Cold exposure can elicit stress responses in the body and trigger the release of norepinephrine, which has been linked to improved mood and cognitive function. However, the desired level of cold exposure can vary based on the individual and their goals, and caution should be exercised when combining hot and cold therapies.
It is recommended to start with 11 minutes of deliberate cold exposure per week, then increase the temperature or extend the duration of exposure safely or increase the frequency. If you want to get more benefits for mental resilience training, you can try to keep your mind still or even do some sort of cognitive task while in the cold water.
Wim Hof's methodology to expose oneself to the cold has become a way to develop resilience, by embracing discomfort as a skill, and altering self talk to "bring it on" when anticipating pain.
A new book will delve further into breathing techniques, cold heat exposure, and supplementation for the HPA axis to help manage stress reactions and enhance resilience. However, the author admits to reading it slowly to properly distill the information.
The speaker shares their experience cross-country skiing with Lou and struggling to keep up with the weight of the sled.
Researchers have found that releasing adrenaline into the brain can enhance memory retention, specifically in regards to emotionally intense information.