Get high on your own supply
Who in their right mind would choose to pay to sit in a tub filled with ice and water?
Did I mention that you have to do this in front of an audience of strangers?
Is anyone keen for what may be perceived by some as torture?
Me. That's who and the fourteen others who joined me for a day of mindful breathing, movement, the ice bath and most importantly, a mindset shift.
Russ greeted us at the Jersey National Park Frances Le Sueur Centre, and after introductions, he explained to us the benefits of conscious breathing and cold water therapy. He spoke about how it helps when dealing with stress, anxiety, fear, depression, recovery, focus, determination and more. We are constantly breathing, but not consciously; we rarely bring awareness to the breath, taking us out of shallow breathing and into engaging our whole body if it hasn't been brought to our attention. Russ learned the technique from Wim Hof himself and became a facilitator to teach others this method. You can see and feel how passionate he is about it.
We were asked to take a deep breath in and then do as many pushups as possible before breathing out. We then learned the Wim Hof breathing technique and did the same exercise again - doubling our first count of pushups - This was enough to pique everyone's interest - proof that there was something in this.
We were guided to breathe in through the nose, feeling the belly and chest rise and out through the mouth. We followed this cycle and held our breath when instructed; many saw colours and shapes in this meditative state
We connected with our animalistic selves, letting go of the fear of being judged (I don't want to give it all away, you'll have to go and check it out for yourself), and then we de-robed ready for the ice bath.
It was cold outside, and there were only two tubs, so whilst people immersed themselves in water, everyone else danced around to get the blood pumping to keep warm. I couldn't help but think what a funny site it would be for any dog walkers passing by!
Getting into the ice was mind over matter. You have to breathe and push through the natural reaction to get out and warm up. You stayed in for two minutes, bizarrely, the longer I stayed in, the warmer I felt, and I even managed a smile!
Afterwards, we weren't allowed to put our clothes on too quickly; we had to take time to warm up naturally, jumping around—freezing and wet. It felt exhilarating, calming, painful and satisfying all at once—a real natural high.
We were encouraged to breathe daily using the technique and have a freezing cold shower every day, slowly increasing the time in the shower. A Whatsapp group was set up by Russ for accountability and to answer any questions we may have post-session. I continued the breathwork and showers and felt terrific as a result. More energised, better sleep and increased focus.
If you are thinking about doing this, stop thinking and do it. Russ is a fantastic instructor and will guide you safely every step of the way. You can find out more information on his Facebook page @evolvedhumanjsy