I'm still a couple of months away from starting my program but when I do I think I might try an experiment based on the following article which I found at:
"Hot and cold Showers or Hydrotherapy is a good way of improving your circulation. It is something you can do every day, concentrating on the effected area. When you get hot under a shower the blood rushes to the skin and feeds it. Then when you immediately put on the cold, the blood rushes to the internal organs. You shiver, but what is happening is that your blood is flushing out your skin and leaving it oxygenated. Then, again, a hot shower and the blood rushes from your internal organs, so flushing them, to your skin.
Your circulation is increased just by the action of your blood being forced rapidly around your body. This hot and then cold water can be repeated up to 5 or 6 times for optimum results. Do not start straight away on very hot or very cold water. Gradually increase the temperature difference between the hot and cold water over a period of a few weeks so that it is not too much of a shock to the system. This single action can dramatically improve your circulation over time.
You can also do this to a single body part. You don't just have to do this to the whole body. Use it to improve poor leg circulation or bad hand circulation etc. Try it. It really can make a difference over time."
There's nothing to lose with this, it's free! I suppose the same results can be acheived by rotating the use of a heating pad and ice packs before or after massaging? Any thoughts on this? Moon?
Exelent info, I herd of this before, but it never crossed my mind to use it in NBE. I knew that this method provides a good blood supply when you do it, but I didn't know that it can improve circulation over time, but it sounds logical. Thanx for posting it!
Excellent post! I live in a cold climate, and we have many "polar bear clubs". It's common in cold climates actually. People will take a sauna or hot swim or bath, and then run outside for a cool dip in the snow or even the icy waters. People do it to kick the circulation into high gear, and for higher tolerance and longer tolerance to colder, more extreme conditions. I haven't worked up to that level just yet, but I have sat in the hot tub outside (water is about 105 degrees F), and the outdoor temps are close to zero. You feel completely rejuvinated afterwards. Any other polar bears out there? ;)
