Ancient Instincts – Cold Exposure

The veracity of climate change’s existential crises can certainly be debated, though many are unaware of a true crisis affecting us all called climate control. From the contemporary convenience of comfort, our bodies have long forgotten the mechanisms that have served our hominid ancestors under a long history of cold shaded past moons. Our adoption of Patagonia puff jackets, and air conditioning has rendered our internal climate control mechanisms atrophied and less adaptable.

However, we can re-attenuate these autonomic instincts; reconditioning the mind and body through a hormetic nod to the harsher environments of the past. Through programed exposure to cold, we can use this ancient climate tech to embrace and remember past mechanisms evolved from acute exposure and become the resilient and productive beast we all are deep within.

Cold Exposure Benefits:

• The vascular system is similar to a muscle. By stressing it through adversity, it adapts and becomes stronger and efficient. This is important as the vascular system transports fuel, waste, immune cells, and heat throughout the body.
• Heart rate decreases 15-30 beats per minute.
• Increased vascular tone: body is able to better adapt to changing climate conditions: less susceptibility to feeling cold (adaptation).
• Increased blood flow = better nutrient exchange to tissues; muscles and brain = optimal performance.
• Deeper blood flow into areas of the brain (remembering our past); accessing the limbic system and areas associated with pain relief (periaqueductal gray hemisphere).
• Increases energy, immunity and overall performance.
• Relieves stress: by experiencing stress in small adaptable packets we are able to immunize against it.
• Cold awakens are ancient ability to adapt; to exercise control over the mind and inner power: is a meditation.

Cold Showers

1. Benefits start at 60 degree (my shower indexed at 59 degrees).
2. Two minutes of cold water at the end of warm shower is enough to stimulate adaptation.

Ice Bath / Cold Plunge

1. Seek cold exposure with a friend (safety & misery loves company).
2. Prior to cold immersion, complete 2 rounds of basic breath work (Wim Hoff breath protocol).
3. Transition to taking deep calm breaths as entering and experiencing the water.
4. Stay frosty for 2-3 minutes.
5. Warm up after by assuming the horse stance.

Hoff, Wim. (2020). The Wim Hoff Method. Activating Your Full Human Potential. Sounds True, Inc.