Cold Showers and Breath Work for Stress & Anxiety
In the Bhagavad Gita they say, “The mind under control is your best friend, the mind wandering about is your worst enemy.” Make it your best friend, to the point where you can rely on it. Your mind makes you strong from within. It is your wise companion. The sacrifices you make will be rewarded. Life doesn’t change, but your perception does. It’s all about what you focus on. Withdraw from the world’s influence and no longer be controlled by your emotions. If you can grab the wheel of your mind, you can steer the direction of where your life will go.
– Wim Hof
Cold Showers and Breath Work for Stress & Anxiety
Hydrotherapy or cold water therapy recognized in ancient cultures and naturopathic medicine for its health benefits: From warm baths to induce relaxation and soothe aching muscles. Immersing the body in cold water boosts metabolism and allay chronic skin conditions. Hydrotherapy has been a trusted healing practice for centuries.
Coldwater therapy also improves the state of mind, including anxiety and fear. Cold showers are great for stress and anxiety—and watch how self-worth and personal progress will increase with the dedication to change the body’s natural state.
Stress, Anxiety, and Imposter Syndrome.
Stress and sleep are linked. Good sleep means lower stress levels. Less stressed, less anxiety—the base of anxiety is fear. Fear is worry about the future or regret of the past and not living in the present moment.
When anxiety hits, the heart pounds the chest. The body and mind respond well when happy. Happiness indicates a lack of concern, and sleep is good. When a person’s mood is light and fresh, relationships with other people are 100% better. The pharmaceutical option is no longer attractive; a more holistic approach is better than popping pills.
Hydrotherapy at Home
Minute-long cold showers to help me overcome stress, anxiety, fear, and that dreaded “imposter syndrome” fear.
Wim Hof. Nicknamed “Iceman,” Wim has climbed Mount Everest in nothing but a pair of shorts. Shorts. He is famous on YouTube and works with cold therapy and breathwork to change the body’s biochemical, molecular compound. Wim Hof proves that the mind is the biggest hurdle to achieving anything in life.
Researchers at Wayne State University School of Medicine studied Wim’s body and brain during whole-body cold exposure; the researchers were shocked at the outcomes. Professor Otto Muzik, Ph.D., helped to facilitate the study. “The Wim Hof Method may promote the spontaneous release of opioids and cannabinoids in the brain. This effect has the potential to create a feeling of well-being, mood control, and reduced anxiety,” he said.
One-Minute Cold Showers
Treatment to overcome stress, anxiety and feelings of fear and self-doubt is simple. Take a one-minute, ice-cold shower every day for a week, journal the experience. Turning on the water helps people face fear in their lives.
Breathing is essential in this treatment; when hit with a blast of ice-cold water, the body’s reaction is to jump in quickly and hold the breath drawing the limbs in close to the torso. The challenge is to breathe in and out continuously. Move the arms and legs, and do not reach for the dial until the timer goes off on the phone. Start the shower with the water on the back, then turn into the spray and let it hit the face.
Cold Water Therapy is not the most excellent experience initially, but the body and mind get used to the cold. The body will regulate itself naturally, will stop shaking, and the mind will allow the body to breathe. When the person steps out of the shower, they will automatically feel energized and full of confidence. It truly is fantastic.
According to Psychology Today, being exposed to cold can do wonders for your mental state of mind. “Exposure to cold has been shown to activate the sympathetic nervous system, will increase the blood level as well as brain release of norepinephrine—an adrenal hormone that can help depressed people feel more ‘up’ naturally. The water therapy also can help increase the production of beta-endorphins—‘feel good’ molecules that give a sense of well-being.”
The Result: Less Stress. More Confidence.
With time the body becomes more relaxed, and the mind starts to accomplish things easier and quicker than before. It works. Going back into cold therapy is more challenging the second time because the body becomes accustomed to the cold. But. Keep doing it.
Sleep will improve. Breathe work will improve. Wim Hof also gives breath work tutorials on YouTube; he has a free APP and offers face-to-face classes. Start by facing fears, and see what can be achieved in one day. Please keep it simple. Remember to breathe through anxiety. And. Trust. Trust the universe. The most important aspect is discipline. Keep with it. No matter what “it” is. Yoga. Breathe work. Cold Water Therapy. Exercise. Reading. Journalling. All these little things throughout the day will help you optimize your performance.
Hydrotherapy Works
The Wim Hof Method continues to inspire the scientific community and improve others’ lives throughout the world; the method is straightforward to implement and has no age barrier. Any can do it. And so can you.
