We have just gone through a deep freeze here in southern Ontario with a low Sunday of -26C.  What a time to step outside of my comfort zone and choose to incorporate cold showers into my morning routine!

It all started last March when I was reminded by a wise naturopathic doctor how healthy it is to finish a hot shower with a few minutes in a cold splash! Finishing a shower with a cold blast is also great for rinsing your hair after washing it. I began to do this regularly for quite some time and then somehow dropped the practice.

Fast forward to this month as I embarked on a 2 month personal program with Chris Wyllie; a neuroplastician, brain and mastery specialist.  One of the many protocols I am incorporating is, you guessed it, bringing back the cold shower for increased clarity first thing in the morning. After my shower, I go outside to do a standing meditation looking towards the sun and then enjoy a lovely walk around our property. While I have not graduated to heading outside barefoot yet, my inner warrior isn’t quite ready for that with the blanket of white outside, I must say it is a highly energizing way to begin the day.

I love how life interjects messages to us at just the right time. Last week on my first day of this practice, I received an e-mail from a Kundalini yoga group I follow and was pleasantly surprised that one of the topics of the day was the importance of a cold shower!  Here is the gist of the blog (you can find the whole article here):

“There’s nothing that gives me clarity like a cold shower and helps me face my day – it’s soooo much better than coffee and its side effects are spectacular.    Taking a cold shower makes all of your blood rush inward to your organs, flushing out toxins and sending fresh blood through them.  It greatly enhances your circulation, charges your energy, activates your digestive system, circulatory system, lymphatic system and nervous system.

Yogi Bhajan taught that yogis should start every day with a cold shower.  Before entering the shower, you should use a sponge or body brush to exfoliate the skin.  Then, rub almond oil over the entire body.  He suggested wearing shorts / underwear in the cold shower to protect the thigh bone’s calcium-magnesium balance.  You should stay in the cold water for a minimum of 3 minutes, and you should be moving the entire time, using your feet to massage your thighs and calves, and using your hands to massage your arms, back, chest, stomach, shoulders and face.”

You may be like my family wondering why I am trying some of these new practices, especially during the winter.  It is because I believe in constant learning and growth.  You know the saying that life begins at the edge of your comfort zone?  Life is a compilation of choices, and while I may not stick with everything I try, that’s okay.  I tend to hold onto the learning that enhances my life and makes me feel more alive, vibrant and happy. So far, it feels pretty amazing!

Thanks for following me on my journey. What practices have you found to bring you clarity and energy?  I would love to hear from you.  You can connect with me by email or telephone, or click the contact tab at the bottom of the screen if you are reading this post on the website. Don’t forget to join in the conversation on Facebook too!

To our health and well-being!
Karen