Deep breaths are always a good idea while exercising. And a treatment discovered in the 1960s\u2014now popular with elite athletes and fitness buffs\u2014takes that notion to an extreme.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exercise with oxygen therapy (EWOT) delivers highly concentrated oxygen during physical activity to \u201cincrease your performance, heighten your energy levels and detoxify as well,\u201d said Sudev Rajah, CEO of North Carolina-based Optimal Breathing, which supplies gyms, clinics and home gyms with EWOT equipment. The regimen was conceived by German scientist Manfred von Ardenne, who found enhanced oxygen intake helped relieve symptoms for cancer patients.<\/p>\n
MORE:<\/strong>\u00a0How to Block Blue Light Before Bedtime<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cPut simply, EWOT is a wellness method that involves breathing high concentrations of oxygen while exercising,\u201d Rajah said. \u201cIt floods your body with oxygen, increases energy levels, detoxifies and increases performance. People who run marathons and do intense adventure sports do extremely well with EWOT, and people who climb Mount Everest have been known to use EWOT in the months before their ascent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n High-oxygen training equipment and gyms are now popping up as an amenity in high-end homes. For instance, a megamansion<\/a> within a Six Senses-branded community in France\u2019s Loire Valley includes a \u201chigh-oxygen training room.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The science behind EWOT is simple, said Joshua Park, CEO of the Mocean wellness centers in New York and Los Angeles. \u201cOxygen is a fuel source. Everyone talks about mitochondria and ATP [adenosine triphosphate], which is the body\u2019s powerhouse to produce energy. To generate ATP, our bodies require oxygen. Enhancing oxygen intake means more energy,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mocean offers EWOT as part of a suite of high-end treatments, including \u201cintegrative biohacking, Eastern and Western medicine, based on 50 biomarkers that we measure,\u201d he said. Along with weekend warriors and stressed-out executives, Mocean clients include the New York Mets, who have partnered with the clinics on wellness. \u201cWhenever there\u2019s a home game, the players come in for EWOT, and they feel an immediate difference,\u201d Park said.<\/p>\n MORE: <\/strong>Good Vibrations Are at the Core of This Buzzy Wellness Trend<\/a><\/p>\n For participants in high-intensity routines, EWOT can boost endurance, Park said. In co-called Zone 4 exercises, which target 80%-90% of the maximum heart rate, or Zone 5, performed at 90%-100% of the limit, \u201cyour body produces lactic acid, which leads to inflammation, which means the body can\u2019t sustain high-intensity activity. With EWOT, your tissues are getting more oxygen, you don\u2019t get the fast buildup of lactic acid, and you don\u2019t get as tired,\u201d Park said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The EWOT process involves breathing concentrated oxygen through a mask connected by a hose to a bag and oxygen concentrator, said Rajah of Optimal Breathing; the devices weigh about 60 pounds and maneuver on wheels, making them suitable for home use. For the oxygen bag, the company uses TPU [thermoplastic polyurethane], which \u201cwithstands high temperatures and high pressure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Optimal Breathing\u2019s top-end machine, the Premium Plus, retails for $3,352, and includes two masks. \u201cIt\u2019s a plug-and-play machine,\u201d Rajah said.\u00a0<\/p>\n For home use, Rajah suggested positioning the machine next to a cardiovascular machine, like a treadmill, stationary bike, trampoline or even vibrating power plates. \u201cThe intention is to keep your heart rate up,\u201d he said. \u201cSome people will get into a hot tub or Jacuzzi with the mask on instead of working out. If you can\u2019t do the movements, you\u2019ll still get benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n With any oxygen treatment, however, there are risks if used in excess, which is why companies like Optimal Breathing recommend consulting with a physician before using EWOT devices, especially in the case of underlying health issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cToo much oxygen can lead to oxygen toxicity or oxygen poisoning,\u201d according to broad guidelines about oxygen therapies from Cleveland Clinic. \u201cIf you take in more oxygen than your body needs, it can slow your breathing and heart rate to dangerous levels.\u201d<\/p>\n