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Cold training it the middle of Summer? Yes, you read that correctly.

While most people are thinking about getting a tan or counting the days back to normalcy, a hardy few utilize the ancient method of cold training to invigorate the body, mind, and spirit.

The idea of using cold temperatures to improve health is nothing new. Taken in the form of showers, baths, or just plain standing or sitting in freezing temperatures has been around since the beginning of recorded history.

In ancient times, it was said that the Spartans, the warrior society that we all know and love in movies, would take cold baths because it was simply more beneficial than a hot one. It was also probably much easier to arrange at the time as well.

During the first century, the Finns would use the heat of the sauna then go cold swimming, which was called avantouinti, a practice that is popular in Scandinavian countries to this day.

In fact, there are probably few people that haven’t heard of a polar bear swim — usually some sadistic person’s idea and a way to raise a few dollars for a local charity.

But what exactly is cold training, and why on Earth would anyone ever want to do such a thing? Cold training is the practice of exposing one’s self to temperatures, sometimes well below freezing, with the notion that there is physical and psychological benefit. This is also something that, like exercise, should be practiced and trained regularly so that adaptation can occur.

Since ancient times, many cultures have included some form of cold training or therapy into their health regimes as a way of staving off or curing illnesses. This included some Native American tribes who, like the Finns, would sweat it out in a lodge then jump in a cold pond or lake. Russians and other cold-weather cultures would also bathe in frigid streams or lakes for a dropkick to their immune system and to build energy. In both ancient and modern times, practitioners of Shinto, a religion originating in Japan, would bath in almost freezing waterfalls as a way of cleansing their spirits. This practice is known as Misogi.

In the early 1800s, German farmer, Vincenz Priessnitz, created what is widely considered the beginning of modern hydrotherapy. In addition to cold water therapy, Priessnitz, stressed the use of vegetarian food, clean air, rest, and exercise to help cure common ailments of the time. In fact, his hydrotherapeutic techniques were so well known that his death was a news topic as far away as New Zealand, and he could count European royalty among his many clients over the course of his career.

Where does science come in? A 2009 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that cold water therapy might activate the body’s brown fat, which is important in metabolism and regulating body weight. The study found that a cold shower a day actually improved weight loss by up to 9 pounds per year. Not a “ton,” pun intended, but since no diet or exercise was involved, I’d take the win.

In more recent times, Dutchman, Wim Hof, also known as the Iceman, has been gaining notoriety. First inspired by religion and mysticism after the suicide of his wife, Hof searched out ways that he might help treat things such as depression. After decades of exploration, he stumbled upon what is now known as the Wim Hof Method, whereby the combination of breathing techniques and cold bathing have allowed Hof and countless others to withstand extreme cold for prolonged periods of time. Hof believes that, through his method, virtually anyone can reduce stress, improve concentration and energy, and build a stronger immune system. Such training has also allowed Hof to set many cold-related records such as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts, standing covered with ice cubes for 112 minutes, and running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle without shoes.

Proponents of cold therapy, particularly cold showers, believe that it improves circulation, can keep hair and skin healthy, strengthens the immune system, increases energy, and may even help alleviate depression and improve fertility.

While there is some scientific evidence to support certain claims, don’t throw away your water heater just yet. Like anything else, you should always research a topic before “diving in,” pun also intended. Also, check with your health care team to see if cold therapy is a good idea, as it may adversely affect people with certain health conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

There are many methods of cold training for those healthy enough to undertake such a regimen. The most basic method would be to start off your normal daily shower with hot water then gradually turn it to cold, starting with your feet and legs, then gradually cooling higher parts of your body until, over time, you are able to completely immerse yourself in cold water for extended periods of time.

For more information on developing a fitness program or if you are interested in online personal training, feel free to email me at dave.bellomo@gmail.com.