By Client Chrysa Smith: chrysasmith.com
“Everything is connected,” Irena Basnikova said. From posture to digestion, balance to core strength, the owner of Naples Fitness Wellness does more than talk the talk. Walk into her studio, and you’ll meet the slender, well-postured lady who says she can help you with your golf swing, strengthen your core, and offer advice on additional exercises, stretches, and nutrition you can take home with you.
My husband and I walked into her suite, not knowing what to expect. Initially, I was there for a little Pilates. But it didn’t take long before I was introduced to a variety of modalities designed to not only helping strengthen muscle groups but immunity and nutritional support. It quickly became apparent. There is no health like total health, which comes with some education and a little help.
Call her a fitness coach or trainer, but it doesn’t really fit the bill because the practice is holistic. It makes sense since so many pieces of the health puzzle fall between fitness and medicine. So, I gave it a try.
After an initial posture assessment, I began with Sonic Wave Therapy. I stepped up on a platform, held on, and Irena programmed the unit according to my specific weight and health goals. The unit uses sound waves that make the platform quickly contract and vibrate. It is designed to exercise muscles that are hard to reach in a regular workout. Muscles like pelvic and facial. I felt both, and It was a pleasant “vibe”.
Next, it was onto HUGO. It is the world’s only dual full-body mat, working both above and below the body simultaneously. This dual mat system allows equal distribution of magnetic field through the body. The HUGO™ is in the High-Intensity Tesla class of bio-electromagnetic PEMF devices. HUGO™ employs the Tesla coil, with a spark gap between the capacitor and high-voltage transformer, which sets the standard for this class of PEMF devices. The Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields penetrate deeply into the body to the cellular level.
I could best describe HUGO as an electronically charged blanket placed over me as I lay on a massage table. Gentle pulses covered my body. The goal? To recharge the body. The theory is based on electrical charges required to regenerate the body — like recharging after a walk or run. Electric magnetic technology releases masses of electrons that help your body at the cellular level. It seemed to energize me and can help detox the body. With all the pollutants and toxins that helps with inflammation we’re exposed to daily, infusing bursts of energy into your body seems like a positive addition to a health program.
Irena then did something called Cranial Release Therapy. As I stood facing myself in the mirror, one shoulder was higher than the other. Maybe stress from a Type A personality; my shoulders are always tight. The pressure was slowly released throughout my upper body through a series of gentle manipulations, somewhat chiropractic in nature. What it did, according to the experts, is to reduce illness due to chronic stress, which affects all parts of the body, from the brain and central nervous system to—yes, literally a pain in the neck. It is estimated that 90% of illness comes from chronic stress, and I have no doubt.
Active Isolated Stretching was next. I laid on a Comfort Craft table that looks much like those used by chiropractors. I was instructed to lay on my back, and the top piece of the table laid the top of my upper body, giving a nice stretch to the upper back. I also did a sideways manipulation that gave a good stretch to my lateral muscles. The technique’s purpose, which includes hands-on stretching, and releases facia, is to lengthen and release fascial muscles, allowing for a full range of motion and increasing flexibility in just about two seconds.
Perhaps the most fascinating piece of equipment is the HOCATT. HOCATT is described as Hyperthermic Ozone and Carbonic Acid Transdermal Technology. It’s an ozone chamber fueled by oxygen and designed to detox and increase energy. The appeal to me is that it also burns about 600 calories in just a 30-minute session. It’s like your own steam room that wraps around you, but ozone is released instead of pure steam. Based on individual issues, Irena programmed the unit. For me, it the weight loss. For my husband, for respiratory issues. It has many benefits for the skin, like collagen production, improved elasticity, reduced cellulite, and a general improvement in beauty. But for my husband, the respiratory effects were felt the following day.
Plagued by a long-term sinus infection, his body was releasing congestion after two cycles, and within several days, his congestion eased, and his coughing stopped. Quite amazing.
Then it was onto Pilates. Now that was something I was familiar with—or so I thought. Having done Pilates Reformer for a couple of years, Irena introduced me to the CoreAlign Pilates machine. Unlike a traditional reformer, where all toning and stretching are done on a horizontal plane, The CoreAlign is an upright unit with two movable footplates and a multi-level wooden bar designed for various stretching and balance. Reaching upward, with feet moving backward, I felt an intense stretch through my core. Facing sideways, nice stretch through my lats. Moving onto the traditional reformer, I did some standard footwork and stretching.
Irena suggested I step onto the Power Plate —a piece of equipment designed to provide several benefits. I stepped onto the platform, held on, and Irena set the program. Vibrations would resonate from my feet up and felt throughout my body. For me, it was about burning calories and activating muscles. The power plate has been proven to burn more calories in a shorter period, eliminating the need to spend hours in the gym. It can also help with bone density and activate the body’s muscle fibers. According to The American Chiropractor Journal, “Power Plate activates up to 138% more muscle fibers when compared to a standard workout.” I must say, I felt my muscles working on this machine after a short time. My husband and I were both amazed by how just a few moments on it could make a difference in how our muscles felt.
It sounds like I must have spent a day doing all these therapies when I was there from 1- 1½ hours. Lots of therapies in just a short period of time. I left there with health benefits, knowledge, and stretching exercises for better posture. When I return to Naples next winter, I’ll visit with Irena again, working on improving overall health and wondering what else she has in store. In the meantime, I hope to focus on increased overall health – weight management, strength, balance, and energy this new year, and as Irena continually said, “And that’s it.”
Naples Fitness Wellness
3960 Radio Rd, #206,
Naples, FL 34104
239.293.7351
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.