Taking a Dip in Cold Water Is a Good Idea.
Most people avoid immersion in very cold water because it is not good and people like to feel good. It’s frustrating, but encouraging and gives the added bonus of being hyper-aware of your breathing, circulatory system, and any other parts of your body that normally function involuntarily. And when the light torture is over, you feel damn good.
On my last day in Copenhagen, my travel partners dumped me and left me on my own – a risky move for everyone. I had heard of “winter bathing” – the practice of alternating between hot saunas and nearly ice-cold seawater – and while technically it wasn’t winter, it wasn’t full spring and I wanted to take the plunge to talk.
Access to both the ocean and the sauna can be a little tricky for a tourist (most spas require a membership), but one of the cute guys on the crew recommended La Bachina , a small winery that sells natural wines. it just happened to be right on the water and had a charming little spa.
The day was not cold, but not warm either. I sat in the sauna, enjoying the view, until I blushed deeply, then nervously waited to the pier. No one else jumped, so I asked a small group of chic women if winter swimming was really “real”. “Oh yes,” replied the eerily self-confident woman. “It’s very Nordic.”
I jumped because I never learned to dive, and the reader was cold. It was so cold that I forgot if I had to take a moment to remember that yes, I took swimming lessons as a child and would not drown. It was so cold that I had to focus every part of my brain to calm down and remember those lessons so that I could (although I did not possess any grace) paddle the dog up the stairs, which was about a yard away from me, a stream gushed profanity. from my mouth.
When I got out, I felt sharp and alert, but strangely relaxed, like what one would expect after attempting an assassination attempt on my life. My mild headache (hangover) was gone and I felt completely healthy. (I think; I’m not very familiar with this feeling.) I repeated the process twice and then ruined my newfound sense of health by getting drunk with the Scotsman I found in the sauna.
Anyway. If your gym has a sauna, you can alternate between sauna and shower for a similar effect. It’s also worth googling a bit to see if you have a Scandinavian-style spa (like Loyly here in Portland), a Korean spa, or asteamy steam room . You can also incorporate this hot and cold routine into your morning routine as a very effective and life-affirming way to wake up. I start by turning on the shower as hot as possible so that the bathroom is nice and steamy. Then I turn off the water, stay a little in warm steam, then turn on the cold. It’s a little aggressive, but I only leave it on long enough to wet my hair and then return the water to normal shower temperature. In fact, I just did it this morning and got out of the shower so awake that I forgot to brew the coffee before 10:45 am. I won’t say it erased my slight hangover from too many welcome home martinis, but I was able to have breakfast, which is rarely the morning after too much martinis.