In 2025, I plan to visit Japan and one of the things I want to do, even though I know it will be hard for me (because I really do not like the cold--add cold water--my definition of hell) is to try "takigyo" meditation. It is supposed to help cleanse the mind and purify the body. I wonder how I can plan on doing this when I start to panic when my hot water runs out while I'm showering in winter and I'm left with only cold water. (I have a small hot water heater.) LOL.
So, there's the meditative aspect of takigyo and the mind/body/spirit challenge and benefits. Here's a bit about "takigyo" for those who are curious. There are several places in Japan where one can go to experience it, usually hosted by Japanese shrines or temples: https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/takigyo-waterfall-meditation-photos-joe-magowan/ So, should I practice being in the cold water and learn to appreciate it? Jim Kwik is a big promoter of cold showers and he's quite the "memory" coach. I read quite a lot of his work and listen to his podcasts. If you're curious about why cold showers are good, scroll down this link and you can listen to his talk on this topic and scroll even further and you can watch a vid: https://www.jimkwik.com/podcasts/kwik-brain-105-kwik-challenge-reducing-inflammation/ Jim said to post this online if you are willing to do it, and so, I'm taking the "cold" plunge starting tomorrow. Yes, I am. (I'm also a believer in accountability--if you tell a bunch of people you're going to do something, you're more likely to do it.) And I'll let Jim know, and you as well, how it affects me. #kwikbrain @jimkwik
What's the medical research behind this you ask? Since I'm a nurse practitioner/midwife and Public Health Ph.D., of course I did the research. There's something to it on the medical side. Some research suggests that they boost immunity: Journal of Thermal Biology (Oct. 2024): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030645652400189X This article, "Cold Showers: What's the Evidence?" gets into the concept with research to back it and the references as well: https://ownyourhealth.me/2008/04/16/cold-showers-whats-the-evidence/ Am I going to get up in the morning--tomorrow morning--and do something I absolutely DREAD? Am I going to do it day after day as an internal lab-rat experiment to see how it affects me? Well, I'm set on doing takigyo next year, and I'd like to have a real benefit from it rather than just "endure" it, so yes--I'm all in. And I'm starting this at the end of Autumn/beginning of winter. What am I thinking? I'm thinking it's gonna be cold.
Living, Learning, Loving~
~Cin
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