Cold Shower VS Ice Bath: Which one is better? #AskWim

Summary

The video script delves into the profound relationship between cold exposure, mindset, and breathing. It emphasizes that cold acts as a teacher, triggering chemical changes within the body through deep breathing, which is a conscious act. The speaker suggests that embracing cold consciously allows individuals to tap into the deepest parts of their brain, fostering a sense of control and mastery over their mind. Various methods of cold exposure, such as ice baths, cold showers, and cryotherapy, are discussed, with the advice to choose what feels best for personal physiology. The concept of adaptation to cold is explained as the optimal stimulation of the vascular system, which can be achieved in about two minutes. The speaker also touches on the idea of not forcing oneself beyond comfort levels and the importance of training the mind over the body. Alternating between cold and heat is briefly mentioned, but the focus is on the mental exercise gained from direct cold exposure. The summary concludes with an encouragement to explore cold exposure as a means to enhance control over one's physiological systems and a call for ongoing inquiry and sharing of experiences.

Takeaways

• 🧊 Cold exposure is deeply connected to mindset and breathing, serving as a teacher for both.
• 🌬️ Deep breathing alters the body's chemistry, which is triggered by the cold environment.
• 🧠 The cold acts as a mirror, showing us the way to the depths of our brain and enhancing our control over our mind.
• 💪 You become the master of your mind when you consciously engage with the cold, tapping into your brain stem.
• 🏊‍♂️ Different methods of cold exposure (ice baths, cold showers, cryo chambers, natural bodies of water) offer various experiences; choose what feels best for you.
• 🔍 Finding the right cold exposure method is a personal journey that involves understanding your physiology and what works best for your body.
• 🕰️ Adaptation to cold is marked by the optimal stimulation of your vascular system, which takes about two minutes.
• 🧘 Staying longer in the cold is more about mental training than physical adaptation; it's essential to listen to your body and not force the experience.
• 🔄 Alternating between cold and heat can be beneficial, but for mental training, direct cold exposure without heat is more effective.
• 🚫 Avoid forcing yourself into cold exposure as it can lead to harm rather than development.
• 🧘‍♀️ The ultimate goal is to exercise the mind and achieve a state where you can consciously influence your body's response to the cold.

Q & A

How does cold exposure relate to mindset and breathing?

Cold exposure relates to mindset and breathing as it triggers a stress response that engages deep breathing, which in turn changes the body's chemistry. This process allows individuals to tap into their brain stem consciously and enhances their ability to control their mind and body.

What is the significance of deep breathing when exposed to cold?

Deep breathing is significant during cold exposure as it helps to change the body's chemistry, which is crucial for adapting to the cold. It also aids in activating and optimizing the vascular system, leading to a less stressed heart and improved overall vascular health.

How does the cold act as a teacher for our mindset and breathing?

The cold acts as a teacher by providing a stressful environment that one consciously enters. This situation forces the mindset to work and learn to adapt, leading to a deeper understanding of how to control one's mind and body in response to the cold.

What is the best method for cold exposure: ice bath, natural body of water, cold shower, or cryo chamber?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best method for cold exposure is the one that feels best for the individual. It's important to try different methods and find the one that allows for the deepest physiological and psychological engagement.

What does adaptation to cold mean in terms of our vascular system?

Adaptation to cold means the optimal stimulation of the vascular system, which includes training the heart and making the entire vascular system more efficient and less stressed. This is achieved when the muscular tone is relaxed during cold exposure, typically within about two minutes.

What is the recommended duration for cold exposure to achieve vascular tone optimization?

The recommended duration for cold exposure to optimize vascular tone is approximately two minutes. After this time, the vascular system is considered optimized, and any additional time spent in the cold is more focused on mental training.

Should one force themselves to stay longer in the cold if they feel adapted?

No, it is not recommended to force oneself to stay longer in the cold. Forcing does not lead to good development or training; instead, it can lead to destruction and harm. It's important to listen to one's body and mind, and to train without force.

