Cold Water Swimming
I tried it today. I am already a fan. The buzz I got its just so brilliant. I had heard about the healthy benefits of cold water therapy, but Oh my, I was so afraid of trying and suddenly today, I decided. I made the decision to go with Manuela, my italian friend, who has been doing it for a while and has highly recommended it to me so many times. (I would say: "You, such an italian sun-lover?... how can you possibly like a cold-swim in this cold weather?")
Try it out. More if you live in a cold city like London!
Oh what a therapy to make peace with the cold, and make it yours, your best friend now.
So indeed, I feel for me now, cold dipping is my new choice. New habits, new life!... Talking about new habits, please please please I highly recommend Gretchen Rubin´s new book, "Better than Before"... mind blowing to me. Seeing habits from a new perspective. Understanding other cultures, other people, and more so, observing my patterns of thought and how they become my nature, how they become a habit I probably don´t really care for anymore. And how important to shape our habits to shape our life. So I´m all into building new habits. Observe your habits, they become like scars in your life. And if something is not working, try something new. Scars may dissolve, your future may open up, in so many ways, now.
So anyway, here the benefits for Cold Water Swimming: (facts taken from the www.nextchallenge.com)
1- A natural ´high´- a feeling of wellbeing that’s so encompassing that it becomes quite addictive (who doesn’t want to feel truly good, at least once a day?) The cause? Endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain killers and, in the case of a cold dip, it uses them to take the sting away from your skin. So, to get high on your own supply, all you need to do is jump in a river. And if you think that sounds dangerously close to the pleasure/pain barrier then you’re probably right. The two other primary causes for endorphin release are pain and orgasm.
The cold will also stimulate your parasympathetic system, which is responsible for rest and repair, and this can trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are a vital part of keeping us happy and low levels of them are linked with depression. Couple this effect with the endorphin rush as you take the plunge and it should make for a warm glow and a wide smile when you re-emerge.
2- Blood Pumping- Being hot brings blood to surface. Being cold sends it to your organs. Both extremes work your heart like a pump. That’s why the whole sit in the sauna, roll in the snow, sit in the sauna thing makes people glow. But why is increased blood flow good for you?
Well, it helps flush your circulation for starters, pushing blood through all your capillaries, veins and arteries. It will exfoliate your skin and flush impurities from it, thus helping your complexion (firm-bodied women of all ages around pool sides say it stops cellulite). Evidence also demonstrates that your body adapts to the cold with repeated exposure and this may improve your circulation, particularly to your extremities – no bad thing in the winter months.
3. Activates your metabolism- Swimming in cold water will make your body work twice as hard to keep you warm and burn more calories in the process. For this sort of exercise, fat is your body’s primary source of energy and the increased work rate will increase your metabolism in the long run.
4. Boosts your immune system- For your body, a sudden and drastic change in temperature constitutes an attack – And, whilst “attacking” your own body may not sound like a good thing, there is no harm in keeping it on its toes. In fact, quite the opposite.
Scientists from the Czech Republic immersed witting subjects in cold water for one hour, three times a week and monitored their physiology. They found significant increases in white blood cell counts and several other factors relating to the immune system. This was attributed to the cold water being a mild stressor which activates the immune system and gives it some practice.
5. Other General benefits as if you needed more... Great for circulation, for your libido, for your post-practice sore muscles, mood-regulator-enhancer, energizes mind-body connection hence it is very useful if you need to be creative and enhance your concentration.
Need more? just go and dip in!...