The Importance of Breathing

One of the more life-altering measures I have made in recent years is regularly attending contrast therapy.  Contrast therapy involves alternating between the very hot (a sauna) and the very cold (a cold plunge).  Initially I did contract as a way to recover from working out but quickly found the mental benefits to be the strongest aspect of contrast therapy.

When you are in sauna heated to more than 210 degrees, or a cold plunge set 45 degrees or lower, things become uncomfortable rather quickly.  This is where breathing comes in.  You are there in the hot or cold and at some point the discomfort is real.  The same stresses your body undergoes during this time is similar to how the body feels during other stressful situations be it work or family or whatever.  Focusing on your breath to diminish your stress level is such a powerful tool.

You’re not in danger in the sauna and cold plunge (as long as you stick to protocol).  You are in discomfort.  Same thing goes for workplace stressors.  I am now better equipped to deal with the invariable spikes of stress in my job because i have been training to deal with the physical response my body has to stress in rather extreme environments. Like anything else with practice comes progress.