Nordic Cycle Therapy- A Key to Happiness?
Nordic Cycle Therapy, alternating between dramatic hot and cold temperatures, has been around for centuries. Often, Scandinavians would practice Nordic Cycle Therapy, or as we call it Contrast Therapy, without any knowledge. of the physiological and scientific reasons they felt so good after the dramatic contrast between extremely hot and frigid temperatures.
The beauty of Contrast Therapy is data is emerging to prove that training your body through physical stress, like exercise, makes it incredibly more resilient to unpredictable emotional, physical, and mental stressors we can encounter.
On the opposite side of the spectrum of endorphins, the happy chemical released in your brain, is dynorphin, released when your body encounters discomfort. Both endorphins and dynorphin bind to mu-opiod receptors in the brain. When your body encounters discomfort your brain begins creating new pathways to the mu-opiod receptors allowing your body to become more sensitive to the rush of endorphins when you return to homeostasis. This is one of the reasons why people will feel a sense of euphoria hours after their cycle between the hot and cold discomfort.
This centuries-old practice in Scandinavian countries contributes to ranking as the happiest countries in the world.
Some of the other reasons we love Contrast Therapy are:
- Enhanced Healing
- Reduced Swelling
- Reduced Formation of Scar Tissue
- Reduced Pain
- Reduced Chances of Alzheimer's and Dementia
- Boosted Immunity
- Recovered muscle soreness
- Rejuvenates skin
- Optimizes circulation