So, I’m just back from my first cold dip. I’ve been having cold showers for the best part of a year now (if you go back on my blog, you’ll see my first post was about just that – cold showers). It is something I’ve always found useful in training the brain. I knew there would be physical benefits to cold showers, but my main focus, or reason for having them and enduring, was for my mental health. I spoke about how training your mind to cope for longer in uncomfortable situations, like a cold shower or a panic attack, will allow you to grow and become stronger in your head. Of recent months having properly got into the Wim Hof Method, I have become more aware not only of the benefits to mental health (which I was already aware of), but also of the benefits cold water therapy can have on you physically.
Today was my first time submerging myself in cold water. Very lucky to have somewhere like New Lanark on my doorstep. A short walk and you are at the Clyde, a sandy beach stretching out into the deep, calm, and cold water. Having at least one other person with me doing it was also pleasant to be going through the same thing as someone else. We put our towels on the sand, lay down and listened to Wim Hof for 3 rounds of his breathing exercise. 30 deep inhales and exhales then exhale and hold until you feel the urge to breathe, deep inhale, hold 15 seconds, exhale and onto round 2. The 3rd round of holding your breath without air in your lungs is where the magic starts to happen. You can feel something happening in your body. Your hands & arms, your legs & feet start to tingle a little and you feel your body temperature changing in places. Deep inhale and hold…and release, letting your breathing return to normal. Then kit off and into the cold.
Keeping the breathing rhythmical and steady as the pain moves up your feet, your legs, your waist and all the way up to your neck. It is intense and, not that I’m trying to sell this to any one but, painful, for the first minute or so. Then 5 minutes pass and parts of your body start to feel the cold less as if your body is heating up from the inside. The blood flow goes to your head to protect the brain, your heart, your kidneys, your liver and all vital organs so your limbs start to feel less and less pain as time goes on, as they are numbing. Once you have persevered, it is calmness beyond explanation. Past the 10 minute mark, it is extremely peaceful and relaxing. No more pain. To begin with all you think about is how f***ing cold you are, but it passes. You persevere, you cope. Physical benefits you get from cold water therapy such as this include a better working lymphatic system, improved heart health and circulation, reduced inflammation in the body, as well as more strength in your hair, your nails, and your skin.
I promise you, coming out of that water after an intense and powerful, yet calming 18 minutes, I felt better, more energised and more motivated than I have felt in months. It is an experience like no other. Same time tomorrow, I think.
Keep an eye out for the next podcast release from “a wee bit of Everything” where Clark and Lewis will be sharing their thoughts and experience of the Wim Hof method and Cold Water Therapy.
Cheers
