Exhausted? Long week? Mind racing? Try my miracle cure!
My weary body screamed for relief this morning. It’s been a huge, emotionally draining, exhilarating but exhausting week and my muscles are screaming after my return to soccer and increased gym load. I listened to my body and cancelled out of my hard-core strength class this morning and headed for the bay. Straight after school drop off, I immersed myself in the freezing water for twenty minutes and I feeling amazing! Truly!
I get that for some people the idea of jumping into freezing waters on a blistery day is their idea of hell. I was in that group prior to my metamorphosis, and I still hate the cold. I’m a sun worshipper from way back. This, however, is my magical cure for a tough week. It is exhilarating, freeing and it absolutely helps with muscle relief (not to mention the emotional positives).
I was the only one in the bay in my area this morning. I turned from the walkers and joggers and marvelled at the city in the distance and the cold, grey horizon. I had time and space to think, to process my enormous week and to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
The initial shock of the cold water is like an electric bolt through your body, and it doesn’t get easier no many how many times you do it. However, the next stage seems to get shorter the more times to immerse yourself. It takes about two minutes for my body to settle into the cold now, it used to be closer to five minutes. I immerse myself past my chest, usually to the neck. I walk around, do flexes and keep moving, usually slowly. The calm that takes over once my body settles in is beautiful. It is like a mist of calmness has enveloped my body and mind. I find true serenity in that moment. Totally present. In the moment and free. It is one of the few times in my day that I am at one with myself. There is something so healing – both physically and mentally about cold water immersion. I’m definitely addicted.
I have a cold shower every morning. I turn the shower to full cold (after my nice warm shower) and I do 4 x 4 rounds of box breathing (in for four seconds, hold for four seconds, out for four seconds, hold for four seconds). It is also invigorating and has some of the effects of the full bay immersion experience, but it isn’t as exhilarating.
I try to do 20 minutes in the bay once or twice a week and every time I do it, I feel marvellous afterwards.
There is a lot of research around cold-water immersion after exercise. It reduces inflammation and soreness. It can also balance to the nervous system and improves our mood and cognitive functions. It helps us get comfortable with being uncomfortable and therefore builds resilience.
There are several groups who do cold water immersion together, I started with a local group of women which is lovely, but I really enjoy going by myself. It’s a place where I like to process, to sink into the calm and ease my mind and body in that realm where I can just be.
I highly recommend cold water immersion, especially on those days when life is just too much. Let mother nature’s waters soothe you1
How to start?
I started with two minutes. I go in off the wharf ladder, so I don’t need to do the slow water out into the bay. You start time once your chest is immersed. You should be a level where the water is around your neck. Putting your head under isn’t a requirement but some people do (obviously coming up for breath). You can stay perfectly still but I prefer to move and do flexing exercises like toe points, squats, lunges etc. Each time you try it you can slightly increase the time. The optimum time is about 15 minutes, I push it a bit going to 20 minutes, but I love it. Have your towel ready the minute you get out and I have a hot drink in a thermos straight away.
The results?
The dopamine hit is instant. You won’t believe how great you can feel. It increases energy, makes you more alert and helps with muscle soreness. It is healing in so many ways. Definitely a cure for the effects of a tough week.
