and body is through a great nutrition plan. By adopting a thoughtful and intentional approach to our diet, we can tap into the potential of nutrition to fuel our bodies, support physical performance, and enhance mental clarity. Exploring different types of nutrient-dense foods and different dietary strategies can lead to the fitness and wellness results you’re looking for.
It's important to note that while these methods are commonly used and generally considered safe, they may not be suitable for everyone. Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as cardiovascular problems or specific skin conditions, should consult with a healthcare professional before engaging in extreme temperature-based biohacking practices. Additionally, it's recommended to gradually build up tolerance and duration when exposing the body to extreme temperatures.