Early Retirement Extreme Forums

I really enjoyed this Art of Manliness podcast with Scott Carney the author of What Doesn't Kill Us.
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2017/02/0 ... -exposure/

I hate cold water unless I have been in the sauna first.

My superpower is hatred of cold water. I would prefer to stink than take a cold shower. I really don't care what anyone else does. I like hot showers and grateful daily to live in a time and place where it is affordable.

I listened to the podcast and have just finished reading his book. Well worth a read.

Like Laura I had a hatred of cold showers for a long time. I live in a warm climate now and have managed to at least do cold showers in summer/autumn(fall).

After reading the book I am interested to see how far I can push into winter with cold showers now.

JasonR wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:37 pm

Ego wrote:Also for the physiological benefits.

Can I just use the sauna instead? And not both. Moderation in all things.

Ego wrote:Maybe as practice for dealing with the really hard things in life that you cannot change.

Perhaps. Does it work? But should I be gambling to reach nirvana? Or cold showering? Can't I just do it on my own, internally? Then again, I don't want to be a robot. I like railing against things. Maybe I don't get Zen?

What piques my interest is when Zen practicers look externally for validation? Am I changing within correctly?

I used to go camping in the wilderness in the spring and fall; I avoided summer because of the mosquitoes. One of my favorite things to do was to jump into an ice cold river in the morning in the deepest and calmest spot I could find. It made me feel like every cell was alive. It removed every vestige of grogginess and soreness.

Oddly a cold shower isn't quite the same experience. Total immersion is lot more intense and revitalizing. A shower is more of a annoying tickle of cold.

JasonR wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:37 pm

I guess my issue with "The Zen of X" is that anything can be X.

For real! Where is the thread "The Zen of a Nice Hot Shower" or of saunas or hot springs or hot tubs?

I could see the "super power" being useful if you have to heat your water like @halfmoon or go swimming/dipping in nature.

For about a year (or two) I would always end my hot showers with a minute or 2 of ice cold water. For a shorter period I also tried going full cold shower but I preferred the shock-effect of cold water After the hot water.

Two problems:
1) I shower in the evening. The effect of the cold water (together with the coffee of the day) would sometimes keep me from falling asleep.
2) I would get sick more often

On the flipside it did help to have more energy during the day and to feel more resilient psychologically.

I stopped taking cold showers for the mentioned reasons.