A modern convenience, a luxury we have these days is hot water. This hot water comes out little spouts for us to use in cleaning, cooking, really cruel practical jokes, or whatever else comes to mind. Since this is obviously something that primitive people in the past didn't have access to, we should use it for bathing (or showers) because it's superior, right? After all, the heat kills bad germs, or something like that, right? Oh, and it feels good. It's sooo much easier than taking a cold shower or bath. And cold showers make you sick, right? And aren't good for you? And hot showers are better?
That is about as much reason for hot showers as I've ever heard from anyone. The people who still take warm/hot showers and refuse to take cold ones don't know the real benefits.
Did you know that many of those "primitive" people, like the Romans who have made roads, aqueducts and cities lasting thousands of years with precision that would challenge us to this day, continued to use cold water for bathing even when they had access to steaming hot water?
Or that Native Americans, after sitting in a steaming tent, would immediately jump in a cold lake?
The Aztecs (might have been the Mayans... or Incas) also used cold water after taking a steamy hot steam shower.
Before the big pharmaceutical companies came into play, doctors would recommend COLD baths to fix a whole host of problems.
And to this day, those who are serious about health still take cold showers.
Personally I take only cold showers now. I start the water warm and get my body cleaned, then immediately turn it to cold (as cold as it will go) and let it run over me. Most times I even sit down with my eyes closed and take it for several minutes, breathing steadily, feeling the energy surge through my body.
I don't get this with warm showers. There are many reasons for that.
When that cold water hits your body, the heart begins pumping warm blood everywhere. It speeds up everything about you. The cold bite fights against your mind and your will power. You are forced to either fight it and continue, or give in and take a warm shower just as most people would. When the water is properly cold, it can be hard. But so rewarding.
It is said that a cold shower raises testosterone levels, while a warm shower lowers them. I don't care for the science behind it, I just know that this seems to hold true. Testosterone is the man hormone, and taking luxuriously warm showers sure isn't very manly compared to cold ones. Ask most any tough guy to start taking cold showers from here on out, chances are he'll refuse. I've done this many times, so far not one has been willing to take the challenge.
But you should. Try it once. Turn the water to cold, all the way, and don't jump out. Wait until your body enjoys it. Sit down and let it pour over you like a waterfall. When your heart is pumping so much blood that the water begins to feel warm, you may step out. Chances are when you step out, you will feel as though you can take on the world. A warm shower will never give you this feeling. A testosterone building, will power challenging, heart racing cold shower like this will.
If you're anything like me, you will long for that feeling again and next time sit in the water longer. You'll be wanting a cold shower, even if it hurts at first. You will come to love the challenge. You become excited when the water is freezing cold, and disappointed when it is only luke warm at most. While others are complaining about running out of warm water for showers or baths, you'll laugh and jump right in.
Did I mention that taking cold showers also helps your body adjust to the cold much better? I have a hard time in cold weather, but when I take cold showers regularly, I can handle it as well as those who love the cold.
Something else I have discovered from cold showers is how well they help the body recover. Whether it's muscle soreness from working out or being sick from making a few bad food choices, cold showers either solve or at least help solve the issue. A cold ice bath does wonders for recovery, and bragging rights.
The temporary cold also helps strengthens the hair and skin. While most guys don't worry about having smooth skin and hair, those are signs of health. And it is perfectly acceptable to have smooth yet hard body. Afterall, don't we say we want our bodies carved in granite? Those statues are smooth yet hard. And the cold water will help keep everything it touches healthy (as a side note, healthy skin from cold showers also means less acne).
I've also mentioned it speeds up the heart, gets it pumping. It jump starts the whole body. If you were tired before the shower, you will be bounding with energy afterward. There is no way this can be unhealthy. This energy also strengthens the immune system in the process.
And one of my favorite things about cold showers is bragging rights. Most people have trouble even believing me when I tell them I take cold showers, or that I recommend them for so many problems. Having trouble with the cold? Take cold showers. Tired? Take a cold shower. Sick? Take a cold shower.
It may seem "primitive" and hard, but it works. And besides... who else is willing to try? Stand out from the crowd.
Take a shower.
A COLD shower.
Timothy is the author of Spartan-Living. More of his work is available here: http://spartanlivingblog.com. Providing quality counselling articles, hynotherapy writings and other mind help resources online, hypnotherapist, counsellor and life coach in London.
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