LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Cold Showers/Hydrotherapy/Ishnaan I thought I'd post this here as it is the closest match but a 'health and wellness' forum would be a better fit.
Since Dec of 2009 I have been practicing the daily morning ritual of taking a cold shower and I have not had a flu, sore throat or cold ever since.
It is called 'ishnaan' and involves showering in cold water to open the capillaries and remove toxins from the body. In addition, I practice kundalini yoga and became a vegetarian(while adhering to trophology and sequential diet as much as possible) in May of 2010. My kundalini practice started in Sept of 2009 but I only really started following it regularly toward the mid to end of 2010.
A meat eating and non yoga or kundalini yoga practicing friend decided to take cold showers for a few months and contracted a cold after 4 or 5 months. One noticeable change were the pimples he developed soon after starting, a clear(no pun intended) sign of the detox process. He became discouraged after getting sick and no longer practices(I believe).
I mention this because I know it works for me but there may be other factors that contribute to these common illnesses that cold showers can't avert or he didn't follow the step by step instructions I outlined for him, and I wasn't about to follow him into the bathroom each time to verify!
When we sleep at night, the blood pools in the internal organs and becomes stagnant. By law of nature, in defense to the cold water, the body reacts and shoots blood to the extremities, opening up the capillaries, re-oxygenating the blood and flushing toxins from the system. The blood once re-oxygenated, returns to the organs and rejuvenates them.
There are steps to follow to ensure optimal results.
Have your movement first and clear all phlegm from the throat and nose. Elimination is very important for overall health.
Stand outside the jet of water but ensure full cold water applied, no hot or warm. Start with the lower legs, front and back(avoid having the cold water hit the thighs as it can disrupt the delicate calcium magnesium balance). Then do the arms. Then turn and back into the stream of water and allow the cold water to run down your back, massaging the arms simultaneously. Exit and re-enter facing the water and allow it to run down your chin over your chest and continue to massage. Allow the water to run over your underarms and eyes but never let the cold water hit the top of your head. You can wet your hands and apply it on your head but not directly from the shower jet.
Apply breath of fire throughout. It is a breath of purification and promotes circulation. Do not do breath of fire on your monthly cycle or take a cold shower if you have eaten.
Breath of fire is a compression and expansion in equal parts of the upper diaphragm where you pull it in on the exhale in an upward 'J' motion and inhale on the recovery. Quick, rapid movements but go for the quality first over quantity.
Shower for 4-5 minutes than apply warm water to lather. I always finish with a short blast of cold.(You can wear a towel to protect the thighs but I just lean forward torso first to prevent the cold water from hitting my thighs). You can also apply almond oil before entering. The oil helps pull toxins to the surface. I don't use it that much anymore because the tub is left with a residue.
My friends, I see people all too often suffering from common illnesses that can be easily remedied and you don't have to spend $60 at the Scandinavian Spa, you can do it for free in the comfort of your homes!
Enjoy!
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by TheBroken 
