the Cold

[neurohack]

It's been on my mind for a while now to write about this. About deliberately exposing yourself to cold (water/ wind) and becoming adapted to it. Much like the now famous Wim Hof aka the Iceman.

Think I started with this around 2010/211. I was already into yoga and meditation. Things like tumo fascinated me and was looking for a way into this. Then I came across some youtube vids of the Iceman going into cold water and wanted to try this.

First I went straight into the water during late winter/ early spring. It was really horrible at first but each time I did it felt so good afterward.

So started to take cold showers at home, but found it lacking a bit. Like it was too warm still. So tried stuff like bottling water in the fridge and taking it out right before freezing.

Now I make ice every day and give my hands and feet a cold bath. This is very gently, takes a little bit of time and energy, and gives results very quick. I can notice the heat flush in the rest of the body when putting my feet into the water. Making an ice bath is even better but requires a bathtub and lot's of ice.

It seems that the most frigid water temperatures produce the best results. Like when it's really biting, that's when you're getting into the zone.

Thought that Wim Hof said somewhere in one of his vids that 'the cold is a noble force'. And it got me thinking. Like cold is generally defined as lack of energy. But from experience it's more like a force on it's own. When immersing in it, you are really going into this mode of being where it's not lack of energy, but different energy that confronts you. It requires a form of surrender to be in it without going into shock.

When going into this it seems that when you start to get tense and shiver, it's over - try again next time. And the time it takes before this happens becomes longer each time. A tolerance builds up and this is good.

For one thing I am certain it greatly improves circulation in both feet and hand. I found feet to be surprisingly mild compared to the biting experience of putting hands into ice water. Just too bad I don't have a tub so I have to wait a few months until the water outside is cold enough again.

More Cold fanatics out here?

 

[daspaismusflo]

REMOVED Also when you start shivering, jump in to the hot shower and then repeat. I used to love doing this as a kid, running from the hot spa to the cold pool and back again.

It seems the adrenaline takes over the idle state of the brain and does a kind of reset. I always feel better after a SWIM in the ocean, I think it may have magical properties because the difference in my state of mind even after 5-10 minutes is amazing! Buy a skin suit next time and do it for longer, you'll be rewarded for sure.

 

[neurohack]

I think that using DMT will definately bring on the state of mind that can accept a cold enviroment and adapt to it. Never tried it while on DMT itself. Don't know if that's such a good idea. Maybe on mushrooms when feeling comfortable.

Thing is I am starting to understand this is actually good for health, from experience. And I've come across various sources that claim this is actually beneficial for the immune system. Research is being done into this. This whole Iceman thing seemed to sparked it.

I'm really curious about tummo. Never found any good source to learn it from. I mean the thing were someone is not only sitting in ice, but also produces enough heat to melt it. Some kind of meditation combined with breathing techniques.

 

[daspaismusflo]

Any advice to the whimps who 'can't be bothered' to pour freezing cold water on themselves? Including myself :lol:

 

[neurohack]

No advice, just a hint that it may not be as uncomfortable as it seems.

 

[vvnvv]

On Tummo.

I had watched a documentary on Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

and it told of a period in his life where he spent around a decade isolated in a mountain cave, and in the winters practiced Tummo in order to keep warm.

I searched for more articles on this, and I found this one:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v295/n5846/pdf/295234a0.pdf

It's not a free article though so I stopped there.

I don't see why it would not be possible though to hook up a temperature probe to ones self and try out different breathing and visualization practices to see what kind of effect each can have.

For example, in my experiences of pranayama there are times when I could build up to a full body sweat in an otherwise cool room.

 

[SpartanII]

I made a thread on this subject a while back. There's some good stuff in there if you wanted to check it out.

Cold Showers for depression/immunity/addiction? - Help and Advice for Healing - Welcome to the DMT-Nexus

 

[Psilosopher?]

Any advice to the whimps who 'can't be bothered' to pour freezing cold water on themselves? Including myself :lol:

I take cold showers daily. In fact, it's how I amp myself up to exercise. I get excited about taking the cold shower, that I will myself to exercise. Both benefits with none of the laziness.

I don't believe in "wimps". I think they're people that don't know what it's like to take the plunge (or afraid of it). If you have taken psychedelics, a cold shower is nothing in comparison. Think about it that way. I'm a bit different mentally, so I always think "Hot showers are a luxury, and luxury is for the lazy".

It also helps me with my breathing technique. One thing I notice is that people are afraid of turning the tap on for the first time. Some people want to turn it hot, then gradually turn it cold (never turning it cold because it is too comfortable). Some people turn it on cold, and gradually expose their arms and legs one at a time. I don't like either of these methods.

My method works a treat for me. I stand in the shower without turning it on for about a minute. In that minute, I breathe properly (I breathe properly regardless, but that's from practice). I breathe like it's my last breath on earth. 50% physical breathing, 50% mental breathing (if that makes sense, I rarely do). I do full belly breaths. That does not mean frantic hyperventilation. I consider it as controlled hyperventilation. Once the minute is up, I do 10 last breaths, counting each one. On the tenth one, I turn the water on, full blast and the coldest temperature it can go. I let it hit my scalp first, and it flows down my body, invigorating everything it touches. Every time, I am in awe at how stupid I've been all these years with taking hot showers.

I am a guy with really long hair. Every girl I've met raves about how healthy and luscious my hair is and asks for my secrets. There is no secret. Healthy body, healthy mind and cold showers. I'm not one to care about appearances, but it really keeps everything healthy which is all I care about. I doubt this community is that superficial, but that is often a driving force in ordinary people, i.e. "Is it going to make be more attractive?"

Just do it. And you'll thank yourself later. Trust.

EDIT: I forgot to mention. Before you do the cold shower, do a small warmup first (if you didn't exercise beforehand). It gets the blood flowing, and you might not get a severe shock.

 

[Psilosopher?]

On Tummo.


I searched for more articles on this, and I found this one:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v295/n5846/pdf/295234a0.pdf

It's not a free article though so I stopped there.

Here you go.

 

[BongWizard]

Any advice to the whimps who 'can't be bothered' to pour freezing cold water on themselves? Including myself :lol:

The senseation of coldness is all in the mind. Like pain, like stress, like the visions of DMT. Adaptation to cold (like anything) is just the mind becoming accustomed to the stimuli it receives. So, like everything, experience is everything.