Cold water therapy – Can I learn to love being cold?
Cold water therapy v nice hot bath …
I love nothing more than a nice warm bath. I love it so much I have one every day. It is one of my resets after a stressful day in the office, and I can wash off any negativity and relax.
I also hate the cold. I mean really hate it! So can I love cold water therapy?
My body literally goes into shut down mode at the slight thought of chilly. I lose all ability to function :). I do live in Scotland though, so you have to be prepared. I have a drawer dedicated to hats and a wardrobe of jumpers, coats , thermals and not forgetting my blanket hoodie .
So when I decided to embark on trying out cold water therapy it came as a bit of a surprise, well to everyone around me. But I am on a little mission to self improve and be the best version of me that I can so I am willing to give it a go
I think this one will be my biggest challenge to overcome than the rest..
Cold water therapy
I have to let you into a little secret, I have tried this before. In lock-down 2020 I tried with cold showers. This was not for me! I dreaded it everyday and this soon lapsed. Next I tried a plunge barrel. This was more a success and after the initial shock if you controlled your breathing it was actually quite invigorating and I felt really good after. This is why I want to persevere with this one. I truly believe in the benefits and as Wim Hoff says:
” If we always choose comfort we will never learn the deepest capabilities of our minds or body”
I think to give myself the best chance of making this part of my routine I will begin this in the spring. As part of our rewilding project we will be restoring and creating ponds. I will be able to swim in our own ponds , surrounded by nature, beauty and breath in fresh air. I may invest in a wet suit to start and build up to bare skin!!
What are the benefits of cold water therapy?
- Reducing muscle pain and stiffness after exercise, by reducing swelling and inflammation.
- Improving risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Boosting the immune system, helping to lower the risk of infection
We love a project at Harestone Moss and this one has got me really excited. We are going to build a fresh water plunge pool. The mineral laden fresh water will naturally fill up our plunge pool and flow out the other side so the pool will always be filled with lovely fresh, COLD water. This will be my luxury way to get a cold water therapy fix. But the best bit is we are going to install a sauna close by so I can get the best of both worlds. This will be the game changer for me. I know I can do the cold water if I know there is a hot sauna waiting when I come out !!!
Six Proven Benefits of the Sauna and Cold Plunge
Improved circulation and energy giving. …
Reduced muscle soreness and joint pain [1] …
Improved immunity to illness. …
Closes pores. …
Helps you to relax. …
Helps with weight loss.
Could this even replace my daily bath…. Eh probably no!
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