In our last blog posts, we explored positive stress from several angles and discussed Thich Nhat Hanh's half-smile.

The recurring theme being the quest for inner peace, I decided to continue this exploration here through the subject of cold and our body's reactions.

The Cold Shower Experience

I first became interested in the subject thanks to a study which showed that, in a large group, people who took the longest showers had a direct correlation with more emotional disturbances.

But why is this relevant?

My brain immediately made the connection: Are those who take shorter showers happier? The study conducted by John Bargh at Yale took this line of thought even further by establishing a direct link between social isolation, average shower temperature, and shower duration.

This led me to ask another question: what if this shower was cold and short?

Knowing that I consider any statistic to be biased once interpreted, I had to test it for myself.

The present moment and repetition

The challenge was simple: don't spend more than 10 minutes in the shower and finish with increasingly cold water, fighting the urge to get out as the water became uncomfortable.

As you can imagine, the first time is a real shock. The body, unaccustomed to this concept, reacts in surprising ways: rapid breathing, tingling, chills...

But the next day, the exercise becomes easier. The initial stress transforms into eustress (positive stress), and the challenge gradually seems less difficult.

This illustrates the resilience of our habits and our minds, but also the body's incredible ability to adapt when the mind decides so. Little by little, over the following days, the cold water becomes strangely pleasant. It seems less cold, and even invigorating. The body gets used to it and begins to reap its benefits.

Instead of just exposing your back and neck for a few seconds, you feel able to stay submerged under the icy water for longer.

The benefits

Numerous studies demonstrate the positive effects of cold water:

• Reduced stress levels for 12 hours
• Improved blood circulation
• Reduction of inflammation
• Regulation of sebum production (beneficial for acne, among other things)

On the hair

Cold water helps smooth the hair cuticle, which is the outer protective layer of scales. Cold water causes these scales to tighten, making the hair's surface smoother and shinier. Conversely, hot water opens the cuticle, causing moisture loss and making hair more prone to frizz and damage. Therefore, rinsing with cold water helps strengthen and beautify hair.

On the skin

The effect is similar: cold water causes vasoconstriction, followed by vasodilation, which helps deliver oxygenated blood to the extremities of the skin.

Finding balance through experience

How can this type of experience bring personal balance?

The first key point is becoming aware of our habits. But beyond simple observation, it's about learning to listen to our body's real needs.

At first, it seems insane, even uncomfortable. Then you realize it's not so difficult after all, and it even feels good. To achieve this level of acceptance, repetition is essential, as is listening to yourself, just like in meditation.

But the real key is feeling in the present moment.

After several months of applying this method, some days it is important to accept not to follow it, not to force yourself, and to allow yourself a 20-minute boiling shower.

The challenge is to learn to recognize one's inner state through one's habits. But also to question what we consider "normal," simply because it's the simplest answer.

This reminds me of an essential concept developed by Alan Watts: that of letting go. Detaching ourselves from our rigid thoughts, the control we seek to exert over everything, and our attachments. Accepting reality as it is, which, paradoxically, gives us greater control over our own path.

Reinterpreting Success and Uncertainty

Another fundamental aspect is to go beyond the conventional notion of success. It is no longer a vertical progression, where a specific result is sought, but a horizontal approach, where the experience itself is more valuable than the final objective.

Finally, this experience invites us to redefine our relationship with the unknown. Rather than fighting the unpredictable, we can embrace it with curiosity and openness.

Balance through experimentation

Our bodies are fascinating machines. Whether you're an Iron Man fanatic or simply a gym and spa enthusiast, getting off the beaten track allows you to push yourself, whether it's taking a new route for a walk or doing an exercise differently.

Rather than setting a rigid goal, we can approach each experience as a grain of sand in an endless desert. Find comfort in discomfort. Accept repetition, but see it as a challenge. Embrace uncertainty. Give ourselves the chance to be more resilient.

The essence of this experience lies not in the cold water itself, but in what it represents: our ability to redefine our limits, to deconstruct our beliefs about comfort and difficulty. Willingly confronting discomfort, even in a small way, allows us to refine our perception of the world and ourselves.

The Wim Hof ​​buzz

Through his method of breathing and exposure to cold, he follows this same line: observe rather than react, welcome rather than fight.

It's not so much a question of discipline as of curiosity: what if what we consider unpleasant was just a lack of habit?

What if, instead of avoiding these moments, we transformed them into tools for growth?

Effects of Cold Exposure on the Brain

• Activation of the sympathetic nervous system → Increases adrenaline and noradrenaline, boosts alertness and energy.
• Increase in noradrenaline (x2 to x5) → Reduces anxiety and improves mood.
• Dopamine release (+250%) → Natural antidepressant effect, boosts motivation and well-being.
• Stimulation of TRPM8 receptors → Regulates pain and adaptation to cold.
• Increased BDNF → Promotes neuroplasticity, improves memory and learning.
• Cortisol Regulation → Reduces long-term chronic stress.
• Production of endorphins → Feeling of well-being and relaxation after exposure to cold.

Short but controlled stress thus strengthens mental resilience and emotional balance . Caution: If you plan to practice, do it step by step and with particular attention to breathing and physical/mental state during the effort.

After all, balance is not found in the suppression of discomfort, but in our ability to welcome it and dance the tango of ups and downs.

Yogic discipline does not aim for absolute mastery of the body, but rather for the harmonization of effort and surrender. Perhaps, then, the true lesson of cold water is the same as that of the mat: to fully accept what is, and in this acceptance, to discover an unsuspected form of freedom.