When you expose yourself to different temperatures you create a different response in your body’s internal systems. Hot water increases the flow of blood to your skin, while cold water increases the flow of blood to your inner organs. This stimulation of the movement of your blood brings new vitality at a cellular level, supporting the immune system and promoting the excretion of waste products.
At the end of your shower carefully increase the temperature of the water to a comfortable hot (not burning) temperature for around 30 seconds. Now for the fun part (imagine the thrill of running into the sea!), carefully reduce the temperature of the water to a comfortable cold (not freezing) temperature. If you are not used to cold showers then be gentle with yourself and just gradually increase your capacity. Now that will get you breathing deep! You can repeat 3 times if appropriate.
When starting you can comfort your response by ending on your preferred temperature, but then as you adapt through the process you can then choose to end your shower on cold, as it does feel great! Recognise how you feel through the process and how you respond to this change in environment. You will experience new sensations and your response will be tested.
By adapting to new environments in the shower can it support us in adapting to our new environments in life?
