Wouldn’t it be nice if you could hit a button and instantly receive a surge of energy?
I want to share with you a practice that I find equally empowering and slightly more uncomfortable: Cold Therapy.
Putting the words ‘Cold’ and ‘Therapy’ in the same sentence may feel like an oxymoron.
But, what if I told you that embracing the chill could be the secret to ramping up your wellness routine?
The Chilly Path to Resilience
Imagine this: You step into a cold shower, and instantly, you gasp for breath.
Your body tenses, you start to shake, and blood rushes to your head.
But then something strange happens…
A good kind of strange.
As you breathe deeply, you feel invigorated, alive, and strangely, more focused.
And the benefits don’t stop there.
For the next few hours, you feel like you’ve taken a double shot of espresso, without the crash.
If you’ve ever taken a cold shower – and endured for longer than 30 seconds – you’ve probably experienced this.
Cold therapy isn’t just for daredevils or fitness fanatics.
It’s a scientifically backed practice that can boost your well-being.
Regularly engaging in cold therapy may help you…
- Improve circulation
- Aid in muscle recovery
- Enhance mental clarity
- Increase your metabolism
- Reduce inflammation
- Bolster your immune system
- Potentially combat symptoms of depression
And so much more…
But don’t just take my word for it.
Experts Agree: Cold Therapy Works
If you haven’t heard of Wim Hof yet, Google him.
(Trust me, it’s worth the 2 clicks and 8 keystrokes.)
He’s set 26 world records and pushed the human body to its limits.
And there’s one practice that he swears by.
You guessed it: Cold Therapy.
Wim Hof used Cold Therapy and breathing exercises to do things like…
- Climb Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts
- Run a half marathon above the Arctic Circle barefoot
- Stand in a contained covered with ice cubes for more than 112 minutes
If you’re anything like me, you don’t have ‘stand in ice for almost 2 hours’ on your bucket list…
But you can still experience the benefits of Cold Therapy.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick, says, “Exposure to cold has been shown to activate the sympathetic nervous system and increase the blood level of beta-endorphin and noradrenaline and to increase synaptic release of noradrenaline in the brain as well.”
(Translation: Cold Therapy can boost your mood levels, energy levels, and potentially even help your memory.)
Dr. Andrew Huberman – a Stanford University neuroscientist (he’s one of my faves to listen to) – says cold therapy can put you in a state of deep focus which helps slash stress levels.
Bottom line? Cold Therapy works.
But you probably already knew that. The real question is: How in the world do you convince yourself to face the cold every day?
Ice, Ice, Maybe?
Why do we hesitate to dive into cold therapy, even though we know it’s good for us?
The answer is simple: Being cold is painful.
It’s one thing to know that cold showers are good for you; it’s quite another to turn that dial to cold in the moment.
Which is why it’s important to start small!
Instead of committing to a 20-minute ice plunge every morning, you can start your own version of Cold Therapy by…
- Changing the water temperature to ‘cold’ for the last 30 seconds of your shower
- Ice-rolling your face with an ice cube or an ice roller to slowly get used to feeling cold on your skin (and it’s amazing for facial puffiness)
- Taking a 2-minute cold shower
- Challenge yourself and try cryotherapy
Our bodies and minds are wired to seek comfort, so be gentle with yourself! However – growth happens outside of your comfort zone.
Start slow, and you’ll be surprised how quickly your body adapts.
Budget vs. Boujee
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Wrapping Up Warm
Cold therapy is about pushing your comfort zone in a safe and controlled manner.
It’s a practice that teaches resilience, both physically and mentally.
So, next time you’re feeling sluggish or need a mental reset, try hopping into a cold shower.
My challenge to you this week is to try one simple version of Cold Therapy this week…
You can choose to…
- Ice roll your face
- Take a 2-minute cold shower
- Turn your water to cold at the end of your shower for at least 30 seconds
