In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores cold showers from an Ayurvedic perspective and explains when cold exposure may support health and when it may disturb balance.

Currently, the internet is filled with discussions and stories about cold showers and their value. There is certainly something to be said for taking cold showers. It is something that I practiced during the six years I studied Ayurveda in Pune. Although Pune is a tropical location, when it is 5 or 6 degrees Celsius outside and you are standing in a drafty bathroom at 5 in the morning, cold water still feels extremely cold.

Cold is one of the two things that modern science has shown can promote longevity. The other is a significant reduction in caloric intake. This is one reason yogis have traditionally spent time in the Himalayas, in places where the environment is very cold.

One benefit of living in a cold environment for a yogi is that it promotes Pratyahara, the withdrawal of energy from external stimulation and movement inward. When you are cold, you naturally need to preserve your internal warmth, so your energy turns inward.

From this perspective, cold showers can have benefits. They encourage energy to move inward, strengthen the warmth at the center of the body, and support the digestive fire. After a period of time, the contraction caused by the cold in the circulatory system relaxes, and the body begins to feel warm again.

This can happen even more quickly when the water is extremely cold. I have been to Gomukha, the source of the Ganga, three times, and each time I entered the water. When you come out, you immediately feel warm because the water is so cold, almost near freezing, that it forces your energy inward and then allows that energy to return outward.

There is value in this practice, especially when the organism is already strong and balanced. However, if the organism is not balanced or strong, cold water may simply make you colder. If you have a tendency toward Vata aggravation, cold exposure may increase that imbalance.

Therefore, it is important to understand your own condition before beginning cold showers, especially first thing in the morning. It is also better to make a gradual transition rather than suddenly moving from very hot showers one day to very cold showers the next. Sudden changes in temperature can aggravate Vata.

Ayurveda traditionally does not emphasize cold showers or cold baths. Instead, it recommends warmth and a gentle approach to temperature. However, there can be benefit in gradually preparing yourself to tolerate cold water.

The important thing is not to expose yourself to cold for so long that you remove more heat from the body than you can restore. If your body is strong and responsive, especially when you are young, it can quickly generate that heat again. This can be beneficial.

However, if your body is less responsive, or if Vata is already elevated, then cold exposure should be approached carefully.

A balanced approach, and the method I tend to use now, is to take a warm shower and then turn the water colder for the final few minutes. This allows the body to become warm first, which becomes increasingly important as one becomes less young. Then the cold water helps close the pores, preserve the internal warmth, and remind the body to maintain a healthy circulation of heat.

The goal is always balance. Cold exposure can be valuable, but it should be practiced in a way that supports the organism rather than disturbing it.