How does alternating between cold and heat affect the vascular system?

Alternating between cold and heat passively opens and closes or constricts the veins and capillaries. While this can be good training, it does not provide the same level of mind control over the vascular system as cold exposure alone does.

What is the primary benefit of directly exposing oneself to cold without prior heat?

Directly exposing oneself to cold without prior heat allows for a more focused exercise of the mind. It trains the mind to consciously create a connection with the depth of the brain, leading to a sense of control over various bodily systems, including the hormonal, vascular, and lymphatic systems.

What is the speaker's recommendation for those interested in exploring the effects of cold exposure?

The speaker encourages individuals to 'chill out' the right way by going into the cold, to keep questioning, and to report back their experiences. They emphasize the importance of understanding the deep mystery of cold exposure and the potential for personal discovery and growth through this practice.

Why is it important to have a good relationship with the cold for cold exposure practices?

Having a good relationship with the cold is important because cold exposure is intended to be a lifelong friend and ally. Understanding and respecting the cold allows individuals to better utilize it as a tool for mental and physical training, leading to a more effective and enjoyable experience.

Outlines

00:00

🧊 The Power of Cold Exposure on Mindset and Breathing

The first paragraph delves into the relationship between cold exposure and its effects on mindset and breathing. The speaker emphasizes the transformative power of deep breathing during cold exposure, explaining that it alters one's chemistry and serves as a teacher for the mind. The cold is portrayed as a stressor that prompts the conscious mind to engage and learn to tap into the deepest parts of the brain. The speaker suggests that mastering this connection allows one to become the master of their mind. Various methods of cold exposure are discussed, including ice baths, natural bodies of water, cold showers, and cryo chambers, with the advice to choose what feels best for the individual. The concept of adaptation to cold is introduced as the optimal stimulation of the vascular system, which in turn trains the heart and reduces stress. The speaker concludes by encouraging a mindful approach to cold exposure without forcing, allowing the mind and body to connect and grow.

05:00

🔥 The Role of Cold Exposure in Vascular Control and Mind Training

The second paragraph focuses on the benefits of cold exposure for controlling the vascular system and training the mind. The speaker advocates for cold exposure as a means to gain better control over one's vascular system, suggesting that alternating between cold and heat is less effective for this purpose. The paragraph explains that consciously choosing to expose oneself to cold and then taking a hot shower afterward enhances the experience and sense of control. The speaker describes the act of going directly into the cold as an exercise for the mind, allowing one to experience water as it is and gain power over various bodily systems. The paragraph concludes with an invitation for continued questioning and exploration of the mysteries of cold exposure, highlighting the depth of the subject and the potential for collective discovery.

Keywords

💡Cold Exposure

Cold exposure refers to the practice of deliberately subjecting oneself to cold temperatures, often for health or therapeutic purposes. In the video, it is portrayed as a method to train both the mind and body, with the cold acting as a teacher that triggers physiological and psychological changes. The speaker emphasizes that cold exposure can be achieved through various methods such as ice baths, cold showers, or cryotherapy chambers, and it is a personal journey that requires finding what works best for the individual.

💡Deep Breathing

Deep breathing is a technique where one inhales and exhales slowly and deeply, often used to promote relaxation and reduce stress. The video script suggests that deep breathing is a key component of the cold exposure experience, as it changes the body's chemistry and helps one to adapt to the cold environment. It is also linked to the ability to tap into the deepest parts of the brain and is used as a tool for mastering the mind.

💡Mindset

Mindset refers to the established set of attitudes held by an individual. In the context of the video, mindset is crucial for engaging with cold exposure effectively. The speaker talks about how the mindset prepares the individual for the cold, allowing them to consciously control their physiological responses. It is depicted as a trainable aspect that can be developed through the practice of cold exposure.

