8 Reasons Why YOU Should try Cold Plunging

This past weekend a group of us girls went to the Nordic Spa in Kananaskis to celebrate a 40th Birthday, and I kept saying on Repeat how Amazing it was!  If you’ve never been I would highly recommend.

Not only is the Hotel & Surroundings Beautiful in our amazing Canadian Rockies but they Offer their Nordic Spa which is a Hydrotherapy based retreat. 

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is the use of water to treat a disease or to maintain health. It was part of a health movement that led to the development of naturopathic medicine. Hydrotherapy uses various forms of water, such as cold or hot water, ice, or steam.

So basically you take Turns in each Area to get the benefit : Hot > Warm > Cold > Warm > Repeat was their Suggestion.

I feel we all know the reason why saunas have benefits, but with the New to you idea of Cold Plu gong the main question everybody was asking was WHY COLD PLUNGE? 

Here are 8 Reasons why you Should Consider Cold Plunging 

1 : ELEVATED ENERGY

Everybody has their own method for waking up; double shots of espresso, a quick workout, and so on. If you’re looking for a quick start to your morning or an afternoon pick me up, cold plunging might just be the answer. Many people turn to cold plunging when looking for a new way to boost their daily energy!

2 : RECOVERY / PERFORMANCE

Cold plunge benefits extend beyond the mental and chemical aspects of your body too. Sports medicine has utilized cold water therapy for years, to help the active recovery of your muscles.

3 : IMMUNE SUPPORT

Being immersed in cold water stimulates leukocytes, the white blood cells that help fight off sicknesses. It also causes the lymphatic system to contract, forcing fluid through the lymph nodes. This process aids in detoxing the body and strengthening your immune system.

4 : MOMENTUM

Cold plunging has shown the ability increase your baseline dopamine. Dopamine is the molecule in our brain and body that is linked to motivation. According to Dr. Andrew Huberman dopamine can enhance our depth of focus and lower our threshold for taking action towards our specific goals. 

5 : BOOSTED MOOD

Researchers have known for a while that it connects to our daily energy. In particular, there is lots of evidence that hormone inbalance can contribute to depression, meaning that a cold plunge might help to reduce depression and improve overall mood! Don't take our word for it though, just ask anyone who has ever plunged!

6 : PAIN RELIEF

The boost in norepiniphrine you'll get from consistant ice baths has been shown to be up to 5x. This neurotransmitter can dramatically reduce inflmamation and help with chronic pain.

7 : STRESS RELIEF

Cold water therapy has been shown to be an effective supplemental treatment for stress relief by decreasing the stress hormone cortisol. A study found that regular cold showers and ice baths helped reduce anxiety and improve the mood of participants.

8 : BETTER SLEEP

When you dip into the Plunge, your body triggers the autonomic nervous system. This system is a network of vessels and nerves, split into two parts that control your response to stress. When you begin to control your response to stress, you’ll likely find that you begin to control your relaxation and sleep.

After a quick google search I found the Tubs we sat in were 5-10’C so no need to travel enjoy these benefits at home 

If any of these benefits look enticing, but in sure or don’t think you’ll get to a Hydrotherapy Spa anytime Soon?  Don’t fret the average Cold Water Temperature of your Shower Tap will get as low as 15’C which will benefit you still.