Can your mind re-shape your ICE-BATH experience?

It’s hard to believe, but I used to be a total freeze baby.

I froze all winter long, and every time I went from warm to cold, I immediately started shivering.

Today I go into an ice bath several times a week (except during my period) and it doesn’t bother me at all. There are a few little tricks that help you escape the icy cold of the water. And what you think in that very moment plays a decisive role. Anyone who is familiar with Wim Hof or yoga (pranayama) knows that breathing plays the most important role in moving energy through the body. And breath also helps to move the energy in the mind and therefore control it.

So my key for every ice bath is my breath and my thoughts, because that’s how I can keep the cold at a distance. I imagine the cold bouncing off my skin and not sinking into my bones. I also imagine that the water is actually hot (hot water also hurts, after all) and that I’m somewhere in the tropics and it’s actually way too hot to go into the water. And I imagine that I am taking the best and most healing bath for my health in this very moment.

Controlling my thoughts together with deep breathing helps me enjoy every ice bath. I get very little goosebumps and I never shiver, which amazes me every single time.

Maybe these tricks will help you try it this winter. Not everyone is suited for it, and not every woman, and not at every time. So listen to your inner voice and your body. That is the most important thing anyway, no matter what others tell you. Because a body under stress and constantly in fight-or-flight mode is not necessarily suited for ice bathing. It only increases your cortisol level even more and makes you feel even more burned out. And in my opinion, women who are on their period shouldn’t go (some still do, so just listen to YOUR INNER VOICE). And people with cardiovascular conditions should absolutely check with their doctor first!

But because ice bathing is so much more than just a test of courage – and because it has a holistic effect on the body, nervous system, and psyche – I want to especially recommend it to you this winter. Ice bathing trains your blood vessels, activates brown adipose tissue, strengthens the immune system, and reduces inflammation. On top of that, it lifts your mood and supports clarity and focus. But the very best part is this: ice baths reduce stress and strengthen your resilience.