💡Breathing

Breathing is the process of taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide, which is essential for life. The script highlights the importance of breathing in the context of cold exposure, indicating that it is not just a physiological function but also a means of controlling the body's reaction to cold. The speaker suggests that conscious control over breathing is a significant part of the practice.

💡Stressful Environment

A stressful environment is one that causes physical or psychological stress. The video script describes cold as a stressful environment that, when entered consciously, can be used to train the mindset and breathing. It is a controlled way to expose oneself to stress, which can lead to adaptation and growth.

💡Brain Stem

The brain stem is the part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord and is responsible for many basic bodily functions. The video suggests that cold exposure can help an individual tap into the deepest parts of the brain, including the brain stem, which is associated with the autonomic functions of the body. This connection is part of the process of mastering the mind and body through cold exposure.

💡Adaptation

Adaptation in the context of the video refers to the body's process of adjusting to the cold, optimizing the vascular system, and reducing stress on the heart. It is described as the optimal stimulation of the vascular system, which occurs when one's muscular tone is relaxed in the cold. The speaker mentions that this adaptation is achieved after about two minutes of cold exposure.

💡Vascular System

The vascular system is the network of blood vessels that circulate blood throughout the body. The video emphasizes that cold exposure is a form of training for the vascular system, leading to its optimization and activation. The speaker discusses how the cold can train the heart and vascular system to function more efficiently.

💡Physiology

Physiology is the study of the functions and mechanisms that work to maintain life in living organisms. In the video, the speaker talks about getting into the 'deepest part of your physiology' through cold exposure, which implies understanding and controlling the body's responses at a fundamental level. It is about using the cold to train and understand the body's systems.

💡Cryo Chamber

A cryo chamber, also known as a cryotherapy chamber, is a device that uses extremely cold temperatures (often接近 absolute zero) for short periods to provide therapeutic benefits. The video mentions cryo chambers as one of the methods for cold exposure, suggesting that they can be an effective way to experience the benefits of the cold on the body and mind.

💡Hormonal System

The hormonal system refers to the body's endocrine system, which produces and secretes hormones that regulate many functions, including growth, metabolism, and mood. The video script implies that through mastering the mind and the cold exposure, one can gain power over various systems in the body, including the hormonal system.

Highlights

Cold exposure can be a powerful tool for improving mindset and breathing.

Deep breathing changes the body's chemistry, which is triggered by cold.

Cold acts as a teacher, providing a stressful environment to consciously work on mindset.

Learning to tap into the deepest parts of the brain through cold exposure.

Cold exposure can help you become the master of your mind.

Choosing the best method of cold exposure depends on personal preference and physiology.

Adaptation to cold involves optimal stimulation of the vascular system and training the heart.

Optimized vascular tone can be achieved in about 2 minutes of cold exposure.

Staying in the cold longer is more about training the mind rather than the body.

Forced cold exposure can lead to destruction rather than development.

Alternating between cold and heat passively opens and closes veins and capillaries.

Direct cold exposure allows for better control and training of the vascular system.

Cold exposure trains the mind and body, influencing the hormonal, vascular, and lymphatic systems.

Experiencing water as it is during cold exposure shows you are in control of your body.

The mystery of cold exposure is very deep and there is much more to discover.

Chill out the right way by consciously going into the cold and questioning the experience.

Transcripts

Hi, guys. The ice is broken.

This is a Q&A on the cold exposure series.

If you have a question, I got the answer. Here it comes.

How does the cold relate to the mindset and to the breathing? I don't know...

Yeah, I do know.

I tell you, man, that's a big story.

I could write a book just on the breathing,

because what are you doing when you go into the cold?

Yeah, that's what you do.

That is because deep breathing changes the chemistry and the cold triggers

the chemistry to be changed. How?

Deep breathing. And the cold is our teacher.

Because it is a stressful environment that you get into, consciously.

Your mindset is going to work. It knows...

'Oh, look, we are going to go into cold, and it's cold and...'

And you learn how to tap in there consciously. At that moment,

into the deepest of your brain.

