Four years ago I went on a Wellness Retreat. Some of my colleagues laughed at me once I had returned and discussed some of the activities I had paid a lot of money for. During the retreat, I ate much smaller meals than usual. I woke up earlier than usual to do yoga, followed by a tiny breakfast and then hours of hiking. Another activity was fasting for 36 hours, 24 hours of which were spent in total silence. The activities were interesting to try but I have not continued with most of them. I also learned about thermotherapy, with exposure to heat in the form of a 90-degree Celsius sauna followed by ice baths. The cold water exposure is something I have continued to this day.

I shower as usual using warm-hot water. At the end of each shower, I turn the water temperature to total cold. This feels awful for the first 10 seconds and my mammalian dive reflex is triggered, with much deeper breathing. During the winter months the water is extra cold. The next 10 seconds are less unpleasant. By the time I have reached 30 seconds, I can tolerate it, and my hands and feet have become cold at which point I turn the water off. As soon as the water stops a warm feeling surges through my body and I sure do feel alive.

The cold showers are my daily dose of suffering and I feel they have built up my resilience over the years. I will continue BBRRRRRRR.