Ice baths for the promotion of nervous system regulation
Think of your nervous system as your body's internal messaging service. It's the complex network that connects your brain to every part of your body, making sure all your systems work together properly. Your autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts; the sympathetic (rest-and-digest mode) and parasympathetic (flight-or-flight mode). In simple terms, cold water trains your body to shift efficiently from an active SNS state to a PSN state so you feel more calm in the face of life’s daily stressors.
Experts discuss hot and cold therapy for nervous system health
Ready to transform how you handle life's challenges? Join us as five remarkable experts explore the science of nervous system training through contrast therapy. From breathwork specialists to neuroscientists, musicians to fitness professionals, discover how alternating between hot and cold can help regulate your body's response to stress, build mental resilience, and create lasting wellbeing. Unlock the extraordinary power of temperature to reset your nervous system and thrive in our modern world.
Cold exposure and vagus nerve stimulation
Stimulating the vagus nerve is key to promoting nervous system health when using cold water exposure as a tool. We look at where it is, how it works and why it’s important.
The Andrew Hubermann approach
If you want a proven approach to elevate your health and performance, you might want to consider cold exposure and ice baths. Brought to you by the esteemed Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, this practice offers notable gains for your wellbeing. But what's the science behind it?
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The science of cold water exposure and the nervous system
Master your physical, mental, emotional health with our one-stop guide to deliberate cold exposure. Get the science behind the benefits, discover why it’s so good for you and how to get started.
We make the worlds finest ice baths
The ice has the power to change us for the better. Make us stronger. More resilient. More in control. That is why we build the world’s finest ice baths and cold plunges.
FAQs
As a key component of the parasympathetic nervous system, the vagus nerve plays a crucial role in regulating involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. It can be stimulated with cold water by immersing up to the neck to help train your parasympathetic nervous system.
Cold water immersion activates your vagus nerve—the main pathway of your body's rest-and-digest mode (parasympathetic nervous system). This activation steadies your heart rate, slows your breathing, enhances digestive function and creates mental clarity.
Each cold exposure acts as controlled stress training, teaching your nervous system to respond better to daily challenges. Regular practice helps your body recover more quickly from stress and maintain balance during difficult or stressful situations.
The result? Improved mood, reduced anxiety symptoms, and better stress management—all without medication and in just minutes per session.
Fight-or-flight is the common term for the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. When facing danger, your body instantly prepares for action. Your brain triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol, causing your heart to race, breath to quicken, and senses to sharpen, all to help you survive. The problem is that this same powerful response activates during everyday stressors like work deadlines, traffic or a row with your partner. When repeatedly triggered, this can lead to chronic stress and health problems.
Recognising when your body enters this emergency mode helps you develop techniques to return to balance when the response isn't actually needed.
There are a lot of breathing techniques out there. You want to focus on slow steady breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. A simple box breath is a simple one to remember. Breath in through the nose for four seconds, and out for four through the mouth. Repeat until you feel cam and ready. When entering the water, your breath will naturally quicken as the cold hits you, but it’s important to focus on and regain control of your breath as soon as possible as this will help your body stay calm. Controlling your breath is also key to training your nervous system.