The Final Shock

Well, I finally remembered why I fell in love in the first place.  With running, that is.  Why I truly got hooked, despite the fact that it has always been unnatural and extremely difficult for me.  No, it’s not the “high” that you feel during and after; it’s not the weight loss and all the other physical benefits of cardio exercise.  It’s the SHOWER AFTER the run that delivers that magical, out-of-this-world feeling one could ever hope to experience.

Your entire body is breathing and the sensation of water hitting your wide-open skin is nothing short of explosive.  And while the hot water definitely works to stimulate the blood flow and soothes the aching muscles, the real experience is a shot of cold, icy water after a cardio workout.  You think I am kidding?  Well, let me open your mind to some real insanity.

Typically attempted only by professional athletes, exercised daily by Navy Seals and used routinely at mental institutions across the globe, cold showers provide health benefits that may just amaze you.  The cold water is precisely what keeps inflammation down, helps your joints recover and literally squeezes all the toxic waste out of your system almost instantaneously. 

I know what you are thinking – a cold shower, really?  Have you gone completely mad?!  Well, to tell the truth, I haven’t reached that level of madness just yet, though I am probably well on my way.  In the meantime, I highly recommend simply ending your shower with a dose of cold water.  Just before you leave, switch the water to cold and, if you don’t instantly pass out, suck in the experience for a few final seconds.  Just keep your mind open and I promise you exhilaration like you’ve never experienced in your wildest dreams.