BENEFITS OF COLD PLUNGES & CONTRAST THERAPY
4 things I learned from Contrast Therapy
Last month, I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried contrast therapy—a cycle of cold plunges, hot tubs, and a hot sauna. This experience was part of a female entrepreneur empowerment wellness day led by Michelle Morris, owner of Southern Cadence Cuisine and Well Done Cooking Classes at Loyly Sauna Lounge, a Houston cold plunge spa. As a calmness coach, I've always been passionate about exploring different techniques to help people cultivate inner peace and resilience.
Contrast therapy benefits are many for the body including:
- Boosts Immune System: The repeated temperature shifts can stimulate the immune system, helping the body become more resilient to illness (one of the owners started with this as one form of holistic therapy to help naturally treat their cancer)
- Reduces Inflammation: Helps alleviate pain and swelling by promoting blood flow to injured areas.
- Promotes Weight Loss: May help burn calories and boost metabolism (the owner said we burned about 700 calories just from doing the cycle)
- Detoxification: The heat from the sauna encourages sweating, which helps flush toxins from the body, while the cold plunge can tighten skin and promote lymphatic drainage.
- Improved Sleep: The relaxation effects of contrast therapy can improve sleep quality by calming the nervous system.
- Enhanced Mental Toughness:
The discomfort of cold immersion, combined with mindful breathing, can build mental resilience and help people face challenges with greater confidence.
That last bullet was really key. The experience was physically and mentally challenging, yet deeply transformative. Here’s what it taught me:
- You Can Do Hard Things: The immediate discomfort of plunging into freezing water was intense and a shock to my system at first, but I reminded myself that I could get through it and felt my body stabilize - the most amazing feeling! It’s a powerful reminder that challenges, no matter how tough, are within our ability to overcome.
- Everything Is Temporary: Whether it was the biting cold or the intense heat, I knew each sensation was temporary. No uncomfortable feeling, no situation lasts forever—a lesson we can carry into every aspect of life.
- The Importance of Community: I didn’t go through this experience alone. I had a partner by my side who braved the cold plunge with me, and the staff and organizer offered encouraging words that kept me going. This collective support was a powerful reminder of how community can uplift us during our hardest moments.
- The Power of Breath: In moments of discomfort, breath is the anchor. Before we took our plunge, the staff went through a simple breathing technique to help us throughout the experience. Controlling my breath helped me stay centered and calm, shifting my experience from struggle to peace.
Since I’ve had this experience, life has done what life does, and I really have gone back to these lessons I learned through this experience. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to share my personal journey with you.
This experience reinforced the deep connection between breath, resilience, and community—principles I bring into my guided meditations. I believe that breathwork is an essential tool for cultivating inner peace. My guided meditation recordings incorporate breathwork techniques to help you navigate life's challenges with greater ease.
I invite you to explore my
guided meditation recordings and discover a calmer, more mindful way of being.
To living calm and well,
∞ Keeley Shree
Calmness Coach | Certified: Chair Yoga • Meditation • Feng Shui • Grief Counseling
*Be sure to consult your doctor before trying contrast therapy
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