Absolutely Not! As a Derby Chiropractor That was my first reaction when reading about cold showers and their benefits. I don’t know about you, but the thought of a cold vs warm shower was not very appealing, let alone as both the weather and water continue to get colder. Once I started them, I soon “got it”, and now I enjoy them. Many have touted the benefits of cold showers for years, but now thousands around the world continue to regularly join the movement….will you be one of them?

Cold Showers in Derby

My Experience So far…

It first started from reading about a guy named Wim Hof who is known as the “Ice Man”. He is famous for many cold feats including climbing Mt. Everest in shorts and no shirt, but also for a specific breathing technique that allows you to progressively hold your breath for 1, 2, 3 minutes, etc., helping to boost overall body function. This is where I started, and have enjoyed breathing. After several months, I finally mustered up the courage to incorporate the final part of his plan which is cold immersion or cold showers. It has now been over a month since I started taking cold showers, and have done so every day during that time. At first, it is about as bad as it sounds (sorry, no sugar coating it). However, as you acclimate day after day, it continues to not only get less miserable but also something enjoyable. Initially, I started with a quick 30 seconds at the end of my regular shower. Now I have progressed to anywhere between 2-3 minutes. Yes, you can start with your regular warm shower, and just finish with the cold and still get all the benefits.

The Benefits of Cold Showers

Wim Hof has subjected himself to a lot of research (visit his website at http://www.wimhofmethod.com), which helps to give validity to his claims. According to his website and the research multiple scientists have done on him and many other people, these are some of the benefits of cold showers:

• Reduced stress levels. Regularly taking cold showers imposes a small amount of stress on your body, which leads to a process called hardening. This means that your nervous system gradually gets used to handling moderate levels of stress. The hardening process helps you to keep a cool head, the next time you find yourself in a stressful situation.
• More robust immune response. Scientific studies have found that taking a cold shower increases the number of white blood cells in your body. These blood cells protect your body against diseases. Researchers believe that this process is related to an increased metabolic rate, which stimulates the immune response.
• Increased willpower. It takes a strong mind to endure the cold for extended periods. By incorporating cold showers into your daily routine, you are strengthening your willpower which benefits many aspects of (your) daily life.
• Weight loss. Research has shown that cold showers (and exposure to cold in general), in addition to increasing metabolic rate directly, stimulate the generation of brown fat. Brown fat is a specific type of fat tissue that in turn generates energy by burning calories. Cold showers, then, are an effective tool for people who are looking to lose a few pounds.

Give it a try, I think you will enjoy it as I have. Remember, the first 15-30 seconds are always a “shock” to your system and will of course feel very cold. Once your body adapts, you will soon be able to stand it much easier, and in a very strange way, enjoy it. When you are finished, you will feel refreshed and invigorated! Give it a try and let me know your thoughts…

LIVE well. BE well.