How to start walruses if we have so far been only secretive observers of these practices? Where to start and how to prepare? Is walrushing for everyone? What are the advantages and contraindications of walruses? These questions will be answered in the following text.
How to start walrushing? First walruses
Let’s start with what walrushing is. Walrting is defined as immersion or a short bath in cold water in any body of water. Walrting for the first time should be done with proper preparation. First of all, one should find out if walrushing is for us. Although it is believed that everyone can walrus because it is very healthy, there will always be contraindications. To be sure whether bathing will not harm us, let’s start with a visit to the doctor. Based on the patient’s examination and medical history, the doctor will be able to determine whether walruses are advisable. What else should you know before your first walrus swim?
- Cold shower – although it will not replace what occurs in the body during walruses, it is a good base. First of all, it is a workout for the mind, the belief of which most often blocks us from jumping into cold water. In addition, cold baths (especially in the morning) help reduce the risk of thermal shock during walruses, as well as shrinking blood vessels and tightening the skin, which has a positive effect on the work of the mind. So it’s worth training in your bathroom from gradually lowering the water temperature.
- Look for other Walruses – above all, never decide to walrus alone. Don’t get into the water alone. It’s best if you find a group of people or simply join a local walrus club. This way you will get to know people experienced in cold baths, and they will also be good mentors during your first plunge.
If you have this rather theoretical part mastered, it’s time to move on to practice.
How to start walruses – the first bath in icy water
Your first visit to cold water should start with preparing the necessary equipment. You should take swimming trunks, a hat, gloves and dry clothes and underwear for changing. It is also worth getting neoprene water shoes, which will allow you to enter the water without invasion, protect your feet from the cold and possible injury from sharp ice. After getting out of the bath, it will be important to wrap yourself in something warm, so it is worth taking a bathrobe, blanket, towel, as well as warm tea in a thermos. Remember that the clothes you put on after getting out of the water should be accessible, that is, laid out so that you can easily put them on. It is important that the clothes you put on after walrting are as easy to put on as possible – that is, a tracksuit is better than clinging clothes.
Walrus warm-up
Before any cold water swim, you should do a warm-up. Exercises before walrting must not be too intense so that we do not get sweaty. The warm-up should last about 15-20 minutes and is designed to warm up your muscles, but also to provide the body with a larger portion of oxygen, which will also affect the thermoregulation process. A safe warm-up should follow specific criteria:
- Start exercising in a jacket, and every few minutes take off another piece of clothing until you are left with only a bathing suit, hat and gloves.
- It’s a good idea to jog at a brisk pace while performing bends, squats, abdominals, jumping jacks, jumping jacks, arm and leg extensions at the same time or in between.
- After completing the warm-up, head toward the water, do not stand in the cold idly.
Walrus first entry into the cold water
After completing the warm-up, slowly but surely start entering the water. Keep your hands above your head, if you get them wet the heat will start to escape through them. If they get cold, it will be difficult for you to put your clothes on after you get out of the water. You can immerse yourself up to your waist or up to your neck – pay attention to where your limit is. Remember that while in the water you should move, make jumps, not stand idle. Finish the first bath quite quickly, as soon as within 30-60 seconds. After getting out of the water, we immediately get dressed, even if we are warm. After a winter bath, we have the so-called golden five minutes, a time when our body does not feel the cold. However, after returning home, it is advisable to take a warm bath, drink hot tea and eat a warming meal. No more exercise is recommended that day. Just relax.
Walruses contraindications
Cold baths have a number of advantages, but also contraindications in certain cases. It is worth taking into account that regular walruses positively affect our health, but only when carried out in the right way. The length of time in the water is very important, even if we feel good, the initial ice baths should be short. With time, we can allow ourselves longer walruses, and the length of stay in cold water for everyone can be completely different – it all depends on our level of practice. However, the risk of hypothermia should be kept in mind. Admittedly, the risk of hypothermia is small if we do not stay in the water for more than half an hour. Walrus bathing is an activity for everyone regardless of age or condition – however, if you have certain medical conditions, you should absolutely avoid ice baths.
Contraindications to walruses include:
- heart problems, cardiovascular disease or cardiopulmonary insufficiency
- pregnancy
- diseases of the upper respiratory tract
- neurological disorders
- diseases associated with intolerance to cold
Above all, it is necessary first to see a doctor to rule out or permit walruses.
Advantages of walruses
Walruses enjoy a number of advantages for health and well-being, cold baths bring positive effects on the body, such as:
- better immunity of the body
- improve skin condition – during cold baths the skin gets rid of toxins
- increase the efficiency of the cardiovascular system
- help with the treatment of injuries.
However, we should remember to prepare properly for bathing. The most important thing in a walrus’s equipment is a bathing suit, but also walking shoes for walking in the water, which protect not only from the low temperature, but also protect the feet from injury. It is important to remember to walrus with a cap, and the first attempts were a short immersion in the water. Let’s not push our limits! Once out of the icy lake, every extra second spent in the cold is important – so be sure to speed up your dressing as soon as possible after getting out of the water. Let’s remember to have a healthy and safe warm-up before walruses. And if something bad happens while in the water, such as a sudden diaphragm spasm, get out of the water immediately and change into dry clothes. If we have any doubts about the benefits of cold baths – it is worth consulting a doctor to determine whether we can participate or not.
How to start walruses: when to start the walrusing adventure
In Poland, the season for walruses begins in autumn and lasts until early spring. You can decide to practice as early as autumn, so that you get enough preparation for winter and it will not be an extreme experience for you. Or you can start, as many people do, in winter. However, if you like walruses, you will then have much less time before the season ends.
Walrushing is a practice that has become very popular in Poland. It’s worth giving yourself a chance to experience cold bathing, of course, after following the most important rules related to safe walruses.
See also: the Wim Hof Method – or the POWER of breath – yogalifestyle.com.