Being a billionaire in Dubai exudes luxury. Be it owning a villa along with coastline of Palm Jumeirah or beachfront pool sides. However, some affluent individuals have cracked the code to fitness with routines no ordinary person can do. While it may not be Ashton Hall’s mouth-taping practice, Telegram founder Pavel Durov, Dubai’s richest man, has surely set the bar high.
This 40-year-old billionaire is worth $17.1 billion and is known to have a rather “chilling” morning routine. One would imagine Dubai’s richest man to be a sheikh, but this Russian-origin tech founder has often spoken of combining mental clarity with fitness. Despite his billionaire status, Durov is known to lead a modest and minimalist lifestyle. Paired with cryotherapy, he is among the many celebrities who are turning to ice baths as a popular form of healing, both mental and physical.
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a medical wellness treatment which exposes your body or specific areas to extremely cold temperatures for a short duration. It is scientifically used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. However, several people who do intensive workouts use it for muscle recovery too often by practising ‘ice baths’. It is said to improve blood circulation by constricting blood vessels, which leads to vasodilation, once the cold exposure ends.
Commonly used by athletes, cryotherapy has become a surging trend in sports medicine. A study titled ‘Whole-Body Cryotherapy in Athletes: From Therapy to Stimulation. An Updated Review of the Literature (2017)’ found that exposure to cryotherapy also mimics exercise, attacks fat mass, and might be an alternative cure for metabolic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Are there risks involved?
Like all alternative therapies, cryochambers, which require you to immerse your entire body, might lead to cold burns due to overexposure. Prolonged localised contact might even lead to nerve damage, skin irritation, and blisters, especially triggered by nitrogen treatments.
Benefits for mental health
While research shows cryotherapy can improve neuromuscular recovery and reduce inflammation, there have been several benefits identified for one’s mental health. A 2021 study on the National Library of Medicine found cold therapy to be an “efficacious add-on intervention for mental health problems, especially depressive symptoms.”
A fad detox
From Telegram founder Durov to Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth, they have been seen promoting ice baths. While other CEOs promote 4 am morning routines with gym workouts, cryotherapy might just seem like a futuristic concept. However, the fad diets such as OMAD is the next big trend endorsed by celebrities; it is just the tip of the iceberg.
From Victoria Beckham’s bee-pollen-based multi-vitamin to Jennifer Aniston‘s fat-shedding fish oil, fashion has blurred lines with fitness. As to-inject-or-not-to-inject becomes the biggest fitness dilemma among high-net-worth individuals, weight loss drugs are often seen as the shortcut to your dream body. At the end, though, be it freezing your fat or dissolving it with cardio, one must consult professionals before taking any drastic step to hack their fitness.
Disclaimer: Always consult a doctor before starting any diet or fitness routine. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
