How do you shower when you’re exhausted after exercise or partied through the night? And what is the best way to rinse off after a sauna? Showering is not just a case of cranking up the water. You can do so much to boost your health and well-being by making small changes to your showering routine. The following tips are designed to help you recover faster.
Even if you prefer a nice, warm shower, add in some cold every so often! “Contrast showers,” where you alternate between warm and cold water and run the shower head all over your body, are perfect. They can help to improve your fitness and tighten the fascia. Even better than contrast showers: Contrast showers with different spray modes. Sometimes soft, sometimes powerful. hansgrohe recommends a hand shower with a massage spray that can ease slight tension in the shoulders and neck. Please be aware that long, hot showers consume valuable resources and dry out your skin because they wash away the barrier lipids in the skin and destroy the natural layer of fat. The rule of thumb is the drier your skin, the cooler the shower water and the shorter the shower time. It’s best to use mild shower gels that contain oils and plenty of body lotion if your skin tends to be dry and irritated.
Pro athletes like to occasionally jump in an ice bath after exercise. Do you accept the challenge? Experts also recommend ice water baths to amateur athletes as it has many positive effects: It refreshes you, wakes you up an alleviates pain. Background: Intense physical exercise causes fine tears in the cell membrane, which can lead to painful local inflammations. An extreme cool-down after exercise prevents this risk of inflammation. The hydrostatic water pressure that can be generated in a slightly deeper ice bath also creates the same effect as a compression sock and can reduce swelling. If you don’t have ice on hand, you can run a bath with cold water. The temperature should be between 10 and 15 °C.
You had a great time partying and dancing? Amazing! If only hangovers didn’t exist... Tired, unmotivated, with a banging headache, you wonder: What’s the fastest way to get out of this depressing mood and stamina slump? The friendly hansgrohe guide recommends plenty of water, healthy meals and a walk in the fresh air.
A shower can work wonders after a night out. The brave among us will step under the ice-cold shower the day after the night before to clear their heads. There is nothing better to kick-start the circulation. But this isn’t for everybody, especially not in winter. Even with an alcohol-induced illness, the perfect compromise between showering with cold and hot water is hot and cold shower cycles. This stimulates the circulation and gives you a quick jump-start. The best way to end your shower cycle is with a cold phase: move the shower head slowly from the feet up, towards the heart.
Even though it’s tempting because it’s so blissful: Don’t rely on hot showers the day after drinking. Not even if you’re freezing cold. As your circulation will take a dive. A hot bath is a hangover taboo. Even if you think a hot bubble bath is really relaxing, it causes enormous strain on your weakened body. Drinking hot tea is so much better for you. It warms you up, rinses out the stressed detoxifying organs and helps your headache. You should also eat healthy, salty meals and lots of vegetables to neutralise the acids in your body.