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« on: January 05, 2013, 03:50:05 am »
Suiren - I find adding cold water to warm bath water to be the most unpleasant experience. A shower is easier and more safe than CT in a bath. After your next warm shower (best after exercise and high fat meal, so your body feels warmer) gather your convictions and turn the water all the way to cold, and get out of the stream, quickly. Next, tell yourself you are just going to put on foot in the cold shower. Promise yourself only that. If the water is cold enough it will numb your skin, which is good because after it will be quite tolerable. Then, you can either go up your leg a bit or to other foot. You're a strong mother Suiren, I have complete faith in your ability to get all of the way in. Decide in small steps. First, lower body, then hands. Then, I cup my hands and cool/freeze my face. Then, arms, and just as I approach shoulders I go under at my core. I'll be honest, that step is really hard, but once your skin is numb you're much more comfortable. It is even fun to realize you've done it, your victorious. I do what Whim Hoff says. As soon as my body is under and cool, and my breathing is calm (always breathe through your nose, it keeps you much warmer), I feel for my inner fire. Its deep in your core, chest, belly, or womb. Mine moves but it is remarkably warm, a fire in contrast to the cold all around me and I experience the truth, the well spring of my vitality. Like, the core of the earth in winter, I too am ablaze with life.
I always move, although Whim and Jack both say it is easier to be still. That has never been true for me. I weave and turn in the bath and shower.
Your skin should get red, never white, shivering is fine, but not necessary, my head and back are the hardest part. I still get head aches every time I do, and I can only tolerate 10 secs.
I like to linger at my thyroid and get it really icy.
If you don't have a shower. Exercise to get warm and then turn on the faucet and get in when there is only a puddle in the tub. get you feet, to your knees then hands face and arms, then sit down and splash the cold water around you to evenly distribute the cold. Then, relax if you can, it's a hard place to start. I would set a timer and get out no matter what after 2-3min max.
When your all done, you may want to get warm. I have never had a man to warm me and i don't mean to get in your business, but your husband seems supportive of your health. Maybe he could be waiting with a big towel, or warm covers.
Later, in you're training you may like to stay in the cold air naked, I go in my bed room which is 55degs C and I fold clothes or dance while I air dry and smother oils. You learn to love the cold, not for a while though.
I still love the warm and today after CT I snuggled in my bath robe by the wood stove, enjoying my tea. Every day is different there is no wrong way. All CT is good CT.