I go hot for the muscles, pores, and lungs. At the end I wind it down to freezing or as close as I can get, a bit at a time. Typically ends in some kind of barbarian spiritual catharsis involving grunting. Then I picture polar bear club and want to die.
I like to do the same and put myself face first into the cold ass water and act like I’m some wild man standing under a freezing waterfall and gasping for breath.
Exactly! I recently installed a double showerhead, so now when I look straight up, it’s immersive and horrible! I start taking meditation breaths right before ratcheting the temp down.
I have easier ways to provoke a fight or flight response from my brain, such as receiving a phone call from an unknown number, or having to schedule an appointment in advance
Jokes on you, I can disable the old card and order the new one though the mobile app now! Which happened at least once already. Welcome to the future, where we automate away the human contact and I’m all for it
Cool thing is you can train your flight or fight response with things like cold plunges to be more useful. Cold showers might be a way to reduce your unneeded response to harmless things like phone calls.
Only time I intentionally took a cold shower was after a long bike ride, wearing formal clothing, in the middle of summer. It was freeing and very cold.
The trick is to start at the end of your limbs and move slowly inward until you think you had enough, and definitely not so fast you start to pant: The calmer you are, giving time for the body to switch to the change, the more you’ll be able to take, so take it slow. Also don’t feel obliged to use only the cold tap, especially in winter that can be rather extreme. Just up to elbows and knees more often than not get you that nice metabolism boost and that’s a perfect pre-coffee, OTOH some days are torso days and even others are head days.
Has anyone here ever taken a cold shower on purpose? It’s quite invigorating once one acclimate.
Not an entire shower, but I sometimes end with a cooler second rinse.
I go hot for the muscles, pores, and lungs. At the end I wind it down to freezing or as close as I can get, a bit at a time. Typically ends in some kind of barbarian spiritual catharsis involving grunting. Then I picture polar bear club and want to die.
I like to do the same and put myself face first into the cold ass water and act like I’m some wild man standing under a freezing waterfall and gasping for breath.
Try it sometime.
Just close your mouth dude you don’t have to inhale the water
ITS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE
Exactly! I recently installed a double showerhead, so now when I look straight up, it’s immersive and horrible! I start taking meditation breaths right before ratcheting the temp down.
I live in a tropical area, so baths and showers are always in cold water. Hot water is for small children and the sick or elderly.
This is apparently a huge culture shock to people coming from the colder parts of my country.
Everyday on the southern hemisphere, minus in winter.
It has some nice health benefits. Tricks your body into suvival mode.
I have easier ways to provoke a fight or flight response from my brain, such as receiving a phone call from an unknown number, or having to schedule an appointment in advance
Surprise: it’s an unknown charge on your credit card. You’ll have to call support and get a new card issued! Oooooo
Jokes on you, I can disable the old card and order the new one though the mobile app now! Which happened at least once already. Welcome to the future, where we automate away the human contact and I’m all for it
The app needs to update and forgot your stored credentials oooooooooooO
Fortunately, this one is self induced.
Cool thing is you can train your flight or fight response with things like cold plunges to be more useful. Cold showers might be a way to reduce your unneeded response to harmless things like phone calls.
Only time I intentionally took a cold shower was after a long bike ride, wearing formal clothing, in the middle of summer. It was freeing and very cold.
Why the formal clothing?
Didn’t that make it hard to shower?
Formal clothing can shrink in hot showers.
Sure, on some Arizona summer days.
Cold shower after workout is great for preventing muscle soreness.
The trick is to start at the end of your limbs and move slowly inward until you think you had enough, and definitely not so fast you start to pant: The calmer you are, giving time for the body to switch to the change, the more you’ll be able to take, so take it slow. Also don’t feel obliged to use only the cold tap, especially in winter that can be rather extreme. Just up to elbows and knees more often than not get you that nice metabolism boost and that’s a perfect pre-coffee, OTOH some days are torso days and even others are head days.
OTOH?
Nah, just go all in for maximum impact. Bonus: showers take like 2 min.