The first time I mentioned “biohacking for wellness” to a friend, she said, “That doesn’t sound good! Isn’t ‘hacking’ a bad thing?” But when I asked her how important her morning coffee is in getting her day started (“very!”) and explained that caffeine is probably the most common biohack there is (ingesting a natural stimulant to improve alertness), she began to understand.
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The first time I mentioned “biohacking for wellness” to a friend, she said, “That doesn’t sound good! Isn’t ‘hacking’ a bad thing?” But when I asked her how important her morning coffee is in getting her day started (“very!”) and explained that caffeine is probably the most common biohack there is (ingesting a natural stimulant to improve alertness), she began to understand.
The true definition of “biohacking for wellness” really depends on who you’re talking to. Dave Asprey, celebrity biohacker and creator of Bulletproof Coffee, defines it as, “The art and science of changing the environment around you and inside you so that you have full control over your own biology.” Asprey takes biohacking to the extreme, injecting stem cells into his joints, taking dozens of supplements daily, bathing in infrared light, spending time in pods that promise to activate better neural pathways and much more in his quest to live longer.
Perhaps not surprisingly, biohacking got its start in Silicon Valley. Wealthy tech entrepreneurs (many of whom likely already had a bit of a god complex) decided to take their biology into their own hands, embarking on a quest to “hack” their bodies and minds to live longer, perform better and live a more fulfilling life. This encompasses everything from looking better and being physically more resilient to improving brain function and becoming mentally sharper, more creative or even more Zen without having to spend too much time actually meditating.
In our incredibly fast-paced, wellness-focus world, many of the less extreme and more evidence-based biohacking treatments are going mainstream and becoming more associated with wellness—think intermittent fasting, ice baths, salt inhalation, sleep aids, lymphatic drainage and much more.
Let’s take a look at some of the latest biohacking therapies and treatments making their way into spas and wellness clinics. Not only do these treatments deliver on clients’ desire for new (often touchless) offerings, but they can also offer a healthy new revenue stream. (Note: Some of these therapies will require a licensed medical practitioner on site.)
Fitness Without Gym Time
Devices that shape, strengthen and increase muscle tone while reducing fat without the user ever hitting the gym is the kind of hack just about everyone can get behind. Emsculpt is one of a new category of devices that uses noninvasive HIFEM (high-intensity focused electromagnetic) technology to induce 20,000 supramaximal muscle contractions in 30 minutes. The goal is to activate 100% of the muscle, so it’s like doing 20,000 crunches in 30 minutes. It’s said to create about 16% muscle development on the area after four treatments spaced two weeks apart. The product is approved by the FDA for five body parts.
Mind Hacks
Biohackers want all the benefits of meditation without spending hours to get there. Technology is coming to the rescue by shortcutting the time it takes to get the brain and body into a more relaxed and restorative state.
Whether it’s a pod like The Somadome, which offers color, sound and energy therapies, or simply a headset delivering personalized binaural beats to bliss guests out, like NuCalm, there are many new and improved ways to slow down the brain quickly and effectively.
Cryotherapy Chambers
Cold has become the new hot thing in wellness. Everywhere you turn, there seems to be a different way to experience cold temperatures, from SnowRooms in spas to the ice barrel baths flooding social media. Cold therapy is a great biohack, as it snaps the body and mind to attention; cryotherapy takes this a step further.
Dedicated whole-body cryotherapy chambers can be as cold as -275°F and offer the promise of aiding recovery, boosting the immune system, accelerating metabolism and even increasing collagen production. Cryotherapy is even recommended after surgery to speed up healing and reduce pain and swelling.
IV Drip Therapy
This may be a controversial option, but IV drips are all the rage in biohacking circles and have been making their way into medspas and health centers across the country. The modality offers a lot of promise but not a ton of evidence. Still, when the Kardashians are doing it, it’s a difficult trend to ignore.
One biohacking clinic claims that drip ingredients “give you every opportunity to take your wellness further than you thought possible.” These IV cocktails are designed to deliver results for whatever ails you: from detoxification to increased energy/stamina, to reducing the signs of aging, increasing metabolism and rehydrating the body (“hangover solutions”) after a big night out.
Red Light Therapy
Deep red light therapy, or photobiomodulation, uses red and near-infrared light to stimulate the body and activate natural healing processes. Typically available as a pod that looks much like a tanning bed, red light therapy is said to target the cause of inflammation by reducing oxidative stress and minimizing inflammation.
There’s plenty of research and clinical trials currently in the works to prove all of the claims, and these treatments are especially promising for clients suffering from chronic pain and inflammation, as well as those who want to reduce scar tissue or increase performance and endurance levels.
Getting ZZZs with Power Napping
Sleep, something we once took for granted, seems to be in short supply these days. Whether it’s jetlag, devices keeping you awake, daily stressors nagging at your brain or a snoring partner, people are turning to a simple solution. Power naps are now all the rage.
Spas can encourage power napping with approaches like the Spa.Wave, which uses specific vibrations and binaural audio frequencies to calm even the busiest minds and help guests enter a deep state of relaxation. Another option is installing something like a SWAY Sleep Lounger in a quiet room and offer clients 30-minute napping windows. The SWAY’s pendulum technology gently rocks them to sleep and doesn’t require an attendant.
Cassandra Cavanah, founder of Cavanah Communications, specializes in spa and wellness PR and marketing. She’s also part of the Global Wellness Summit (GWS) team and authored the Guide to Hydrothermal Spa & Wellness Development Standards.
