TN50#10, Free Fitness Room, March 2021
Hi Team,
Happy Monday and welcome to the TN50#10.
What If?
I like to play a game I call “What if…” You’ve heard the one, “What if a frog had wings?” It wouldn’t bump its ass every time it hopped.
Here is another one, not as cute but be patient while I develop this.
“What if there was a free fitness room?” A room that all you did was walk in and sit down or lie down and your fitness improved.
First thought: “Sure Alex, let me know when the spaceship lands.”
If I am dreaming, these are some of the things I would want out of a Free Fitness Room:
- Repair of damaged cells, you know I love talking about things at the cellular level.
- Produce a physiological response similar to moderate to vigorous intensity exercise.
- Minimize muscle atrophy after injury/immobilization.
- Detoxification
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Improvement of cognitive and mental health.
- Improve hormonal and metabolic function.
Drum roll please…
The spaceship has landed, I am not dreaming and there is a Free Fitness Room!
It is called the Sauna!
Pretty anticlimactic, right? The practice has been around in one form or another for 1000’s of years and now we know why.
For about the last 4 years I have been all in on using a dry sauna 5 or more times a week, for 20 or more minutes a session at a minimum temperature of 174 degrees F. As COVID-19 was closing all the gyms, Carly even let me buy one for the house, all the pix are of my Free Fitness Room.
And man-o-man she’ll get hot!
If you want to listen to a better summary of the science that just blew your mind listen to this 27-minute podcast here.
If you want to read more on the 7 areas of improvement that I hinted at and a whole lot more (with over 100 scientific articles referenced) go here.
Too good to be true right? Check out the science, find one to test drive (I know a couple who just joined Lifetime Fitness for 2 months so they could use a sauna regularly and see what they think).
Do not take my word for it, I am not a doctor so talk to your Doc but make them read over the science first.
And now the “common sense ain’t so common” disclaimer: extended exposure to sauna level heat will melt your electronics and even some of the sexy coatings on your glasses (I know this from personal experience). You should also slowly acclimate to the sauna, so you don’t end up getting sick and passing out!
If you have any questions on where to get one and things to consider for your personal installation situation just drop me a line.
As always let me know what you think and please share this with anyone who needs it.
Have a good one, Alex