Did you know that at South Pacific St Kilda Sea Baths, we offer altitude training?

Altitude 88 has arrived and we’re pretty stoked to be the only club worldwide that has a multi-zone training facility. This means we can run three studios at the same time, all with different classes, all offering altitude.

Because we have the largest capability and world class facilities, we know all about simulated altitude training (SAT) and its associated benefits. Here are our top four reasons why you should give it a try.

#1 To burn calories fast

Doing an altitude class burns up to 25% more calories than physical activity performed at sea level. Even more than HIIT? Yep! Even more than CrossFit? Definitely!

When you add altitude to your training, the exercise performed in these conditions is a greater workload on the body. This is not due to the intensity of the exercise, but the way the body adapts to the intermittent nature of SAT. 

So it makes sense that when your body’s working harder, it more efficiently reduces body fat and body mass. In short, SAT helps you to work harder, and burn more calories than regular, non-SAT exercise. 

You can also incorporate altitude training to achieve weight loss goals and increase the metabolism.

#2 To gain muscular endurance

Regular altitude sessions will increase your tolerance to the anaerobic (intense) component of exercise. 

Muscles can work at a higher capacity for longer, and your repeated sprint ability and endurance will improve.

HOW SAT HELPS INCREASE MUSCULAR ENDURANCE

Adding intervals within an altitude session will enhance these results as you adjust to working in a simulated hypoxic environment.

SAT triggers the body to produce more red blood cells, which are the ones that carry oxygen! 

Athletes have an increased mass of younger red blood cells compared to sedentary individuals. They also have an improved oxygen supply to their working tissue. Be an athlete.

#3 Improve muscle strength and power

Even at moderate intensity, training at altitude improves muscular strength and power. 

It will also improve the economy of energy production to support the muscles buffering capacity. 

Buffering neutralizes the acid accumulation in muscles during high-intensity exercise, such as lactic acid. If you can buffer better, your capacity to workout is improved and it takes longer for the body to fatigue.

To best ‘grow’ those muscles, get your trainer to assist in precisely scheduling your SAT sessions to maximise your blood oxygen saturation and recovery time, especially if you’re a competitor in any sport at sea level.

To best ‘grow’ those muscles, get your trainer to assist in precisely scheduling your SAT sessions to maximise your blood oxygen saturation and recovery time, especially if you’re a competitor in any sport at sea level.

#4 Boost cardiovascular health

Aerobic condition is also improved by training at a simulated altitude. This is because it helps to improve oxygen delivery to cells, organs and tissues and the respiratory muscles work more intensively during exposure to hypoxia.

This makes the respiratory system more efficient. It also follows that a better aerobic condition lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.

As your fatigue index will be lowered, you improve your ability to tolerate discomfort. This means SAT also delivers psychological benefits as it assists you to elevate your effort threshold when you work out in general.

This leads to more fitness gains and why SAT is the most effective and efficient means to boost your aerobic condition.

Want to know more? Stop by South Pacific St Kilda and sign up for your free trial of our altitude studio, we offer classes from cycling, boxing to functional fitness in our three Altitude 88 studios.