I have been remiss in writing my blog for the last few weeks as I have focused on healing my Hematoma from my cycling crash in Italy. In my next blog, I will provide an update on where I am with that and what my racing and training plan is for the summer. Thanks to so many of you that have written notes and taken time out to inquire about my healing.
In the meantime, however, I wanted to do a simple follow up blog on the “Cold Shower”.
A Cold Shower Will Change Your Life
A few blog posts ago, I wrote about the health benefits of having a cold shower every day. I had a lot of great feedback as well as other comments like “It seems great but I am not doing it!” If you missed it, you can access the Cold Shower blog here:http://kevinbradyhealth.ca/a-cold-shower-every-day-will-change-your-life/
Since then I have had a number of people ask me “How to have a cold shower?” I figured everyone knew how to have a cold shower…… just turn the shower dial over to cold and that is it!
Kidding aside, I do have a process I seem to go through every morning so thought I would share the steps I go through to have my Cold and invigorating Shower.
Step 1-Hot Shower
I find that any time I have a shower I like to start with a regular warm or hot shower. During this phase of the shower, I clean myself with my Natural Organic Soap, Shampoo and Conditioner.
Step 2 – The Fun Is Over
During this stage, I turn the temperature over to Cold but at this point not the very coldest setting. I find this the most shocking and “painful’ part of the process. I put the stream of water on my head and face and get used to the cold.
Step 3-Cold to Wake the lymphatic system
During this stage, I let the cold water run over other parts of my upper body including my chest and heart. . I also massage the cold water into my armpits (to massage, wake and circulate the lymphatic system) as well as take the shower head and run the cold water on my legs and lower extremities.
Step 4.-Backside, Toe touches and lower extremities.
Here I turn the water to full cold and turn around and let it run down the back of my head. I then walk away from the shower a few steps and run the cold water on the back of my neck. I find this step shocking so often incorporate some deep breathing to help me focus on my breathing and not the cold!
I next let the water stream aim down my spine as well as the back of my legs, hamstrings, and calves. Often I do slow spine rolling down to the point where I am touching my toes to stretch my back and do this a few times. This stretches the back and hamstrings all while having the benefit of the cold shower.
Step 5 – Front side finish (like a car wash)!
At this point, I have been showering in the cold water for well over 5 minutes and I typically finish by letting the cold water run on the top of my head and face similar to my start of the cold shower. Once in a while, If I am feeling really cold, I bring the water back to warm for a minute or two to finish off. Most days however I do finish my shower with only cold water.
That, in a nutshell, is the process I typically use to have my cold shower. I find it an amazing way to start the day with tons of energy and feeling amazing. In addition, cold showers or cold exposure has proven to improve circulation, strengthen the heart and improve immunity which fights off colds and flu’s.
There you have it. Please try it out if you haven’t done so and let me know how it goes!
Yours in great health, Kev
