Looking for a one-stop health experience that’s good for your brain, body, and soul? Introducing the ice bath.

Cold immersion as a form of therapy has been around for centuries, but in recent years, it has continued to gain more attention. This is thanks to its numerous health benefits, offering all kinds of positive outcomes for our mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. Ice baths aren’t just the domain of professional athletes – for almost all of us, ice baths can be an incredibly beneficial health practice.

However, it may not be the best idea to simply jump straight in for your first plunge without a little preparation. With that in mind, here’s three tips to help you get the best out of your next cold immersion experience.

What are the benefits of ice baths?

Before we look at how you can best prepare for your next ice bath, understanding the many benefits cold immersion can offer is a great way to mentally set yourself up for success. The potential health benefits of ice baths include:

• The stimulation of weight loss. Exposure to cold results in the production of more energy, helping to speed up your metabolism and lead to potential weight loss results.
• Support for muscle recovery. As ice baths can help to reduce inflammation, they can act as both a preventative and supportive measure if you’re left sore after an intense workout session. This is one of the reasons many professional athletes incorporate ice baths into their training routines.
• Improvements to mental health. For those struggling with depression or anxiety, ice baths can help to release endorphins that improve your mood and increase your sense of mental wellbeing.
• Benefits to your immune system. With scientific research on ice baths showing that immune systems and overall health outcomes can be improved through regular cold immersion, this is one simple way to support the ongoing healthy functioning of your immune system.

How to prepare for an ice bath

Ready to take the plunge? Here are our tips on how to prepare for an ice bath.

1.      Take time to acclimatise yourself

ReGen Wellness’s cedar ice bath plunges to temperatures as low as 0°C. If you’ve never had an ice bath before, you can start to mentally prepare yourself by experimenting with cold showers at home.

Once you’ve finished showering as usual, spend the last few minutes in a shower that’s as cold as you can stand. By doing this you can build up your tolerance, preparing yourself for a full ice bath experience.

2.      Focus on your breathing

You can give your mind and body crucial support for your ice bath session by focusing on your breathing patterns. Work on taking deep, consistent breaths. You may even choose to do three rounds of 30 deep breaths followed by a hold, which is a great way to relax before the bath and practise controlling your rhythm for when you take the plunge.

3.      Bring a friend

Need some moral support for your ice bath session? Bringing a friend can make this ReGenerating experience even more enjoyable! At ReGen Wellness, our cold plunge with a friend session allows you and one other guest to plunge together in our state-of-the-art ice bath system.

Conclusion

Ice baths may seem intimidating, but you’ll likely be happily surprised by just how refreshing this experience is. For a cold immersion session that offers benefits to your mental, physical, and emotional health, ReGen Wellness’ state-of-the-art facilities are the perfect place to take the plunge.

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