Ice Bathing for Strength and Stress Relief: The Science Behind This Unconventional Morning Routine

Tan, a 32-year-old health coach from Singapore, begins his day with an invigorating ice bath to build strength and endurance. As he submerges himself in the frigid water for 25 minutes, he feels needles piercing his skin, causing a sharp, numbing pain. To overcome this initial sensation, he uses breathing techniques to gradually adjust to the cold. Afterward, he emerges refreshed and energized, ready to conquer the day ahead. Tan believes that facing the most challenging things first makes the rest of the day more manageable.

On the other hand, Thanh Hang, a 31-year-old real estate consultant from Hanoi, also takes ice baths in the morning to relieve stress and increase excitement. Driven by work pressure and suggested by her friends as a method to reduce stress, she slowly adapts to the cold water temperature by starting from her feet and gradually covering her entire body. Using breathing techniques such as inhaling for seven seconds, holding for two seconds, and exhaling for seven seconds, Hang can endure the challenge for the full 25 minutes. She finds that by overcoming the initial cold feeling, her body becomes alert and energized.

Ice bathing has gained popularity as a way to relieve stress and improve mood. Wim Hof, known as the Ice Man, believes in cold exposure’s benefits along with proper breathing and mindset for overall health improvement. Starting your day with a 30-second cold shower can stimulate blood circulation, boost immunity function and elevate mood levels. Regular ice baths can develop mental fortitude and improve endurance while reducing inflammation in muscles and joints. However, it carries risks if not done correctly or if certain groups have weakened immunity or underlying health conditions are present.

Incorporating gentle habits while bathing such as using a soft loofah to increase lymphatic activity or massaging your scalp to stimulate collagen production can enhance overall benefits further.

For beginners who want to incorporate this practice into their routine should do so gradually by starting with shorter sessions or warm showers before transitioning into colder ones gently.

By focusing on breathing techniques and starting slow while taking care of one’s health status while doing ice bathing can maximize its benefits while minimizing potential risks