The Biggest Mistakes: People, Alcohol and Contrast Therapy
THE BIGGEST MISTAKES: People, Alcohol and Contrast Therapy
Welcome back and welcome new readers to the contrast therapy blog written by a Certified Thermalist®, and owner of Element Outdoor Sauna, in Toronto, Canada.
I feel it prudent to discuss safety guidelines pertaining to contrast therapy and thermal therapy.
Most people have no clue as to what the body undergoes during the use of sauna and cold plunging. Our biology is amazing, yet so often I see and hear how people aren’t understanding human physiology when using extreme temperatures, or contrast therapy, or thermal therapy.
How you use contrast therapy - can cause much more detriment if there are misunderstandings - and of course I speak more about the heat factor than cold. Because truthfully, very few people overdue the cold compared to those who never use it. Science has been wonderful but it is still very far behind the mark.
TRUST YOUR HUMAN BIOLOGY
It is also why I have studied the body and how it functions for many years, even deeper than what my title suggests. Learning to navigate the temperatures is vital to sustaining health, life balances and the hard times.
The biological human does require some key “good” stressors to teach the internal systems as well as thermoregulatory system - part of the exterior and its thermal parts, including lymphatic system, to operate exceptionally well. It also means that what we know, read and learn by trial and error, should be understood. Because every person is different. So too is how we handle contrast therapy. Even the state of health we are in will dictate how we practice. There are many factors I take into account when coaching and teaching people.
BOOK WITH A CERTIFIED THERMALIST
“WE DON'T NEED THE SCIENCE TO TELL US INTRINSIC NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF HUMAN EXISTENCE SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME”
….BUT SCIENCE TODAY SUPPORTS WHO WE ARE, BUT STILL LAGS BEHIND.
There is so much we have yet to learn about the human body and temperature use. Yet, up to this point some of the miraculous reparations, and healings and literal life changing events have unfolded before my eyes. Clients and customers with amazing feedback, including abolishing cancer, and depression symptoms disappear and the amount of people loving all the seasons we have…. Because they find it easy to not be cold all the time, or can handle heat better.
Those I see at Element OutdoorSauna have reported to have disconnection to their body. In addition they have picked up unsafe practices from watching others from various spaces they visited. A beautiful reset and recovery happens after just one session. But consistency is key. It is compared to working out. Doing it once or twice a year does you no good. Contrast therapy is the same.
SUMMER FUN…SUMMER HEAT
Practice smartly at Element Outdoor Sauna
Summer time is the season when many people head to the cottage, go camping, take vacations from life and even lift health restrictions. There is that refreshing cold beer on a hot summer day. This is my guilty pleasure for sure. BUT, Never, ever, never, EVER do I consume alcohol around my cold ice bath nor heat - the ole “ hot tub and cocktail” or post sauna drink, or pre-drink for that matter. I hear it all the time. And yes… I have had a couple people try to sneak alcohol up into Element… So what is the reason people play russian roulette with their lives?
DANGER, DANGER, DANGER
You are asking your body to do important things - vasoconstriction and vasodilation and using your Thermal system in a way that creates buoyancy within your personal ecosystem. Homeostasis and happy Mitochondria is your goal, while improving nervous system health and hundreds of other beautiful affects to your being. Breathwork, (Used correctly),is the cornerstone of how you manage your body through the cold, and even the heat - the breath patterns are very different between cold and sauna, as well as resting.
Why the heck would you mess with this exceptionally challenging and special therapy by adding alcohol to the mix. Here are just a few major issues when you drink alcohol:
DEHYDRATION
EXTREME DROPS IN BLOOD PRESSURE
THERMOREGULATION FAILURE LEADING TO HYPO/ HYPERTHERMIA
CARDIOVASCULAR STRESS
DEFEATING THE REASON FOR PLACING YOURSELF IN HORMESIS
COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION
PASSING OUT
DEATH
There are way more reasons… but you get the point for not drinking alcohol while using contrast therapy.
But also, no alcohol, BEFORE, DURING and POST Therapy - at least 2-3 hours.
The simple Guidelines: The cheat sheet:
NEVER consume alcohol before, during and immediately after a session of contrast therapy.
Always, always, always HYDRATE well before you begin a session of contrast therapy, make sure you drink hydrating water w/ salt during and after a session.
HYDRATION smartly: this does not include sugary sport drinks, or anything with sugars or artificial juices.
NEVER Consume a meal, food, snacks within 2 hours of a contrast therapy session
BREATHE !!!- practice the deep breathing and understand which type of breath goes with cold plunging and the sauna. They are different.
SHHHH - only when you are quiet, you can listen to your body
TIME** - It is not how long you can sit in cold water, but it is for dry heat.
It is not a competition with you or anyone else
COLD: people have not prepared for their plunge. They go in way too fast without remaining calm and they miss the idea of "mammalian dive reflex” and so can dysregulate the nervous system and cause bad stress rather than good stress.
HEAT: no to cycles and no to sitting short times.
SIGN ME UP TO UNDERSTAND MY BIOLOGY
You can complain all you want about the above list.
You can say “I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing for years and nothing has happened”
I have heard it all.
You are the owner of your vessel. Treat it the way you want.
I WANT TO FEEL F&CKING AMAZING
How is your sleep?
How balanced is your nervous system?
Are you angry, ragey?
Do you carry a lot of pain, stiffness?
This is your answer if you answer yes to even ONE on this list.
Just remember, have a great summer, avoid alcohol near extreme temperatures. Hydrate very well, even one salty glass of water between each drink, and breathe.
See you next time,
Denise Tompkins, Purveyor of thermal alignment
Certified Thermalist and Owner of Element Outdoor Sauna
info@elementoutdoorsauna.com
