Some Like It HOT! But You Should Like it COLD!

I went to the Sundara (Sanskrit word meaning beautiful) Spa recently. There was a bathing ritual that required you to take a warm with a special scrub, mist yourself with essential oils before entering the steam room, take a cool shower, dip into a cold tub and finally get into the hot tub. Then continue to alternate between the cold tub of water and hot tub.

The warming part of the ritual sounded great to me, but the cold part, not so much. I’m anemic and despise being cold. Even though I’ve read much research that says alternating hot and cold showers is a form of hydrotherapy beneficial for:
• Better Circulation
• Boosting your immune system
• Helping to remove toxins and wastes
• Stimulating your digestive system
• Keeps skin and hair healthy
• Increases fertility
• Increases energy and well-being

History
The science and art of hydrotherapy is one of the most ancient forms of self rejuvenation used by man is. It was used in Ayurveda and by yoga practitioners, by the ancient Greeks and Romans as well as the Turks and Japanese. It became popular in 19th century Europe for those in search of a ‘nature cure’. People would flock to numerous spas and mineral baths to walk barefoot in nature and be cured of their ills.

How to
After you have taken your normal shower, change the setting to cool. Various cycles can be used, always ending with a cold cycle. Follow the example below:
• 3 minutes hot, 1 minute cold
• 2 minutes hot, 1 minute cold
• 1 minute hot, 1 minute cold

Why Hot and Cold Therapy Works
Applying the warm water first opens the blood vessels, as the outside temperature gets hot; the flow of circulation goes outward toward the skin. Cold is shocking to the body, and it is easier to endure a cold shower after warming up the body with hot water. When exposed to cold, the blood vessels will constrict, the flow of circulation is directed inward toward the internal organs.

Alternating hot and cold makes the circulation move in and out like an accordion. This has the effect of unblocking stuck flows, increasing the rate of detoxification and moving nutrients more readily to various parts of the body.
You can use hot and cold showers to motivate you in the morning or, ironically, use it at the end of the night to get an unusually restful night's sleep.

When your circulation is poor, all organs suffer. However, our skin depends on circulation, and it suffers the most when poor circulation occurs. Consequentially, the lungs and kidneys lose an assistant and have to work harder. Take care of your circulation and your skin with hot and cold showers because it is easy, simple, and costs nothing.

CAUTION:
Contrast showers are not for everyone! Not sure if a contrast shower is right for you? Be sure to check with your medical doctor first! Liv your truth!