How do You Cryotherapy?

The mid-winter slow down and freezing inspires me to share a little of how I’ve been embracing the cold as a regular practice. 

How do you cryotherapy? And equally important, why do you cryotherapy?

I breathe and remind myself of all the difficult moments I’ve lived through; not to retraumatize, but to remind myself that I have known discomfort and in this moment, “I’m ok.” I recall not just physical pain, like that of birthing my child, but especially the emotional pain that brought the tears, the times when I could only be curled up crying, the actual heart aching pain of losing someone, or betrayal…the actual pain of those very difficult moments… and yet, I made it through. So this next round in the cold, is another invitation to grow into a new edge. 

That moment we ask ourselves: “Why tf am I doing this?” 

Leaning into our edges of discomfort builds resilience. Discomfort brought on by whatever situation each of us may find ourselves in: an uncomfortable conversation…overwhelm, or staying in a cold bath. If we remain in the discomfort with curiosity and choose to explore it, regardless of the circumstance, each situation requires us to breathe deeper, and step a little further past the previous edge that was once comfortable. 

Choosing to remain in the discomfort is a practice like any other. In meditation, we release the mind so our curiosity can explore. Let’s perhaps bring this practice into tough moments as well. 

I know we all are walking our own journeys and we each are in a different moment of our edges. Often I observe people leaving the sauna or steam room, just when it’s really getting going… when the intensity is building. Or those who splash into and out of the cold plunge – with the cold barely able to penetrate their skin, and sending shockwaves to the body, rather than a possibility of flushing the circulatory system of what was opened up during the sauna. 

While still having compassion for those exploring their edges, my curiosity wonders how they respond to a challenging situation. Then I wonder why they do this. Is it the ego? I don’t feel or see the curiosity, rather, the checked box of an experience. 

Life has almost forced me to have resilience from a young age – so while I am still building and nurturing my resilience though various practices, I am also learning to soften and build a deeper sense of Self – the discernment needed to know when Resilience says, “Ok, yes. That’s enough. We’ve crossed the previous threshold and we’ve stepped far enough into new territory for now.”

Why do we use the word “plunge”? 

It is a decent.

A choice 

to surrender 

to the uncomfortable 

Saying,

“The sauna dissolved me open.

Now you, Cold,

Flush me like a river.”

It is a true gift to be in the discomfort with eyes open. There is so much wisdom there. 

Discernment and trust are birthed from allowing ourselves to be fully present with the discomfort.

What we name as “pain”, is inevitable. The quote “We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons” is attributed to motivational speaker Jim Rohn. Either endure the pain of discomfort or the pain of regret.

While I won’t go into the Buddhist approach of “attachment leads to pain and suffering”, you could perhaps use this concept to guide you through the “pain” of being in extreme cold… or dissect your attachment to pain, cold etc. 

My practice, for now

I breathe. Deeply.

I use these breaths to do a clearing

The sweat carrying all the unwanted, is out.

Taking from Kundalini yoga, I prefer to do a breath of fire, to add to the purge, the expulsion of everything since my last plunge (even if it was just days before). I alternate this with deep and slow breaths. 

I intentionally, clear each chakra and section of my body, limb by limb with sweeping motions to clear the energy; offering it to the water and welcoming the cold to work its alchemy on me. This is also a good distraction for the mind to focus on your intention, rather than on the cold. 

I clear everything that’s not mine. 

I clear all the blocked energy that is now open and flowing 

I clear all the interactions (positive and especially heavy/negative) of previous moments to find a neutral point once again. (I’ll write more about this)

While the benefits of hydrotherapy are well-known and promoted widely; I’d like to emphasize that the sauna circuit is not just a physical detox; It is very much an energetic cleanse for our energetic hygiene. I know cryotherapy is gaining popularity, yet it is part of a more complete process. And if we allow ourselves to really go there, often there are gifts on the other side. Almost always I’ve received deep insight, downloads, mind-body activations and feeling closer to my true essence.

The cold and heat are equally important; 

One being the divine counterpart of the other

And each giving their own unique intensity.

Both with the purpose

To open us (heat)

And expand us (ice).

Before we succumb to the ego that limits our full capacity, 

Can we slow down enough to be in the discomfort?

If you’d like to consider some deeper perspectives on cold practices as a spiritual activator, check out this recent video from channeller Eluña. Our human bodies are being upgraded to the frequency that the Earth is transmitting as she moves through the cosmic oceans – frequencies we’ve never as humans experienced ever before. Welcoming these practices are a way to recalibrate our bodies at this time.

Thanks for reading. 

I wish you optimal health and vitality on your wellness journey. 

~ Audrey 🌺

Beautiful images from Constance Carpense for a shoot I did for Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau in Montréal.

📷 @bycefc / www.constance-carpanese.com