WANTED: Help with Cold Showers (repost)

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam!

 

I've been doing and teaching Kundalini Yoga and taking cold showers

for a few years now, but the topic of cold showers has always been a

source of great confusion for me.

 

>From everything I've read and heard, the way I've understood taking

the cold showers was as follows (give or take a few steps):

 

* Brush the skin, aiming toward the heart (to generate heat and

exfoliate dead skin cells) before entering the shower.

 

* Massage almond oil into the skin (to further stimulate the skin and

allow for maximum moisture absorption).

 

* Wear underpants or shorts to protect the calcium balance in the

thighs.

 

* Jump into the shower cold——water should never start off warm——to

create the initial flush of blood & oxygen to the skin & organs.

 

* Move in and out of the shower at least 4 or 5 times to allow the

body temperature to adjust.

 

* End the shower by rubbing off briskly with a large towel.

 

* Avoid taking the showers cold during menstruation (or when washing

hair).

 

But here's where I get confused: When does one actually get *clean*

during this process? If oil is put on the skin beforehand, using

soap afterward will only remove it. And rubbing oil on my skin

*before* it's actually cleaned only seems to trap in the dirt from

the day before, making my skin feel more dirty/oily than before the

shower. Also, it's very difficult to wash one's groin——which most

certainly needs a washin'!——with clothes covering it.

 

When I asked these questions of some fellow KY teachers, they

responded in surprise, "You're not supposed to take the cold shower

to actually get clean! A second shower should be taken later in the

day for that purpose. The cold shower is extremely brief and only

for invigorating the body."

 

Well from what I know, it is detrimental to the skin to bathe more

than once a day. (In fact, I've read that one should actually shower

only every *other* day to prevent excessively drying out the skin.)

 

So in order to get my entire body and hair clean, as well as keep my

body hydrated, the way I take cold showers is by soaping up & rinsing

(nude), and then applying almond oil to my skin *after* toweling

off. During the times I wash my hair, I turn the water to warm

temporarily.

 

Is this the wrong way to go about it? Are the cold showers for

stimulation purposes only? Should follow-up "cleansing" showers or

baths be taken during the day?

 

I'd appreciate as much detailed elaboration on this topic as possible

and what steps I may be misunderstanding.

 

Thanks a million!

 

— Mara

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam

There is a great article about cold shower in the last issue of Yoga Journal and

still there are not answeeres to your questions. I was wondering about the same

and also I read before that's is good to rinse your hair with a cold water after

washing them the "old fashion" (to luck the shine in the hair.) And also

curiouse if the cold showerbenefits applyed to men as well.

Thanks to all.

Peace and Love

Nicole.

Mara <velinda wrote: Sat Nam!

 

I've been doing and teaching Kundalini Yoga and taking cold showers

for a few years now, but the topic of cold showers has always been a

source of great confusion for me.

[Guest guest]

Sat nam,

 

I was waiting for the hardliners to respond to your sincere and detailed

questions.

 

The directions that you gave are the specified formula.

 

* Jump into the shower cold--water should never start off warm--to

create the initial flush of blood & oxygen to the skin & organs.

 

But here's where I get confused: When does one actually get *clean*

during this process?

 

As I have mentioned in my posts on the subject which has been going on for a

couple of years, I take a warm shower first and then turn it cold (after

putting on shorts)

 

The guys that actually do the prescribed formula will have to reply to your

questions.

 

body hydrated, the way I take cold showers is by soaping up & rinsing

(nude), and then applying almond oil to my skin *after* toweling off.

During the times I wash my hair, I turn the water to warm temporarily.

 

My formula too.

 

Maybe there is no warm water in India and other places where this formula

originated. Just a thought.

 

I include gratitude for warm water in my ritual. :+)

 

Relax and do what works for you. Sounds like you are and that is great.

 

Sat Nam,

 

Gururattan Kaur