SO, MY GYM finally opened its doors after an extensive lockdown, and I was right back in there to do my Kun–Aqua training (pool fitness). It felt good to be back in the water again, and the session was as good as it gets. What I didn’t expect was to be told that there was no hot water in the showers. I was pis••d off. The last thing I want was a cold shower; nevertheless, I did and hated it.
While I was getting changed, my gym buddy, Ivan, exclaimed how good he felt after that cold shower and said that he regularly has cold showers since following the Wim Hof Method,
which involves regularly dunking your body into an ice bath for minutes at a time.
Don’t get me wrong; I have heard a lot about the benefits of cold showering that I will get into shortly. But the last thing I want after being in a cool swimming pool for an hour is a cold shower. It just makes me even colder and increases the amount of time it takes for my body to warm back up.
It also gave Ivan the opportunity to tell me about his cold shower journey. In between his exhaustive explanation, I did take a real golden nugget of information, and I’m now two weeks into incorporating 30-second cold blasts of water at the end of my shower and guess what? – It is transforming my skin!
Below is what I found out about its many benefits.
- Taking a cold shower softens flaky and dry skin brought on by the winter months
- Cold water constricts circulation, causing blood in deeper tissues to work harder
- As the blood works to maintain your core temperature it reduces inflammation
- Cold exposure sends blood flow to the exposed area provides the skin with a healthier glow.
- Daily cold showers daily strengthen your willpower
They’re good for circulation.
The number one reason why cold showers should be a part of your routine is the benefits to your circulation. By reducing your core body temperature through cold water, your body must work harder and faster to warm itself up. It does this by increasing blood flow to the surface of your skin, therefore promoting healthy circulation.
They can soothe sore muscles.
If you’ve just completed an intense gym session, having a cold shower afterwards could help soothe tired and achy muscles. It’s for the same reason that cold water impacts circulation. The cooler temperature promotes faster blood flow to sore areas.
Studies show they may help depression.
If you suffer from depression, cold showers could help improve your mood. Hydrotherapy has been used for centuries to relieve stress. Having regular cold showers is thought to have the same effect, as they trigger electrical impulses in the brain; they help boost your energy levels, making you feel more alert.
They can make your hair look healthier and shinier
Rinsing yourself off with cold water after you’ve shampooed could make your hair appear more polished. That’s because warm water opens up the follicles in our hair so they can be cleaned and conditioned. On the other hand, cold water closes these follicles up, locking in any moisture and lowering the risk of your hair becoming dry and brittle over time.
They could support your immune system.
Research suggests that cold showers could also be great for your immune system. By shaking your body up a bit through showering in cold water, you could stimulate the white blood cells present in your bloodstream.
Ivan’s cold shower suggestion
Have a warm shower as you usually would. Once you’ve washed your body, turn the water temperature down a little. Stand under the water for a couple of minutes and take deep breaths as your body adjusts to the chillier temperature. It’ll take a while to become entirely comfortable with having cold showers. To get used to it, gradually lower the temperature of the water every time you shower.
