?? beginners question on the cold shower ??

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

 

I am just a beginner, gradually incorperating Kundalini yoga into my

daily routine. It has been slow (a couple months) but steady.

 

I do not have a teacher/master, as I just do not have the money. I

have been learning from books, DVDs, and by reading the messages

posted here.

 

I know I have a lot more to learn - and I have many questions...some

will sound pretty lame, but I have always felt the only stupid question

is one that goes unasked!

 

I have a few question on the cold showers...

 

1. I don't care for showers of any type. Can I produce the same

benefits by sitting in cold bath water and briskly bathe?

 

2. How cold does cold mean? Room temperature? 65 degrees? 40

degrees? (I ask because in order NOT to wake up young children at 4am,

I have been running cool bath water, letting it sit over night, and

then jumping in the tub in the morning. The water is usually anywhere

between 70-55 degrees).

 

3. Do I have to get my head/hair wet?

 

4. Do I have to do the cold water therapy first thing in the morning,

or could I wait and do it after I sweat from yoga exersises?

 

5. I live in a cold wintertime climate, and during the winter, inside

the home is around 60-65 degrees. Will this indoor temperature

interfere with the cold water therapy in the mornings? I mean, will I

be ill-affecting my health because I will be too cold?

 

Thanking you all in advance for insights!

 

Sage

[Guest guest]

Dear Sage,

To help answer your questions about cold showers, I thought I would

share this beautiful instruction of Guru Ram Das, who was Yogi

Bhajan's Guru:

 

" One who calls himself a disciple of the True Guru, should rise in

the early morning hours and meditate on the Lord's Name. He should

rise and bathe, cleansing himself in a tank of nectar. Following the

Instructions of the Guru, he should recite the Lord's Name and then

all misdeeds and negativity shall be erased. Then, at the rising of

the sun, he should sing hymns of the Lord's praise; whether sitting

or standing, he should meditate on the Lord's Name. One who meditates

on the Lord with every breath throughout the day becomes pleasing to

the Lord. "

 

Keep in mind, when this instruction was first given in India, most

people bathed in the river or pools, so bathing should be splendid!

At the Golden Temple in India, people bathe in the nectar tank of

water surrounding the Golden Temple in Amritsar. As to the

temperature, I recall Yogi Bhajan saying that the natural temperature

of the cold water wherever you are is the right temperature. It is

not required to put your head and hair in the cold water, but Yogi

Bhajan did say that the face is important. He said it was very

beneficial to let the water run on the face and especially on the

mouth and lips area. You should be able to cup the cold water in your

hands to put on your face. If your indoor temperature is too cold,

you may want to employ some type of heating in the room where you

bathe. I personally use a small heater in the room during our coldest

Espanola winter mornings! While in the water, massage your whole body

the whole time. Also massage yourself before getting into the water,

ideally with almond oil. The most important thing about cold showers

is to shock your nervous system with the cold water, which is

wonderfully stimulating to the circulation, it flushes the

capilaries, stimulates the nerves, the glands, your skin, and your

whole being. And you can do this in your bath!

 

You can breathe any way you like, perhaps try the breath of fire or

you can chant your favorite mantras.

 

Sat Nam,

 

Gurumeet Kaur Khalsa

Create Inner Peace

www.createinnerpeace.com

 

 

Kundalini-Yoga , " Sage Thomas " <sage.moons

wrote:

 

Hello everyone,

 

.... I have a few question on the cold showers...

 

Thanking you all in advance for insights!

 

Sage