Deliberate Cold Exposure (Part 2)
Why?
Benefits of consistent cold immersion (read: in nature) include:
Immersion and Full connection with Nature
Brings you back to the present, instantly!
Lowers stress and promotes emotional resilience – less anxiety, relieves the grip of depression
Connection to the sounds, smells, feeling of all things REAL surrounding you in that instant
Amazing for the skin and internal systems of the body
Feeling of focus, energy, clear-headedness, wellbeing
How?
- Approximately 90sec in the water (I do 60 gentle strokes, then 10 deep breaths) I use the strokes as a way to keep time so that I get a consistent exposure each session. Then, if I prefer to stay in longer, I do so after this.
- You do not need to dunk your head – just in to your neck, submerge shoulders
- You stay in until you have calmed your breathing down, once you relax… you’re free to go! Try to avoid getting out when you’re feeling “stressed” – calm down, then exit
- Safety First – Always dip with a friend 😉
Stay with it, stay with the breath. Reap the rewards.
How Often?
This is completely up to you.
We’re not into setting “Challenges” here at TLB (we think this sets up an “all or nothing” approach to health and wellness and we don’t think life is like that…). Hence we prefer to set realistic and attainable “Visions of Reality” for ourselves!
We opt to cold plunge in Nature at least 4x week. More is better! This is great, but 4 is a baseline for our ultimate wellness and happiness.
We look at things as BASELINES – so that we know how to move along the continuum. The baseline is a minimum level for us (a minimum place to Thrive). If we are lower, we know that it’s not what is best for us. If we are higher, that’s just a bonus.
Further Exploration:
See below for a fantastic reading for you to understand the benefits of cold water immersion in Nature:
If you enjoy listening to podcasts, this is a fantastic one to explain the science of cold exposure, along with all of the benefits of this practice:
Health and Safety Warning
*** Disclaimer – if you suffer a heart condition or underlying health condition, please check with your GP PRIOR to this. It’s not off the cards for you, BUT you MAY need a slightly more delicate entry to cold water therapy. ***
Remember, we can still get fantastic health benefits from Part 1 – Cold Showers, look back at this for more information and start your practice gently.
More to come in Deliberate Cold Exposure – Part 3.
But for now, we start here 🙂
