As spectators, when we watch athletes compete we often disassociate them with ‘normal people’; those of us with aches and pains, stiffness and a new noise whenever we get up. But elite athletes aren’t made by their event day performances or how many seconds they can trim off a world record, the best athletes in the world have resilience and adaptability that keeps them striving year upon year, building a longer term picture of compound performance.
The Age of Peak Performance: How Athletes Defy Limits
In fact, the average age of professional athletes competing in the Olympics has risen by an entire two years since 1992 and research shows the ages of elite athletes differ greatly in order to match the requirements of each sport. Studies have found that athletes in sports requiring speed and power tend to peak by their mid-20s, those in endurance sports peak by their 40s, while those in tactical, low impact sports still compete at elite level in their 50s (Gillan 2018; Longo et al. 2016). The general pattern highlights that age balances the trade-off between explosive power and endurance because as research shows, speed relies on stronger fast-twitch muscle fibres more prevalent in the muscles of younger athletes, whilst endurance relies on less fatigue-prone slow-twitch muscle fibres more prevalent in the muscles of older athletes (Powers and Howley 2012; Akasaki et al. 2013). Professional athlete or seemingly lowly amateur, as we age, we might lose some power but overall we improve at endurance and developing strategies to perform better. Case in point, the age of those at peak performance running speeds in ultramarathons is now 41-years-old in both women and men.
Embracing Plasticity: The Key to Resilience and Adaptability
For many of us with demanding careers and family lives, a singular focus on performance might seem at odds with our own multifaceted realities but our bodies are remarkable and the boundaries of what they can achieve are not as static as we might think. “By letting go of inertia we can move towards plasticity,” says Dr George Gaitanos, Chief Operating and Scientific Officer of Chenot. “Plasticity is a form of adaptability. It is the ability of an organism, a human being to remain flexible and adapt to a continuously changing environment. The dialectic that moves all things to plasticity affects all aspects of life and nothing is exempt: cells, individuals, cities, culture, society, and nature. When the various layers and systems of life — from cells to society — move or begin to move towards plasticity, they are truly advancing towards resilience.”
Building Resilience Through Holistic Wellness
So if optimising our physical performance relies on plasticity and resilience, how do we go about building those? The answer is by working on physical wellness but also on physiological and emotional wellness. Realising what is humanly possible is a case of unlocking potential in multiple areas of life, be that mindset, family, relaxation and even sleep. There is a wealth of evidence that physical performance benefits mental wellbeing and vice versa, with sleep being an integral cog between the two. Those who work hard at their physical performance tend to sleep better and feel more positive and in turn, that positivity begets improved physicality and more restful sleep.
It’s for this very reason that many people return to the Chenot health wellness destinations every year, to restock their energy reserves and fortify their levels of resilience. The toll that modern urban life takes on the body, mind and soul is a different kind of marathon but perhaps every bit as draining. “The evidence-based Chenot Method® re-energises and revitalises, recharges that internal battery, so you feel ready to perform at your best. This is the unlock,” explains Dr Gaitanos who is based in Switzerland but heads up the entire Chenot expert team. “People feel locked in a life, body or mindset that they’re not happy with. The Chenot Method® is the unlocking of energy and opening up to the possibility and the opportunity of more.”
Unlocking Human Potential with the Chenot Method®
The Chenot Method® has been a science-backed, proven protocol for decades and yet it remains entirely tailored to the needs and capabilities of the individual. Through diagnostics, cutting edge technologies and meticulous analysis, there follows an in-depth exploration of the boundaries of each individual’s potential. Chenot have long been thought leaders in this area, taking a real-life approach in putting together bespoke protocols that push clients further than they can possibly go alone in their healthspan maximisation journey. Integrated multidisciplinary staff from the ancient eastern practices to the frontier of next-gen technologies collaborate to give 360 degree expert guidance backed up with data-driven, evidence-based, wellness for body, mind and soul.
The key is not to accept the status quo, nor to live in a body or mind we are unhappy with. To strive for more is human nature and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible should be strongly encouraged, whatever your age bracket.
Pour induire une purification et une désintoxication profondes du corps afin d’éliminer les toxines, d’augmenter la vitalité, de rétablir les niveaux d’énergie et de rééquilibrer la physiologie.
CHF 5’500
Détendez votre cerveau, revitalisez votre corps – le programme Recover & Energise réduit le stress chronique et la fatigue et rétablit des niveaux d’énergie optimaux.
CHF 6’400
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