Ice Baths

An ice bath is exactly what it sounds like; plunging your body into a tub of freezing cold water (usually around 10 to 15°C) for a few minutes. Athletes swear by it to reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery, but it’s also gaining traction for boosting mood, reducing inflammation and toughening up your nervous system.

Ice baths help reduce muscle soreness, tame inflammation, boost circulation and even lift your mood thanks to a rush of endorphins. Plus, regular dips may toughen your mind and train your body to handle stress better.

For best results, stay in an ice bath for 10 to 15 minutes, keeping the water between 10 and 15°C. If you're just starting out, ease in with 1 to 2 minutes in the bath and build up over time.

Cold showers don’t offer the same benefits since they lack the full-body immersion and hydrostatic pressure that make ice baths so powerful.