The Benefits of Cold Water Therapy: More than Just a Trend

Josh enjoying cold water therapy after his recent victorious Muay Thai fight.

Have you ever wondered if those ice baths everyone seems to be raving about are worth the hype? I used to think they were just another passing fad, but recently, I took the plunge into the world of cold water therapy, and the results have been surprising. In this blog post, I want to share with you some key reasons why cold water therapy can be beneficial, drawing from my personal experience and journey into this practice.

A Familiar but Neglected Tradition

I must admit that I hesitated before jumping on the cold water therapy bandwagon, partly because it seemed like every fitness influencer on Instagram was doing it. At our place, we prefer to do things differently and stand apart from the crowds. However, I've been off and on with CWT for well over a decade. Matter of fact, we once ran a weekend meditation retreat at The Farm in Brentwood with a mentor of mine who is a Buddhist priest. Over a 48 hour period we would complete a round of cold water immersion followed by 2 hours of seated meditation in the height of winter. The effect that the cold immersion had upon concentration levels during the meditation sittings was phenomenal.

This practice is far from new; it has been a well-known hack for thousands of years.

A Surprising Discovery in Thailand

During my intense Muay Thai training in Thailand earlier this year, I realised that my usual joint pain, which often keeps me awake at night after training in the UK, had disappeared. Whether it was the warmer climate or the quality of food, I couldn't say for sure. But one thing I did consistently was plunge into the cool morning sea for 10 minutes after each training session. Besides soothing my muscles and joints, it had a profound effect on calming my mind and helping me back into a parasympathetic state so I was straight into recovery mode, rather than spending the day wired & tired.

The Return to England

Returning to England, I yearned for that feeling, so I returned to a regime of cold showers every morning. Whilst these did the trick for a while, I soon found they lost their effect, so I invested in a portable ice bath. I began this daily ritual each morning and discovered surprising benefits.

The Main Benefit: Starting the Day with Resilience

The primary benefit I've gained from cold water therapy is starting the day with something challenging. There are mornings when I'd rather not do it, or I feel a little nervous. But learning to hit the "f**k it" switch and just go for it is a valuable skill. No matter how confident you think you are, there's always room for improvement in this department.

Each morning I accomplish the seemingly simple task of immersing myself in that tub, I set myself up for success that day. Why? Because I consciously choose to do the hard thing. The ripple effect of this mindset shift cannot be overstated.

Join Me on This Journey

As winter approaches, I plan to continue my cold water therapy routine and see how it benefits me during the colder months. If you're interested in joining me on this challenge, I've got a discount code for you. You can get 25% off at www.nurecover.com by clicking on the link below and using the code GARRY76632 at checkout.

In conclusion, cold water therapy is more than just a passing trend; it's a practice with proven benefits that can help you start your day with resilience and set the tone for success. Give it a try, and who knows, you might discover a newfound sense of mental and physical strength.

Stay tuned for more updates on my cold water therapy journey, and if you decide to take on the challenge, I'd love to hear about your experiences. Let's embrace the cold together!