Benefits of Hot Showers

[paapiman]

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Here are 10 reasons to ignore the impatient kid, pour yourself a glass of wine, buy an electric instant water heater, and take a long hot bath or shower:

• Lowers blood sugar. Forget walking. A hot bath may be just what you need to lower your blood sugar and burn calories. In a recent study done by Loughborough University, scientists investigated the effect a hot bath has on blood sugar control (an important measure of metabolic fitness) and on energy expended (number of calories burned). They recruited 14 men to take part in the study, who each soaked in a hot bath for one hour. They then compared how many calories were burned in each sessions, as well as measured their blood sugar for 24 hours after each trial. Bathing resulted in about as many calories being burned as a half-hour walk (around 140 calories). The overall blood sugar response to both conditions was similar. Goodbye, gym.
• Fall asleep faster. Hot water relaxes the body and better prepares us for falling asleep. When a tense body enters a warm bath, the hot water increases the body temperature and relaxes the muscles. Relaxing the muscles not only soothes us physically but also mentally. That being said, only 20 minutes is needed and be careful not to fall asleep in the bath!
• Lowers blood pressure. Studies have shown that soaking in a hot bath can lower your blood pressure. This is a great system for those with heart conditions and even those who don’t. But first, consult your doctor if you do have a heart condition because a hot bath will also raise the rate of your heartbeat. If the doc says it’s OK, then it's a great way of bringing down your blood pressure.
• Relieves muscle tension. Hot showers can relieve tension and soothe stiff muscles. If you have a powerful shower head, even better! Let the hot water work like a mini massage on your shoulders, neck, and back.
• Have cleaner, healthier skin. A good soak in hot water, be it a bath or shower, can open up the pores in our skin. And if the water is clean then it can wash some of the dirt and toxins from our skin. The result is fresher and cleaner skin.
• Moisturizes our skin. We may not like the wrinkled skin we get after a hot bath, but it actually has a good effect on it. The warm water leaves the skin moist for longer and prevents it from drying up and getting those little cracks that often appear when it's dry.
• Improves blood circulation. Dipping the body in hot water to the neck is kind of an exercise for your blood vessels. This is because water creates physical pressure on the body and so it increases the capacity of our heart. In other words, when we're inside the water, the heart works faster and stronger. Consider this more like a light exercise and just a few dips a week is an excellent work out for your heart.
• Helps relieve cold/flu symptoms. A hot shower also acts as a natural decongestant to relieve cold symptoms, since the hot steam moisturizes nasal passages. Taking a 10-15 minute hot-soak-break can also really help you feel better while your body is trying to get better.
• Reduces headaches. Most types of headaches are caused by the narrowing of blood vessels in the head. The positive effect of the hot water on our blood vessels can be used to alleviate the pressure on those blood vessels and cure our headache.
• Helps us feel better about ourselves. After a stressful day, take a nice warm shower and try to relax, as it's known that when we feel better physically, we get more confident in ourselves, the more convinced we are up to the challenges ahead. A hot bath is also a great way to reduce daily anxiety as well and make us feel good all around.

Unquote[1]

[1] - https://blog.myheatworks.com/blog/10-reasons-to-take-a-hot-bath-or-shower

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[Trimandeep Singh]

Veerji aren't we supposed to take only cold showers? Gurbani knows much better than Science about what is good for us.

I don't know about the first point, but cold water is better than hot water for all other 9 benefits mentioned.

Trimandeep Singh 

[Ragmaala]

If you are young and healthy, I would not recommend hot showers. Personally, I have always felt nasty and hot after a hot shower. Cold showers on the other hand are so energizing. These days I use the maximum cold it can get , and its chilly. It's so refreshing, and charges your body very differently. Even after workout, I take cold shower and it actually helps tone the muscles sometimes. 

If someone is weak, fragile, and elderly, and have stiffness in joints, warm showers are fine. But while you are young, reap the benefits while you can. 

