Demand for the lifestyle, health and sporting benefits of altitude simulation has led to the launch of New Zealand’s third high-tech io centre.
The centre, located in Dunedin’s Cycle Surgery at 67 Stuart Street, opens today (24 October 2006) and is the result of an entrepreneurial partnership between bike store joint owners Dave Thomson and Paul Gough, and leading altitude simulation company, io.
Michael Lodge, io Chief Executive, says growing interest in his company’s natural and drug-free programme has accelerated business expansion.
“Elite athletes have been aware of the sporting benefits of altitude simulation for many, many years. Those benefits are now understood to have documented applications for people from all walks of life,” says Lodge.
“Many professional, amateur and social athletes already use the io programme as a training aid, but we’re also helping clients with asthma, sleep disorders, people recovering from chemotherapy and hard-working people who just want more energy and vitality.”
Cycle Surgery franchise owner Thomson is equally enthusiastic about launching io in Dunedin.
“There’s a natural symbiosis between our industries and a logical fit for our client base. I’ve been watching altitude simulation technology develop for a few years; now it’s the right time for the Cycle Surgery to link up with the leaders in the field,” says Thomson.
“Our customers are committed to improving their health and wellbeing, so by offering the io programme we’re creating even greater opportunities for them to achieve this. We’re also seeing growth in a slightly older group of people, the parents whose kids have left home and now they want to get stuck into a new activity. It’s these empty-nesters who will get an extra boost in energy and stamina from an altitude simulation programme,” says Thomson.
“io has developed a way to help anyone live, train and feel better. At our Dunedin premises we use state-of-the art technology, purpose-written software and sophisticated delivery of high altitude air to help people of has all ages and stages.”
io altitude simulation works by forcing the body to react as if at altitude. The thinner air found naturally at altitude means it takes greatly increased effort just to breathe, let alone do anything else.
By delivering high altitude air in a carefully controlled way, the io programme makes the body produce more red blood cells, which means the body is more efficient at transporting and utilising oxygen. The result is a boost to energy levels and wellbeing, relief from a range of medical conditions and a stronger and fitter body.
io was first launched four months ago in Queenstown, New Zealand. Dunedin is home to the second io centre to open in the South Island. In addition to centres already open in Auckland and Maroochydore, Australia, an intensive development programme will see io centres opening soon in Wellington, San Francisco, New South Wales, Dubai and New York.
About altitude simulation
Altitude simulation is not new - making its benefits available to the general public is. Altitude simulators were first developed more than 40 years ago in the Russian aerospace medicine programme to train cosmonauts. Around the same time, scientists and sports trainers noticed the amazing results achieved by athletes from high altitude countries at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics (2,240m above sea level).
About the io altitude simulation programme
io clients fix on their own breathing mask, a pulse and body oxygen monitoring clip and sit back and relax while alternately breathing 5 minutes normal (sea level) air and 5 minutes high altitude (hypoxic) air - for an hour a day, over a set number of days. The io programme takes a total of 50 hours over one year. The programme costs between $25 per hour to $40 per hour, depending on the package chosen.
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