Vibro-acoustic chair
Mike Kennedy could feel age beginning to creep up on him.
“I’m 55 now and, as a workaholic, I haven’t taken care of myself physically like I probably should have,” he said.
So, he decided to do something about it and, in the process, felt he could help others who similarly needed to make changes as they aged.
The owner of the Allenberry Resort, Kennedy recently unveiled the Longevity Center, a self-care haven nestled in a serene corner of the property with a view of the scenic Yellow Breeches.
“When I started looking into this, I discovered that the technology that exists is pretty amazing, and that the body is resilient and can bounce back from years of abuse—until it can’t,” he said.
Feeling Good
Kennedy said that, as we live longer, it’s more important than ever for us to take care of ourselves, rather than relying on the healthcare system alone.
“Tens of thousands of us are retiring every day, and that will increase over the next few decades,” he said.
Gabby Murray, a nurse and the director of wellness, offered a tour of the facility, explaining the benefits of various machines, processes and procedures based upon the individual needs of clients.
For instance, there’s the portable electric ion transfer mat.
“People lay on it, fully clothed, for about 20 minutes, and the magnetic activity promotes circulation in the body while opening up blood vessels,” she said. “It helps people with inflammation that they may have in areas where their circulation isn’t good or if there’s damaged tissue.”
Murray also mentioned a machine often used by professional athletes.
“It’s a Peloton that is hooked up to oxygen and helps with performance so that people feel great exercising,” she said. “That’s because the circulation and oxygen keep cells alive.”
There’s also a machine for red light therapy, which touts anti-aging benefits, only this one treats the entire body. Shaped like a tanning bed, it helps with pain relief and treats fine lines, wrinkles, skin pigmentation and rashes.
“We want you to leave feeling good,” Murray said.
Also on site is a two-person dry infrared sauna.
“We can infuse salt into the air for detoxification and purification to treat asthma and respiratory conditions,” Murray explained.
This isn’t your average, run-of-the-mill sauna. It also features chroma therapy, a sequence of colored lights designed to boost immunity, elevate mood, treat sore muscles, aid in sleep and more. Murray said that clients generally use the sauna, then settle down into a cold plunge afterwards.
“Some people use it in the morning,” she said. “It’s like their coffee.”
Long Lives
Kennedy said that he uses the equipment himself. He begins with oxygen-infused cardio, then moves on to the PEMF (pulsed electro-magnetic field) mat that wakes up his cells before moving on to red-light therapy.
To combat stress, he does the “brain tap,” something that especially helps “type A” personalities. The BrainTap headset is said to de-stress the body and create peak brain performance by producing a deep meditative brain state as users sit back, slip on a headset, close their eyes and relax.
As for the cost, there are various ways to take advantage of the facilities, ranging from a la carte fees to a monthly membership.
According to Kennedy, the center also is ramping up its retreats.
“Groups can stay for three to four days where they have access to lockers, the onsite restaurant, overnight accommodations, and a room where speakers can hold educational sessions,” he said.
The center currently works with Dr. Vu Nguyen at Sage Integrative Medicine in Mechanicsburg.
“Clients can order labs one to two weeks prior to coming in and having a one-on-one consultation with him about alternative ways to treat their conditions,” Murray said.
Kennedy added that he underwent blood tests in January then received advice on diet and supplement changes.
“My plan is to retest in three months,” he said. “My hopes and dreams are likely shared by many others. I hope that, if I and my wife Katie live a long life, we aren’t spending it laying in a hospital bed.”
The Longevity Center at Allenberry is located at 1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs. For more information, visit www.allenberry.com/the-longevity-center-at-allenberry.
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