I was chatting with a customer today and they said something that made me laugh.
“KAATSU’s not a microwave!”
Sorry – that just cracked me up, again 🙂
Indeed, KAATSU is not like a microwave.
To get the most out of it, you’re going to have to put in some effort. Using KAATSU passively is still beneficial, but the more effort you put in, the more KAATSU will help. That being said, the amount of effort you’ll need to put in is relative to your goals and your own physical situation.
Your Maximum is YOUR Maximum
There’s a fine line between discomfort and pain. I’d say for maximum results you need to become uncomfortable which I realize is a very subjective and non-specific statement, but I think it reflects the reality of KAATSU. People who use KAATSU range from the hyper-athletic to the sedentary. What makes KAATSU work for these groups and everyone in between is the ability to adjust how you use KAATSU to your goals and your condition.
Are you older, or have an underlying health condition? Be conservative and use KAATSU with light pressures and short durations to begin. Gradually work up to longer durations and eventually, higher pressures along with light resistance exercises. If your health condition involves pain, then don’t do things that causes your pain to flare while using KAATSU (or otherwise). Do as much as you feel you can without over-exerting yourself. How much you can do will change over time.
Are you young, strong, and athletic? You will likely progress quickly to use KAATSU for longer durations and higher pressures based on your training needs. Whether using KAATSU for strength, speed, or stamina training, you’re probably going to feel “the burn” pretty quickly, but that’s probably a sensation you’re familiar with and it’s what you’re aiming for.
No Pain, No Gain
You don’t have to hurt yourself to get results. That’s the benefit of KAATSU. Done properly, taking into consideration the condition of the person who’s using it, KAATSU should not cause pain. Progress may be a little slower for some people compared to others, but that’s true with anything in life.
Your KAATSU journey may be different from someone else’s, but the most important thing is to take the first step and try walking the path of KAATSU 🙂