Showers/Bath in general are not only physically cleaning/hygienic but they also clean your water element, so its a sort of elemental cleaning. That's why after a shower, you can think more clearly before. 

[sevak]

8 hours ago, Ragmaala said:

If you are young and healthy, I would not recommend hot showers. Personally, I have always felt nasty and hot after a hot shower. Cold showers on the other hand are so energizing. These days I use the maximum cold it can get , and its chilly. It's so refreshing, and charges your body very differently. Even after workout, I take cold shower and it actually helps tone the muscles sometimes. 

I feel the same way, but these day taking warm showers. In Winter I was takinh 10-11 degree C water shower?

Do u workout (gym)?

[paapiman]

12 hours ago, Trimandeep Singh said:

Veerji aren't we supposed to take only cold showers? Gurbani knows much better than Science about what is good for us.

I don't know about the first point, but cold water is better than hot water for all other 9 benefits mentioned.

Trimandeep Singh 

Both, Cold and Hot showers have their benefits, but the Hukam is to take cold showers.

Hot showers might be better in certain situations.

 

Bhul chuk maaf 

[paapiman]

The below are situations, when a Hot shower might be better:

• Before going to sleep
• If you decide to take a long shower (more than 15-20 minutes)
• To relax and unwind
• If you very sweaty
• When it is extremely cold outside and you are planning to go outside
• When you have worked in extreme cold conditions
• If you have any issues, as mentioned by Ragmaala bro
• Medical reasons.

 

@Trimandeep Singh

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[paapiman]

@Trimandeep Singh - The below Rehat was posted in another topic.

Quote

ਸੀਤਲ ਜਲ ਕੋ ਅੰਗੀਕਾਰੈ । ਕੇ ਨਹਿ ਸਕਤਿ ਤਪਤ ਕਰਿ ਬਾਰੈ । ਬਿਨ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਨ ਦਿਵਸੁ ਬਿਤਾਵੈ । ਬਿਨ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਨ ਭੋਜਨ ਖਾਵੈ ।

Use cold water to bathe, if you don't have strength then warm the water, but don't go a day without bathing, do not eat without first bathing.

Unquote[1]

[1] - Merit of Cold Water Bathing (manglacharan.com)

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[dalsingh101]

I always end with a cold burst in the shower. It perks you up. Plus I heard it really helps develop your immune system. 

[paapiman]

6 hours ago, dalsingh101 said:

Plus I heard it really helps develop your immune system. 

That probably happens, if you take multiple cold showers in a day over a certain period of time. One cold shower in a day might not be that beneficial to boost the immune system.

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[paapiman]

11 hours ago, paapiman said:

The below are situations, when a Hot shower might be better:

• Before going to sleep
• If you decide to take a long shower (more than 15-20 minutes)
• To relax and unwind
• If you very sweaty
• When it is extremely cold outside and you are planning to go outside
• When you have worked in extreme cold conditions
• If you have any issues, as mentioned by Ragmaala bro
• Medical reasons.

 

@Trimandeep Singh

 

Bhul chuk maaf

Also, if you decide to do a lot of Naam Simran, while taking a shower, then it would be better to go for a hot shower. Cold showers must not last for too long.

@Trimandeep Singh

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[Mooorakh]

On 8/9/2021 at 9:25 PM, Trimandeep Singh said:

Veerji aren't we supposed to take only cold showers? Gurbani knows much better than Science about what is good for us.

I don't know about the first point, but cold water is better than hot water for all other 9 benefits mentioned.

Trimandeep Singh 

Can you quote any pankti from Gurbani where Guru sahib mentions the temperature of water to take bath?? 

 

Why is Sikhi getting merged in karan kaands like other Dharams. Hygiene is important rest should depend upon an individual and his environment

[Mooorakh]

Bhagat Kabeer Sahib warns us that similarly there is are traps to catch the crazy or stupid human minds – so called Teerath places, Karamkaand (rituals), and so on.

