Unless you’re a year-round sea swimmer, it’s not so easy to take the leap into cold showering. So, some of us at Baressential tried it out for you first to see if we could find the kindest, easiest way to gain those benefits.

Here are a few things we found out:

1. Starting off, don’t step straight into a cold shower. It’s just too hard. Tried once – never again! Take a normal hot shower first and finish off with an invigorating cold blast. You could also lower the temperature gradually to acclimatise your body, though at some point it’s just easier to take the plunge and be done with it.
2. It’s easier to start with your back to the water before turning to face it.
3. You need to stay under a couple of minutes to get full benefit, but there’s nothing to say you can’t work up to that. Extreme athlete Wim Hof suggests starting with 30 seconds and increasing each day to whatever you can manage. The first time you do it, half a minute will seem like an eternity. But after a few more, you’ll be surprised at how the time will fly.
4. Wash your hair in the hot shower, so you have time to rinse properly. But wait and soap your body in the cold – having something to do makes it easier to stay in longer. Rubbing the arms and legs vigorously is also a distraction. Or, for a less intense experience, leave your hair out of it and just douse your face and body.
5. There’s nothing to say you have to do it in the morning – although if you do it will set you up for the day like nothing else. You can work up a sweat exercising at any time of day and then jump in for a cooling refresh. But it’s not advised in the evening as it’ll stimulate you too much just before bed.
6. A veteran sea swimmer at the Forty Foot bathing area in Dublin once gave me some good advice: go in, come out, and go in again.

The first time your body hits cold water it goes into mild shock, getting all jittery and making you gasp. On returning, though, it knows what to expect and the whole thing becomes much more pleasant. This worked a treat with sea swimming and it works with the shower too. If it’s too much, step aside for a few seconds and then back again. Also, each day you do it, your body will be less surprised and it will become a refreshing pick-me-up you may even look forward to.

7. Remember, you have complete control: you can take it one step at a time. And if you wait till there’s no one else in the house, there’s no one to hear you scream – so go for it!
8. As with vigorous exercise, if you have any health issues, particularly with the heart, check first with your doctor that you’re good to go. And if you’re feeling under the weather, leave it a few days before trying.

GOOD LUCK!

From Kate and the Baressential team.