Anyone with an interest in the world of wellness has likely heard of the term biohacking. The practice involves making tweaks to your lifestyle in order to optimise your health, with biohacks including simple things such as adding supplements to supercharge your coffee, to more extreme measures such as wrapping yourself in a sauna blanket or taking a daily dip in an ice bath.
"Put simply, biohacking is cracking the code for self-enhancement," says HELLO!'s wellness columnist Hattie MacAndrews. "It's a term that encompasses many different elements of wellness, and can include anything from monitoring your sleep patterns, modifying your diet or making sure you drink enough water. The fancy name feels intimidating, but it's likely that if you are already on a path towards better health, you are practicing biohacking in one way or another."
What are the benefits of biohacking?
Biohacking focuses on preventing ailments, rather than fixing the body, with reported benefits including decreasing the risk of disease, optimising digestion and helping you achieve physical, mental or emotional changes – such as weight loss or easing the symptoms of depression.
"Biohacking is also said to reduce stress, increase productivity and improve memory function," adds Hattie. "The brilliant thing about biohacking is that the benefits can be tailored to your individual health goals and you can focus on what's right for you, without being intimidated by the terminology."
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How to try biohacking
Biohacking is as simple as adding a supplement powder to your coffee to jumping into an ice bath. As Hattie said, the biohack you try depends on the outcome you want.
"On my quest for enhanced health and happiness, I visited Repose in Kensington, a boutique wellness space that offers a range of classes and treatments, as well as having its own dedicated biohacking lab," writes Hattie.
"The lab comprises of an infrared sauna, a cryochamber and a photobiomodulation area (also known as red light therapy). I tried all three, here's how I got on…"
Can an infrared sauna help with happiness?
Infrared saunas help rid the body of toxins, support the immune system and improve whole-body circulation.
They are also an effective form of stress relief and have been proven to reduce circulating cortisol, the stress hormone - so are a surefire way to support happiness.
An infrared sauna is cooler than a traditional Finnish sauna and feels less oppressive. It warms your core body temperature rather than the space around you, so many people can spend longer in an infrared sauna than in a conventional sauna.
Plus infrared saunas raise your body heat more gently, so you're less likely to feel suddenly stifled.
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"Initially I was apprehensive about feeling hot and trapped in the infrared sauna, but the time flew," Hattie says.
"I didn't feel hot for the first 12 to 15 minutes, so it was mostly enjoyable and comfortable. RePose has the option to connect your phone to Bluetooth speakers, so you can play your tunes or listen to a podcast during your session.
"The sauna is used for detoxing, improving energy and circulation, vitamin D replenishment and skin purification. I dry body brushed before I started, and lay in the sauna with my legs in the air against the well for some extra detoxing.
"I sweated a lot in the sauna, especially in the last couple of minutes, and definitely felt the benefits of this kickstarting the detox process. I emerged feeling cleansed, lighter and more energised."
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HELLO!'s wellness editor Melanie Macleod is also partial to an infrared sauna session and finds her mood seriously lifted afterwards. "Maybe it's because I'm forced to take time away from my phone, so it's the ultimate me-time, but I always leave the sauna feeling content and sprightly."
Can red light therapy make you happier?
"Next up was a stint in the photobiomodulation chamber, also known as red light therapy," says Hattie.
"It's a full body treatment, which aims to speed up the body's natural healing process using near-infrared light at specific wavelengths.
"Clothes off, you lie in the chamber for twenty minutes whilst the light works its magic on your skin.
"On a cellular level, the treatment is designed to strengthen your cells, which generates more energy in your cells, allowing your body to function at a more optimal level.
"Frequent users have reported less inflammation, increased energy and a faster recovery period after injury. You don’t feel anything happening while you’re in there, nor when the session finishes – so it's difficult to comment on the efficiency of the treatment."
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Can a cryotherapy chamber make you happier?
"The benefits of cryotherapy have been widely reported, with time spent in sub-zero temperatures said to rejuvenate the body and aid its natural ability to recover.
"Using cryotherapy after the heat treatments supposedly enhance the benefits of both, while releasing endorphins and improving the blood flow.
"Wearing whatever you feel comfortable in (I chose gym shorts and a crop top), you are provided with a pair of socks, slippers, gloves and a headband before stepping in. You stand in the chamber (which drops down to minus 85 degrees) for a chilly three minutes.
"As obvious as it sounds, it’s very cold in there! RePose offers the option to choose a song to be played while you're in the chamber, which was a great distraction and helps release positive hormones for an extra hit of happy.
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"The rush of endorphins hits the minute you're finished, and it truly is an incredible feeling. Your body returns to normal temperature remarkably quickly and you're left with a complete sense of clarity and feeling energised.
"This was by far my favourite element of the biohacking experience, and the one which instantly boosted my wellbeing."
Is biohacking worth trying?
"The more I learn about biohacking, the more I realise it's just another term for enhancing your health.
"As always, the most important elements of your wellbeing are making sure you get enough good quality sleep, exercising enough, drinking enough water, managing stress and eating well.
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"Once you've taken care of these key components, you're well on your way to living a healthier better lifestyle.
"For those looking to go the extra mile, biohacking treatments are a great option. I really enjoyed and felt the benefits of my three sessions and would definitely go back if I felt I needed a boost.
"However, the experience was definitely more of a luxury than a necessity. When it comes to wellness, it's easy to feel overwhelmed with the variety of treatments on offer, so I would advise just keeping it simple, and making small tweaks to your routine to help you start feeling happier and healthier. "
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