Cold Exposure
Celebrities swear by baths in ice-cold water
Rita Ora and her husband Taika Waititi are fans of “The Iceman” Wim Hof.
© Loredana Sangiuliano/Shutterstock / NataliAlba/Shutterstock
Too cold? More and more celebrities are coming out as fans of bathing in ice-cold water. This is behind the enthusiasm for cold exposure.
A bath in ice-cold water? What sounds pretty daunting at first is actually a proven way to strengthen the immune system, reduce stress and increase energy in the body. More and more celebrities are discovering this knowledge for themselves – most recently Rita Ora (32) and her husband Taika Waititi (48) came out on Instagram as fans of Cold Exposure to improve their body image. The singer posted on Instagram a few weeks ago a photo of her meeting with “The Iceman” Wim Hof (64).
Who is Wim Hof? And what is behind his cold therapy?
Wim Hof cold therapy, also known as the “Wim Hof method”, is a unique technique for improving health and increasing well-being through targeted exposure to cold, breathing exercises and meditation. Named after the Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof, known as “The Iceman,” this method relies on three main components:
Component one: cold exposure
Anyone who integrates Wim Hof’s cold therapy into their lifestyle regularly immerses their body in cold water and exposes themselves to extremely cold temperatures. This is said to strengthen the immune system, improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation. Hailey Bieber (26), for example, swears by this ritual to strengthen her mental health, as she reveals in a video on TikTok.
Component two: breathing exercises
An important part of the Wim Hof method are special breathing techniques. These help to supply the body with more oxygen and optimize the pH value of the blood. This is not only intended to increase resistance to cold, but also to reduce stress and increase general well-being.
Component three: meditation and focus
The Wim Hof Method also teaches how to calm the mind and promote mental strength. Through meditation and focus you should learn to better control your physical reactions to cold.
Cold therapy as a beauty miracle cure
Aside from the effects on the immune system and mental strength and resilience, cold therapy can also have positive visual effects on the body. This is what cold exposure does when it comes to beauty:
Cold therapy stimulates blood circulation in the skin. This leads to a fresher and more radiant complexion. This improved blood flow provides skin cells with more oxygen and nutrients, promoting regeneration and the skin renewal process. In the long term, cold can also cause the skin to look firmer and smoother. The cold can temporarily tighten pores and tighten the skin, resulting in smoother, firmer skin. This can be particularly visible in problem areas such as the neck, décolleté and face. Cold can also have a positive effect on reducing wrinkles and cellulite and, thanks to its stress-reducing effect, ensure that skin problems are reduced.