I have always been fond of Frosty the Snowman, “the jolly, happy soul.”
Yesterday, I plunked into an ice bath and channeled that innate cheeriness as I turned into a human Popsicle.
Why the self-torture? Was I getting into the holiday season? Missing my Canadian roots? Reminding myself of Decembers past? No, no, and no!
It was in the name of health. The benefits of ice baths have been touted for years, including the stimulation of the central nervous system. My MS has been persnickety for months so when my neighbors invited me to try their new inflatable ice bath, I jumped at the chance.
I’ve done cold dips before, so I remembered the mental game of telling yourself “yes, yes, yes” when your body is screaming “What....??? Noooooooo! Get me out, you crazy cow!” Deep breaths help quiet the negative noise.
My friends commented that I looked like I was enjoying myself. Maybe I’m a magician, because that was an illusion.
After three minutes, I swaddled myself in a towel and went home to put on some cozy fleece. I felt an inner calm, less brain fog and slept like the dead last night.
A cold shower this morning kept the forward momentum. While not a cure, maybe some short-term pain will bring some longer-term gain? We’ll see, but in the meantime, if you hear me talking about a “Lindsay on the rocks” you’ll know it’s not some new cocktail.
Wait a second, here's a thought, that might be an excellent way to warm up…
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