I’m big on self-care that we can do ourselves, easily, at home, on the cheap. Contrast showers may just be my all-time favourite self-care tip. The benefits are many; the time and tool commitments are small.  As long as you have access to a shower and hot and cold water, you can do this. You don’t even have to add much time to your regular daily shower to get the health promoting, body awakening benefits of this simple hydrotherapy technique.

As we move into the colder seasons, using cold water to boost your immune system may seem counterintuitive. In fact, this technique is ideal to use when we’re feeling vulnerable to illness. The increased flow and clearance actually enhances immune function. The key is to make sure that you dress warmly enough with weather-appropriate clothing when you’re finished your shower.

Hype your Day with a Contrast Shower

Healing power of water + Science of temperature control 

Benefits

Boost immune function, promote circulation lymphatic drainage, ease inflammation

Bonus: It's totally invigorating!

Step 1: Take a hot shower

Get nice and warm with hot water and shower as usual

Hot water encourages the blood vessels to open up

We may turn red when we're hot because blood is rushing to the surface to be cooled off

Step 2: Blast the cold!

Run the water as cold as you can handle for at least 1 minute.

Blood vessels will tighten up, blood flows to our core

By alternating hot & cold, we boost the body's natural pumping mechanism that clears waste products from tired tissues and brings fresh flow to nourish and heal

Step 3: Repeat

2 min hot, 1 min cold
Repeat the cycle 3-4x for maximum benefit

Even 1 cycle will benefit the body by encouraging the pumping action of the vessels, so if this is all you can handle then great job for giving it a go!

Pro tip: Always end on cold!

If you struggle to get through the cold, singing, dancing, screaming and cursing are acceptable complements to the technique. Whatever it takes to get through that cold shot!