Joovvin’ with Sanne Wevers, Gold Medal Gymnast

In this special guest post written by Dutch gymnast Sanne Wevers, the world’s reigning gold medalist in women’s balance beam explains how she uses Joovv red light therapy to enhance her training and overcome injuries and strain.

In 2016 in Brazil, I achieved a lifelong dream and won the gold medal on balance beam. I couldn’t stop shaking! That amazing day was the result of intense training, 10+ years of international competition, and overcoming a lot of injuries along the way.

I hope to be in Tokyo in 2020 to defend my gold medal. To help me get there and stay healthy, I’ve been using my Joovv light therapy device every day, and I’ll share with you why it’s become a key part of my training and recovery routine.

Pain & Strain Relief with Red Light

Gymnastics is a very demanding sport that pushes all your physical limits. Like all gymnasts, I’ve had my share of injuries over my career. My back has always been one of my biggest concerns and it’s taken me years to get the pain under control so I can train at an elite level. Nothing has been as effective as using my Joovv. When I shine red light on my back for 10-15 minutes a day, I can clearly tell that my post-training recovery is faster and the pain is less noticeable. That means I can do higher intensity sessions on the balance beam and uneven bars.

Recovering with Red Light

I’ve seen the same results from Joovv for knee pain, ankle strains, and sore wrists. When I’ve had a tough training session, I make sure to do a red light treatment to help ease the pain and support the recovery process. Even when it’s not an injury, you get very sore in gymnastics. You push your body to the edge, and then do it all over again as soon as possible. Joovv helps my muscles recover from training faster, which is a big advantage because it means I can train more, with less injury risk.

Sleeping Better with Joovv

I also sleep much better since using my Joovv! That’s really important for athletes, but especially when you’re rehabbing and healing. Making sure I get my rest and wake up refreshed every morning is necessary for me to be able to compete and win on the world stage. Red light therapy treatments have resulted in more restful sleep, and less soreness in the morning after the previous day’s training.

Often sleep problems are a result of taking in too much artificial blue light all day. When I’m indoors training under the buzz of artificial lights, my body doesn’t get the natural light it needs. Add computers, cell phones, televisions, etc. and it’s easy to overload yourself with blue light. I used to have trouble sleeping after long training days, but since adding more natural light to my routine with the Joovv, I’ve been falling asleep as soon as I lie down, and I’ve been staying asleep all night.

Positive Mood & Motivation with Red Light Therapy

10-15 minutes with my Joovv is also a very positive and mindful experience for me. Performing at the highest level requires you to be detail-oriented, positive, and in touch with yourself and your body. My Joovv treatments are a time to center myself and get my mind in a good place as I stand in the light. It feels good to slow down and remember to care for yourself, and my mood is always better after a treatment. It’s hard to be in a bad mood after basking in the light!

I definitely recommend red light therapy to athletes and really anyone who’s trying to come back from injuries or overcome pain and strain from workouts. It only takes a few minutes a day, but for me, it’s become an essential part of my routine and healthy lifestyle.

I’ll be using my Joovv every day as I train for the world championships and the games in Tokyo in 2020!