Would you dare to freeze yourself fit by stepping into a chilling chamber colder than Antarctica?
Golfers are used to frosty fairways, stormy tees and soggy greens but Padraig Harrington is taking the plunge with a real deep freeze.
Ireland’s three-time major winner is following in the chilling footsteps of actor Daniel Craig and super-fit soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo by exposing himself to cryotherapy in preparation for the 2015 season.
“I’ve used whole body cryotherapy for several years,” Harrington commented to CNN.
“Guided by research from Setanta College, it’s played a key part in my recovery, especially between competitive periods.”
Cryotherapy translates as cold cure — but for some the intense chill goes beyond words.
“The cold floods your brain and you can’t process much more than putting one foot in front of another,” Mike Moynihan, a columnist for the Irish Examiner, recalls of his experience in the chiller.
“Your body is in revolt and won’t allow you to relax. It’s so different, to be that cold, that I had a real notion of what people mean when they refer to a hostile environment — but that only came afterwards, when I was outside.”
Chill with a thrill
–
“Professional sports teams like the New York Knicks have a couple of machines which has also helped awareness.”
You don’t necessarily need a Hollywood salary to try cryotherapy — it’s probably cheaper than courtside Knicks tickets too — because an icy blast in KryoLife’s cryosauna costs $90.
If the price continues to drop, along with the temperatures, is there a chance that cryotherapy will become as normal as having a sports massage or a protein shake?
“Yes, I truly believe so,” says Bohorquez. “Particularly the local treatment which is cheaper and less intimidating.
“I call cryotherapy legal doping because it boosts your energy levels and it makes your more alert. It increases your neuro-muscular response, so you react a little faster, and your immune system is activated.
“It boosts metabolism, which is also useful for weight loss, but it also stimulates your endocrine system so it relaxes you.
“I pretty much do it every day now,” says Bohorquez cheerily. “You should try it.”
Read: Princess Anne joins golf club
Read: The legacy of Tiger Woods
