pull down to refresh
42 sats \ 10 replies \ @gnilma 7 Jun \ parent \ on: Daily Accountability Thread HealthAndFitness
For me, I cold shower for mental reasons more than physical reasons. I think it's a great way to force myself into doing something uncomfortable, plus train myself to handle discomfort and stress.
Although, 1 year into regular cold showering, my late Spring allergies to cottonwood trees seem to have completely vanished. It could be because of other things, but the most obvious and major change I had was continued cold showering for about a year. I also don't seem to get sick much, and even if I do get sick, I seem to recover rather quickly. So I guess there's probably some physical benefits to cold showering as well. Not trying to convince you to do it or anything, just reporting on my experience from consistently doing it.
I love getting more information, but I'm still not even slightly tempted.
Most of what you described seem like they could be related to cold showers being anti-inflammatory. I wonder if that's what it is.
reply
According to Wim Hof:
When you take a cold shower, all of those little muscles in your vascular system ā millions of them ā are activated and exercised. Within ten days of taking these showers, you will notice that your heart rate has decreased significantly, as much as fifteen to thirty beats per minute, and that it remains that way twenty-four hours a day. That translates to a lot less stress.
Source: The Wim Hof Method ā Activate Your Potential, Transcend Your Limits. Chapter three "A COLD SHOWER A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY"
My heart rate, especially my resting heart rate at night, is much lower than average, as I recently found out after reading this blog post.
According to my Oura ring, m'y cardio age is two years younger than my actual age. Cold showering, which I've been doing for more than two years now, surely have contributed to this result, I think...
reply
That's the most persuasive cold shower propaganda I've seen in a while.
reply
Something to keep in mind is that, because WH is not a scientist, he's often right about his stuff, but for the wrong reason. š
I'm going off on a tangent now, but as an example, his explanation of his breathwork is not 100% scientifically sound, and that's because he does not seem to understand the physiological role of CO2. The critique is not mine, but has been made by at least two other people I know, who have a more solid scientific background.
That said, the man is undoubtedly very smart, and there's no amount of intellectual knowledge that will ever match his lived experience.
For someone who practices (and has occasionally taught) martial arts, I'm very well aware of the limitations of language when it comes to explain a lived experience happening inside ourselves, for others to replicate...
reply
I know what you mean. There were times in my martial arts training when our sifu, who was a year ahead of me in the physics program, would use qi to explain stuff we were doing because it mapped better onto the experience of the movements.
All models are wrong, but some models are useful.
reply
reply
After all these years, I still need a little bit of time to collect myself before jumping into the cold stream of water. But the rewards are worth it. I just had my shower, and I'm feeling so at peace. All these feel good hormones rushing through my system make it worth it.
Here is something interestingly surprising. The chart below shows the short-term stress of cold shower on my system (orange), compared to yoga, and walking.
reply
Thanks for sharing the info! You have a very low resting heart rate. Good for you!
After all these years, I still need a little bit of time to collect myself before jumping into the cold stream of water.
I've been cold showering for about 3 years, and yes, I agree that it does not get any easier over time.