I cannot seem to scroll through Instagram without seeing references made to biohacking these days. Everything from cycle hacking to supplements, it seems that our bodies are no longer efficient enough, and that we all need some help. But, would that help be so bad? We are increasingly pushing ourselves, being exposed to extra toxins, and especially during peri menopause, navigating a new set of challenges.
If biohacking is a term for making your body work smarter, not harder, then it really is something that I can get behind.
At its core, biohacking is aboutspeeding up the natural processes your body already does, like healing, detoxing, or producing energy, but making them more efficient. Think light therapy to boost cellular repair, or cold exposure to spike endorphins and reduce inflammation. It’s science-meets-self-care, and it’s becoming increasingly accessible.
In the epicentre of stress, Oxford Street, you can now slip off South Molton Street and tap into a four-part biohacking circuit that promises to reset your entire system in just half an hour.
I arrived at Vadavvi jet-lagged, stressed, and a bit hot and bothered. My sleep had been interrupted by trans-Atlantic travel and my nervous system was clearly in need of a reset. Vidavvi promises benefits of boosting your metabolism, balancing hormones and promoting healing, recovery and performance. Either my appointment had arrived at just the right time or I was the perfect test dummy, either way I felt like I was in the right place for some healing.
I’m no stranger to the occasional cryochamber or lymphatic drainage suit, but it’s rare that you find all four cutting-edge treatments bundled into one offering. Vidavvi is a true anomaly in the wellness world, a sanctuary of calm above the bustling streets and just steps from Bond Street Station.
Inside, the vibe is what I’d call clinical-chic. At the front desk, I was greeted by Nabeelah, who had the kind of warm, grounding presence that instantly dissolves any self-consciousness. A medical student, she was reassuringly knowledgeable, she took me through a full biometric 3D body scan, not to shame, but to personalise my treatment plan. It determines how long you should stay in the cryotherapy chamber and helps guide your future visits if you decide to commit to a package.
With my travel fatigue in mind, I was given a combination of rejuvenating treatments. Based on my scan, three circuits were recommended to properly recharge, followed by weekly maintenance visits to stay in balance.
The circuit comprises four treatments, lasting between three and 12 minutes each. As they neatly put it, the aim is for you to breathe, freeze, squeeze, and repeat.
1. Breath – The Infrared Light and Ionised Oxygen Chamber. The experience is personalised with aromatherapy, and the lights change, offering different benefits whilst you stand in a warm, lovely environment. This chamber offers to boost collagen, which let’s face it, we all need.
2. Freeze in the Cryotherapy Chamber. A dry, freezing mist at -85°C. You get to select your tune to distract you and give you something to dance to. I was in and out in four and a half exhilarating minutes.
3. Lymphatic Compression Suit – A full-body squeeze that boosts circulation and clears lymphatic buildup. It feels strange being squeezed so tightly, but not unpleasant.
4. Dry Water Massage. Finally, you lie back on a water bed and get pulsed and pummelled with a customisable massage.
The whole thing took just over 30 minutes, but the impact was instant. Considering that I had entered frazzled. I left with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. It’s hard to attribute it to one thing, but the cryochamber definitely gave me an instant buzz.
I went in a sweaty mess and walked out fresh, calm, and smiling like someone who’d just biohacked her way to coping with the day. This would be a great add-on to a weekend away in London or for those not feeling tip top, maybe a biohacking circuit could get you back to feeling yourself.
Review and Images by Emmie Blower @emmiebhungry
Feature image supplied
