When it's cold outside, most people like to be inside.
But there are always more who cannot have it cold enough.
For them, ice bathing is the new trend.
Munich - “
Don't forget to
breathe,
don't forget to breathe!” Benni Baier (30) says this sentence to herself like a mantra when she
gets
into the
water
.
Because in the three degrees cold water of the
Eisbach *
it is easy to get breathless.
The Haidhausen lawyer
started
ice bathing
two months
ago - and with her many other Munich residents.
Because
winter sports
are becoming a
trend
.
“We wanted to end our
negative mood in lockdown
and get a positive mindset,” says her friend Valerie Haydn (29), who always accompanies Benni.
And the whole thing should start with a
better body
feeling.
“We have often seen ice baths and thought we'd take the challenge,” adds Benni Baier.
"I am now happy to have discovered it."
Video: Coolest game of chess in the world!
Men play in the water at minus 20 degrees
Ice bathing as a new winter trend: daredevils exchange ideas on Facebook and Instagram
More and more
Munich residents * are
exchanging ideas
on this topic
in
Facebook groups
or posting their photos on
Instagram *
.
The Munich-based group Munich Hot Springs, for example, which had almost 300 colleagues a year ago, now has 427 members.
Ice bathing is the
cold kick in pandemic times
!
"The feeling afterwards is indescribable - the
stress
is gone," is how Margo Steff (48) from the Westend explains the addiction to the
ice-cold shock
.
“I'm super happy after the ice bath,” says newcomer Benni Baier.
There is a
medical explanation
for this exhilaration
.
"Ice bathing is an
extremely stressful situation for the body,
" explains Munich sports doctor Martin Halle.
“When the blood vessels constrict because of the cold, the body
releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline
.
Some perceive it as threatening, others as positive - similar to
bungee jumping
. "
Check out this post on Instagram
$ {caption}
$ {footer} $ {time}
Ice bathing as a new winter trend: cold showers can be a preparation
However, the preventive medicine specialist at the
Technical University of Munich
warns: "For people with cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure or diabetes, ice bathing can be dangerous, it can lead to
cardiac arrhythmias
." But even for fit people it does no harm if they
slowly take to ice bathing Approach
and train for it, for example with
cold showers
.
"The body can get used to it, similar to
going to
the
sauna
," explains Prof. Halle.
Munich's ice baths have different rituals.
Benni Baier swears by a
breathing technique based
on the so-called
Wim Hof method
(named after a Dutch extreme athlete).
“I breathe in and out deeply 30 to 40 times on the bank and then hold my breath.” By contrast, 48-year-old Margo Steff always warms up slightly for ten minutes beforehand.
Benni Baier's tips for afterwards are probably helpful for everyone: “It's better to take
two towels
with you, one to dry off, the other to warm.
I also always have a
thermos with hot tea
with
me
. "
+
Into the cold water: Margo Steff jumps into the Kirchsee.
© private
There are various theories
about the
long-term effects
.
On the one hand, ice bathing is said to
strengthen
the
immune system
.
Some say that the ice-cold water
helps
against cellulite
.
Benni Baier says: “It's definitely fun!”
(Nba) * tz.de is part of the nationwide Ippen digital editorial network