Dr. Rhonda Perciavalle Patrick’s Hyperthermic Conditioning

The more I read about some of these iconic people who aren’t world known, the more I scratch my head until there’s no scalp left.

Heat Is The New Black

If any of you have ever heard of hyperthermic conditioning, kudos to you!  This particular routine can you help increase growth hormone levels and improve your endurance.  For those of you who are fitness enthusiasts, ultra marathoners, or people who actually go on log runs routinely throughout the week (like some of my students), this could be something you could inherit for practice.

Dr. Patrick takes 20 minute sauna sessions post-workout or post-stretching at least four times per week, typically between 160-170 degrees fahrenheit.  This helps decrease DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness).

• “One study has told us that a 30 minute sauna session twice a week for a few weeks increased the time it took for participants to run until exhaustion by 32%.  The most incredible part of this finding is this 32% was also accompanied by 7.1% increase in plasma volume and 3.5% increase in red blood cell count.”

Saunas are readily available at just about any middle-scale gym around the world.  Also, I would recommend hot baths.  A lot of people, especially athletes, would do ice baths.  Hot baths actually cause a massive release in prolactin, which plays a role in wound healing.  After Dr. Patrick finishes with the hot bath, she transitions into an ice bath for around 5-10 minutes.

Here’s an excellent routine that could help anyone improve the DOMS that normally takes place after working out.  For instance, I did an excruciating workout with one of my students that involved lots of plyometrics, jumping, and kettle bells.  If I would have done a sauna afterwards, it could’ve greatly reduce the soreness that I’m experiencing today.

If you have any questions, please let me know! I’ll be posting rampantly in regards to routines and things that can help “the athlete” or “fitness enthusiast.”