And this is the way to get into your mindsetting,

into your brain stem, which is the deepest of our brain.

And when you learn that fact, using the cold as a beautiful teacher,

as a beautiful mirror, showing you merciless

but righteous, the way to go into the depths of your brain.

Then where else can you not go

voluntarily inside your own brain?

You are the master of your mind.

The cold will teach you mindset and breathing.

You are the alchemist.

What is the best?

An ice bath compared to natural body of water

or a cold shower or a cryo chamber?

Don't compare. Just do feels best for you.

Because in the end, the cold exposure is your friend.

It's your friend for life.

Better get the right relationship.

Try out a natural body of a cold water, cryo chamber if you want.

Ice water, in a chest freezer and a cold shower.

And see what you feel, where you really get into your deepest of your physiology.

It's up to you. And so it's worth the investment to find out

where you are able to get the best result.

It always depends on your...

on the difference of physiology.

You know, you got a different body than mine.

But in the end, you want to get into the deepest part

of your physiology, both of the mind and body, through the cold.

That's where we meet. How?

Through the cold shower, through the cryo chamber, through the ice

water of the chest freezer or a natural body of water.

It doesn't matter.

Get to the place where you influence

directly into your mind and your body for the deepest.

And when is it when you feel adapted to the cold?

And when is it enough?

What is adaptation all about?

Adaptation is the optimal stimulation of your vascular system.

And with that, you train your heart.

It becomes much less stressed

because our whole vascular system; The 120.000 kilometers.

Seventy thousand miles.

It's activated, optimized.

It's done when your muscular tone is relaxed while being in the cold.

It takes about two minutes.

When you have done the two minutes, it's there.

You have optimized your vascular tone.

Your condition is perfect.

The way nature meant it to be.

If you want to go longer, that is more the mind.

You want to stay there because you want to train the mind.

Hey, that's OK. But don't force.

Know what you're doing. Don't force.

forcing, doesn't bring good.

Forcing doesn't bring development.

Forcing brings destruction.

Don't do it. No forcing.

You will feel what you are capable of and your mind and body connects you.

It's amazing how you can train your mind by going in

and ordering your body by your mind consciously.

'I want to stay three minutes more'

and what it does.

Without force. Feel powerful.

Have a great time.

Should you alternate between cold and heat?

Or do the cold alone or a heat alone?

Alternating is opening and closing or constricting the veins

and the capillaries, but passively.

Now, if you want to learn to have a better control over the vascular system,

which is done by

going into the cold.

Then just do cold exposure.

And later, when you've got it all done.

You take the hot shower and enjoy it

massively more, because then you decide.

You've been deciding to go into the cold

and suddenly the vascular system is listening to you.

You are exercising the vascular system at that moment.

You are the boss.

You are the observer.

Not passively undergoing; 'And now heat' 'And

now cold.' And then the heat gets in...

the charge of the heat gets in.

And that is being washed away by the cold...

It's still good training.

But the best training is the training of the mind.

That you go with your mindset, set to go in.

And then take the cold and then consciously

create this connection with the depth of your brain.

Be there, and be OK there,

instead of being cold, you experience water as it is.

It's water. Why?

Because you consciously changed your body and you are on top of it.

When you go directly into the cold without having the heat,

than you are exercising your brain,

your mind, into the depths of your brain. It's amazing.

So good luck with any of those.

Alternating? Fine.

But if you really want an exercise of the mind, you go directly into the cold

and learn to take it on until it becomes water,

because then you are into power over your hormonal system,

your vascular system, your lymphatic system. Any system.

The cold trains us. Amazing.

Hey, guys, thank you very much for your questions.

It enlightens a lot of mysteries and confusion about how to deal with the cold.

I would say 'chill out', chill out the right way, going into the cold.

Keep on a questioning and report back.

I want to know your questions because we've got to find out so much more.

The mystery of going into the cold is really very, very, very, very deep.

And together, we will find out.

Amazing. Thank you.