Thought of the Week: Ice is Fire!
The story of how reigniting my icy habit has given me superpowers this week.
At this point in time, most people are familiar with Wim Hof and his notorious cold exposure methods. Lots of people have tried it for themselves and seen the benefits.
This week, for no reason that is apparent to me, I have resurrected my old habit of taking freezing baths and showers and it is amazing.
If you’re unfamiliar with ‘The Ice Man’ or cold exposure therapy, take this as your cue to do some research. I’m telling you now, there is a high chance that it will change your life.
If you are familiar, then maybe this is just a reminder for you. Maybe like me, you have tried it before. Maybe you already know about the benefits and this post is a sign from the universe that you can rejuvenate your soul through icy coldness.
Winter is coming!
The clocks have just moved forward here in the UK. It was 5 pm today when the feeble sun dipped its head and night began.
The mornings are dark and cold — most of them I wake bleary-eyed and reluctant. The warm shower seems to be the only salvation against a horrible and tough winter’s day. Sometimes it’s the thing that convinces me to get up at all.
So to give it up seems like a big ask.
But think about the moment after the hot shower. Think about when you get out. The cold reality hits you and no matter how far you dared boil your skin in the shower it’s cold and grim.
I also don’t know if this is a universal thing, but I find drying off to be a horrible sensation after a hot shower. Just me?
Whereas, if you take a freezing cold shower and you stay in it long enough to acclimatize, then when you get out you feel good and you feel warm and you feel warm all day!
It’s strange but true. If you haven’t tried this method before then just trust me — try it. Do your research though. If you haven’t, this is your sign to again feel the true power of… temperature regulation!
No Longer an X-Man
That’s just an in-joke I have with my brothers who, like me, have fairly severe eczema. Eczema which is worsened in fact by… hot showers. Well, heat generally, but hot showers seem to be particularly lethal.
So perhaps a hidden gem of the Wim Hof method, but it’s been really great for my skin.
I imagine that’s probably true for you even if you don’t have eczema — and maybe even for your hair.
A Different Breed of Superhero
Whilst I am no longer an X-Man, I am certainly now something even more powerful!
I don’t know what possessed me to run a freezing cold bath on one of the days this week. I had seen no video about it, read no article on the topic. It hadn’t been on my mind. I just literally ran a cold bath, seemingly for no reason.
But after the whimpering and shivering and hyperventilating stopped. Once I’d got control and become sure that I didn’t need to cry and it was all going to be okay. At that point, I felt amazing!
I don’t know the ins and outs of the science. Something to do with the cold shock activating your stress response and strengthening your autonomic nervous system. But what I do know is that I felt unlimited, during and after!
I could attempt to explain the feeling in more words, but you’d better try it for yourself.
Again, this is the universe’s friendly reminder. Turn to cold next time you’re in the shower. Try it. It might just change your life.
*Do your own research before attempting this method. Seek medical advice if you have any underlying health conditions.