• ਨਾਵਨ ਕਉ ਤੀਰਥ ਘਨੇ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਪੂਜਨ ਕਉ ਬਹੁ ਦੇਵ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਛੂਟਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਛੂਟਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਸੇਵ ॥੪॥੧॥੬॥੫੭॥: O crazy mind! There are so many places of pilgrimage in which to bathe, and so many gods to worship. Says Kabeer! O crazy mind, there is no liberation like this; only by serving Hari (Mool, Truth, Wisdom…) will you find liberation (from doubt, Maya…). ||4||1||6||57|| (sggs 335).

The Gurbani does not promote or support ‘Frog-Philosophy’. However, our ‘frog-mind‘ always thinks in terms of cleansing the external body-frame but not the mind:

• ਜਲ ਕੈ ਮਜਨਿ ਜੇ ਗਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਮੇਂਡੁਕ ਨਾਵਹਿ ॥: If salvation can be obtained by bathing in water, then what about the frog, which is always bathing (always remain in water)? (sggs 484).

[GurjantGnostic]

5 hours ago, Mooorakh said:

Bhagat Kabeer Sahib warns us that similarly there is are traps to catch the crazy or stupid human minds – so called Teerath places, Karamkaand (rituals), and so on.

• ਨਾਵਨ ਕਉ ਤੀਰਥ ਘਨੇ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਪੂਜਨ ਕਉ ਬਹੁ ਦੇਵ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਛੂਟਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਛੂਟਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਸੇਵ ॥੪॥੧॥੬॥੫੭॥: O crazy mind! There are so many places of pilgrimage in which to bathe, and so many gods to worship. Says Kabeer! O crazy mind, there is no liberation like this; only by serving Hari (Mool, Truth, Wisdom…) will you find liberation (from doubt, Maya…). ||4||1||6||57|| (sggs 335).

The Gurbani does not promote or support ‘Frog-Philosophy’. However, our ‘frog-mind‘ always thinks in terms of cleansing the external body-frame but not the mind:

• ਜਲ ਕੈ ਮਜਨਿ ਜੇ ਗਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਮੇਂਡੁਕ ਨਾਵਹਿ ॥: If salvation can be obtained by bathing in water, then what about the frog, which is always bathing (always remain in water)? (sggs 484).

Love the Gurbani. 

This is a really good example actually. You can enjoy the health benefits of hot or cold showers, it would be silly to confuse it with some sort of Mukte, but still a lovely thing to enjoy and benefit from.

It is also one of the best times and places to do Simran, and Ardas and enjoy being yourself, and feeling good and getting cleaner, rejuvinated, a fresh start. 

Kind of like Sukha. Just don't  confuse it for Sukh. 

The health and joy benefits of bathing different ways are great, not to be confused with ritual bathing. 

[GurjantGnostic]

On 8/10/2021 at 2:49 AM, dalsingh101 said:

I always end with a cold burst in the shower. It perks you up. Plus I heard it really helps develop your immune system. 

Prepares one for the shock of being stabbed too. Prison training trick. 

[GurjantGnostic]

I stopped using a towel except for on the floor now.

Take a minute to meditate and be cold and slick the water off and sort of let it seep into the pores.

I saw on article on the cleaniness of towels and it just killed it for me.

Have to be careful as they damage kesh and skin too. 

[paapiman]

Hygiene is extremely important in Sikhism.

IMHO, keeping our bodies clean/hygienic (most of the times) might have a positive effect on our minds too.

Gurbani also states that there is life in water (or water gives life). Either way, taking multiple showers on a daily basis might help us in our spiritual journeys.

 

ਪਹਿਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੀਉ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥

First, there is life in the water, by which everything else is made green.

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[dalsingh101]

10 hours ago, paapiman said:

Hygiene is extremely important in Sikhism.

Why are you saying 'Sikhism' bro? 

Makes you sound dumb.