BARAKA BASHMENT

The quote goes something more like “Man’s first acheivement of the day” but A. I don’t use the term “man” as a designation for all genders. And B. I consider any action that is a deliberate attempt to reengage the body/mind etc. as a rebellious act. As far as the cold shower goes, there are many ways to do this. Kundalini Yoga as per the SSS suggests a more or less specific way as well. This is the way I do it.

PRECAUTIONS: Consult the doc and all that. Always take cold showers in a warm bathroom. Never exit the cold water into a cold room. Be smart, not a martyr.

First: Turn on only the hot water so as to make sure it’s up to speed
This serves two puposes. 1. It allows me to regulate the temperature more easily. 2. If I need to bale, I’ve got a quick out.

Second: Hang towel against the hot water pipe so as to warm it up while I’m showering
Cold showers are not masochisms. They serve a physiological purpose, so there’s no need to punish myself. That warm towel feels good after ANY type of shower!

Third: When water is hot turn it way down and add the cold making the water a “cold-chilly” temperature
Yogi Bhajan is an extreme teacher in many ways. Very much an “Oh the water in your town is freezing? You’re lucky!” sort of teacher. I myself am much more “Do what works for you, but let’s not lie to ourselves” in my approach to this. My belief is that if the water isn’t cold enough you just end up shivering since the blood isn’t rushing to your skin cooling you off. However, if the water is icy (which it is in Brooklyn this time of year) my heart feels like it’s going to stop and it’s just painful. So I make sure the water’s right in that cold, but not icy spot.

Fourth: Put one leg in. Chant “Wahe Guru” over and over again as I place my other leg under the water followed by the rest of my body.
“Wahe Guru” is kind of the Sikh form of God is Great! No two things are the same, so I’ll leave it at that. Chanting Allah is also recommended, however I have stuck with Wahe Guru. I liek to follow a system for a little while until I get the ego-bugs out. As far as the parts are concerned, the belly and back are the hardest to love in cold water. With time these dips get a little easier though.

Fifth: Suds up! And keep the water cold
As I shower in this chilly blue, my body temperature seems to rise. Not sure if this is possible, but there is definitely a sensation of heating from the inside. This is a sensation that many people report. It has something to do with the blood rushing to the skin. So as this happens I continue to turn down any last remaining hot water and up the cold, making sure the physiological effects of cold showering maintain.

Sixth: Turn off the water when done and reap the benefits!
The pleasure begins immediately after the water is turned off and the warm towel hits the body. Muhammad is said to have commented that part of the beauty of the fast is in the breaking of it. This is also true of the cold shower. While there is no doubt a pleasure in feeling your body heat up in cold water, there is an even more exhilerating sensation when your body leaves the water and enters the air temperature with all that blood flowing. So far (and I have been doing this style of showering on and off for only a month or so) I have had experiences of euphoria for up to an hour after showering. This is followed by a nice calm and clear-headedness throughout the day.

BENES LISTED FROM THIS SITE

*Brings blood to the capillaries, therefore increasing circulation throughout the body.

*Cleans the circulatory system.

*Reduces blood pressure on internal organs.

*Provides flushing for the organs and provides a new supply of blood.

*Strengthens the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.

*Contracts the muscles to eliminate toxins and poisonous wastes.

*Strengthens the mucous membranes, which help resist hay fever, allergies, colds, coughs.

Many health problems are reduced or even eliminated over time by providing proper circulation of the blood to the affected area using the cold shower massage.

“Ishnan” is the term used in the old days when people in India referred to cold showers (very cold showers). “Ishnan” is the point at which the body, by its own virtue, creates the temperature that it can beat off the coldness of the water. This happens when the capillaries open with the onset of the cold water. They close again during the course of the cold shower and it is at that point that all the blood rushes back to flush the organs and the glands. This process allows the glands to renew their secretions and “youth” (i.e. young glands) again returns to the body. “