UPSHIFT WITH COLD PLUNGE THERAPY
Imagine transcending your mental and physical health in as little as two minutes a day. The ice bath or cold plunge, also known as, Cold water immersion (CWI), was made famous by Wim Hof, a Dutch motivational speaker known as The Iceman.
It’s a literal nightmare to go through the motions at work, struggle to stay awake, and then head back home in a body that resists resting. Whether your body is refusing to downshift or your mind is trying to solve all the problems it created in its stupor, you can become a prisoner of less-than-stellar productivity. How in the world do you gain control of your life and break this vicious cycle?
The best way to fix your life is to leap into a nearly frozen tank of water. It is an astronomically powerful opportunity to reset. Start your day by diving into a cold immersion tank or cold shower and instantly get rid of that sleep inertia you got from hitting the snooze button. Sleep inertia can last up to three hours after the last snooze. However, when you take a cold plunge, you instantly feel a shot of adrenaline that energizes your mind and body into full focus and action. Being comfortable with discomfort optimizes your resilience and prepares you to better handle stressful situations throughout your day.
The first thing Tony Robbins does when he wakes up every day is jump inside a cold body of water to make him feel alive and embodied. Stress, or any high emotional charge, can put you in a mentally frozen state, and ironically enough, a plunge in a cold immersion tank shocks you right out of it. In addition to putting you in control, it boosts your mood with an increase in dopamine. Even neuromodulating norepinephrine is enhanced, further refining your focus, discipline, and motivation. High-functioning people do whatever it takes to get and stay in control of their bodies.
Hormetic stress is a pressure that does not kill you but makes you stronger. A brief sacrifice of your comfort will enhance your immune system in a myriad of ways. Every time you submerge yourself, you improve your circulation, boost your metabolism, and encourage the creation of more adipose tissue (brown fat). It will also lower inflammation and lessen the time it takes to recover from injuries or workouts.
Unfortunately, hot water is known to damage the skin. If we want a better complexion, we can benefit by using cold water, which fortifies and strengthens the skin. It improves mitochondrial function and ATP (adenosine triphosphate), and its anti-aging qualities will make your skin glow. Health is beauty, and beauty is health, after all.
The cold immersion tank is one of the quickest biohacking tools out there, and all you have to do is take a few deep breaths and courageously slip in. A timer and your escalating discomfort will prevent you from staying too long. Challenge yourself to do something this difficult, and find the power inside that you never knew you had. Watch as every area of your life flows more effortlessly and your productivity takes you to new heights. Don’t let the days and years pass by with nothing to show for them. See what it feels like to feel fully alive, embodied, and energetic.
