People hearing about IHHT for the first time often picture something strenuous. In reality, a session is pretty uneventful: you lie or sit comfortably, breathe calmly and let the technology manage the air mix. Here's how it works with us in Mallorca.
1. Initial conversation
We start by talking about your goals, your routine and any existing conditions. If you have a pre-existing condition, are pregnant or are undergoing treatment, medical clearance is required beforehand. Medication belongs in that conversation too, since it can affect pulse and circulation.
2. Baseline check
Before your first session we record your resting pulse and oxygen saturation. The protocol is then set up individually — the stimulus follows how you respond, not a standard template. Those readings later serve as a reference point when we review how you are handling the course.
3. The interval phase
Through a light mask, a few minutes of lower-oxygen air — similar to being at altitude — alternate with oxygen-rich air [1]. Sensors monitor you throughout and the device adjusts the phases automatically. Many people read, listen to music or simply close their eyes.
Almost everyone asks beforehand what it actually feels like. The mask sits loosely, a small clip on your finger takes readings. During the lower-oxygen phase most people breathe a little more deeply, and some notice mild warmth or a slight tingle. That fades straight away in the oxygen-rich phase. Effort is not part of it — and if anything feels uncomfortable, the phase is stopped.
- Duration: usually 20 to 40 minutes, including settling in.
- Position: lying down or seated, with no physical effort.
- Support: a trained person is always within reach.
4. Winding down and review
Afterwards you stay put for a moment, drink a glass of water and get a quick rundown of your readings. Then you can carry straight on — to the beach, the office or a stroll along the Paseo Marítimo.
No changing room, no sweating, no clean-up — just quiet time for yourself.
On the day: what tends to work well
- Don't arrive on a very full stomach: a light meal about an hour before is more comfortable.
- Drink enough before and after, especially during the hot months on the island.
- Try to avoid hard training sessions and a lot of sun right beforehand.
- Coffee afterwards is absolutely fine — just not shortly before, so the baseline readings stay clean.
What a course looks like
Studies usually look at courses over several weeks with two to three sessions a week, although protocols vary considerably [2]. We plan your course with you — around your rhythm on the island. After the first sessions we review how you respond and adjust from there.
Compact on holiday or spread out as a resident
Two kinds of daily life meet in Mallorca: visitors are here for two or three weeks, residents plan over months. Both work — only the pacing differs.
- Visitors with limited time: closer-spaced appointments within the stay, arranged around trips and rest days.
- Residents in and around Palma: two sessions a week as a steady routine alongside work and sport.
If you'd like to know how a course would fit into your weeks in Mallorca, get in touch. The first conversation is free, in English, German or Spanish.