Enhanced altitude simulation comes to Wellington

Wednesday 25 October 2006

Enhanced altitude simulation comes to Wellington

An innovative programme delivering health, lifestyle and sporting benefits was launched in Wellington today (Wednesday 25 October) by New Zealand company io.

From its high-tech centre in Grand Plimmer Tower on Gilmer Terrace, io delivers its unique altitude simulation programme, which will soon be available through a network of centres around the world.

The Wellington io centre was created through an entrepreneurial partnership between world leaders in altitude simulation, io, and sibling team Bronwyn and Callum Jones.

Michael Lodge, io Chief Executive, says the growing interest in the 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 individuals who just want more energy and vitality.”

Bronwyn Jones, io Centre Manager, believes Wellington is an ideal location to establish the altitude simulation business, which relies on state-of-the art technology, purpose-written software and sophisticated high altitude air delivery.

“As a result of innovation, we can now offer clients in Wellington an enhanced and honed altitude simulation programme, which has all but reinvented the previous training we offered,” says Jones.

“It’s particularly rewarding to be helping clients take advantage of the new altitude simulation programme to reach goals which range from climbing up the stairs in one smooth movement, to conquering the Inca trail without altitude sickness.”

Hurricane’s winger and Manu Samoan Rep, Lome Fa’atau, has been using altitude simulation as a training aid for over two years.

“My io altitude training programme is imperative to my performance as a winger. The work rate required to cover a large area, both offensively and defensively, is reduced by the boost in performance that io gives me. With the improvement in recovery, I am able to attack the next play on the field with the initial intensity that I started the 80 minutes with,” says Fa’atau.

“At our centre clients fix on their own breathing mask, a pulse and body oxygen monitoring clip and sit back and relax. With hands free during the one hour session they can surf the net, listen to music, catch up on reading the papers or work in peace,” adds Jones.

An io programme boosts energy levels and wellbeing, provides relief from a range of medical conditions and results in a stronger and fitter body. Other results include measurable improvements in sporting endurance, speed and injury recovery, greater breathing control, improved aerobic and anaerobic conditioning and maintenance of fitness during injury periods.

io was first launched four months ago in Queenstown, New Zealand. Wellington is home to the fourth io centre to open in the country; others are located in Dunedin and Auckland. io in Maroochydore, Australia, opened two weeks ago and an intensive development programme will see io centres opening soon in San Francisco, New South Wales, Dubai and New York.

The Wellington Rugby League Academy has started putting players through the io programme to enable the team to start next season with boosted fitness and improved concentration.

Other io clients include the Black Ferns, NZ Representative mountain biker Robyn Wong, Under 21 World Triathlon Champion Ben Christophers and freedive champion Ant Williams.

ENDS

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