It’s never too early or too late to work on anti-aging. Recently, one of my beautiful clients (who is originally from Switzerland) showed me a picture and video of her sister Elsie back in Switzerland.

Does this lovely, vibrant woman look 80??!!! Well, she is. And I’m going to give you some steps you can take to use the principle she uses to increase your own vibrancy and health.

You see, our body is always trying to be comfortable. You know this if you’ve ever started an exercise program. The body protests!! But if you push a little more each day, you can actually broaden that comfort range and expand your physical abilities. Much of good health has to do with how flexible your body can be, which allows you to better adapt to the stresses we face every day. Exercise is one way to increase that flexibility. Pushing your temperature tolerance is another, which is what our lovely Swiss woman does. Check this out, then I will tell you what you can do to accomplish this on a gradient that works for you:

For many years, Elsie has been taking a nearly daily swim in the frigid mountain lake where she lives. It’s very common in Europe to combine sauna treatments and cold water plunges. I’ve written about sauna therapy’s dramatic effects on reducing mortality from ANY cause. If you missed it, the study showed a 24 percent lower risk of death from any cause for those who sauna bathed 2-3 times a week and a whopping 40 percent lower risk for those who sauna bathed 4-7 times a week. Incredible! The studies on cold therapy are more difficult to find. A search showed me many articles that warned about deaths, but a closer investigation showed that this has to do with drowning when you fall into icy waters and are overwhelmed. That’s definitely not what we’re talking about here! You might have heard of Wim Hof, a Dutchman who is also known as “The Ice Man”, who uses a special breathing technique to be able to plunge into an ice bath for extraordinary lengths of time. This is also not what I’m talking about here! I did find a good article that listed a few smaller studies that proved that cold exposure helps your mitochondria (your cell’s energy production engines). This helps every organ and system in your body work better. If you’re interested, you can check it out here.

Of course, we do not have Elsie’s type of lake available in Georgia, but we can still gain the benefits of cold therapy. You wouldn’t start from no cold exposure to jumping into an icy lake, anyway. As with exercise, you build up to it, and if you have a heart condition or other condition that makes you question it, check with your medical doctor. Anyone should be able to do my first suggestion below. Here are your options:

Start in your shower. At the end, turn down the temperature just past your comfort level and stay in it for a minute or two. Challenge yourself to lower the temp further, as you get used to it, and see how far you can go! Remember, your body will protest, so you have to show it who’s boss. 😊

Many health clubs and spas offer a cold plunge pool, and this would be the next gradient to try. JeJu Spa, a traditional Korean bathhouse, is one option. It’s a fun day trip if you’ve never tried it out.

After seeing Elsie’s picture and video, I decided to start back with cryotherapy, which I love!! This is more extreme- you are in a temperature of -160 degrees for 2 to 3 minutes. There are additional options for people who want it even colder! I’ve only had 3 sessions and already feel positive changes in my body. I go to Leg Up Recovery in Alpharetta, because it’s close to me. You can do an internet search under “cryotherapy” to find a location close to you. Whatever level you feel up to, give it a try! It’s great for inflammation and stimulating metabolism and mitochondrial function.

Have a chill day!

Disclaimer:
This should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: We are not medical doctors and nothing in this newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Discuss all medical issues with your own MD.