Cold · 1 minute
One Minute Cold
A single intentional minute of cold exposure, as dosed by the bay itself.
Nothing else trains the nervous system faster.
How to practice
This is for anyone near cold water. Find the tide line. Wade in to the knees — only the knees. Set a timer for sixty seconds. Breathe slowly. Do not hyperventilate. Do not show off. When the timer ends, walk out, dry briskly, put on warm socks first.
Shoulder level is for experienced cold-exposure practitioners with a swim buddy. Never alone past the knees in winter.
Why it works
Cold exposure triggers a norepinephrine spike that lasts hours. Short bouts improve stress tolerance over weeks. The dose is small because the dose is enough.
Other practices