KIMA SURF WELIGAMA’S BRAND NEW ice bath
The Best POST Surf Recovery
Enjoying a healthy three-course breakfast daily all while surfing some of Sri Lanka’s top surf breaks at sunrise, relaxing by the pool and shredding the waves again in the afternoon, you’re in the tropical paradise that is Sri Lanka. Life is good! But I am sure your body is rather stiff after all the surfing you have been doing but…
Don’t worry! Simply jump into our brand-new ice bath at our Weligama camp. Take a plunge, release all the built up tension from surfing, this exposure to the cold will leave you feeling rejuvenated and prepared for another day of surfing around Sri Lanka’s stunning coastlines.
With our free ice bath, Kima Surf Weligama has the best facilities for you. Therefore, we can help you relax after a hard day of surfing or if you need a short refreshment in between sessions.
What is Ice Bath Cold Adaptation Therapy?
The body experiences lots of physical strain from surfing. Yes it sounds crazy to plunge into an ice cold bath. But there is a method to this craziness, as this cold plunge has many health advantages. This being the so-called Cold Adaptation Therapy. Large ice cubes are added to a tub of water, or the water is cooled to a certain temperature. The water’s usual temperature is between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.
A person will usually submerge their entire body, from shoulders to feet, in the chilly water for a set amount of time which can be between ten to twenty minutes.The cold temperature helps reduce inflammation, muscle pain and exhaustion. Many professional athletes live by this recovery strategy to help release tension in their bodies after hard physical exercise.
Your body will naturally experience increased blood circulation when you dip into cold water, which helps your muscles take more oxygen and nutrients from the blood and flush out all the toxins. The Ice Bath is a great companion to reduce your risk of surf injuries. Additionally, ice baths help your central nervous system, which promotes sleep. They can also increase your metabolism because the cold water exposure speeds up the metabolism of brown fat tissue. Ice baths soothe sore skin and promote heart health.
Ice baths have numerous psychological advantages, firstly it is a natural mood booster. Exposure to cold water causes the body to release more endorphins which helps improve mood. You will feel like you have more energy, you’re more alert and focused after taking a cold dip.
Your body is often quite tense after surfing from the strain of trying to balance on your board while riding the waves, wipeouts and paddling. Ice baths improve your body’s ability to adjust to temperature changes, which is advantageous when surfing in colder seas.
Consider having a refreshing dip in our ice bath after surfing some of Sri Lanka’s most spectacular waves and living the Eat, Sleep, Surf lifestyle. Your body will appreciate it, as will your upcoming surfing session!
The Science of Ice Bathing: The Cooling Effect
The science behind why ice baths are such a useful recovery is super interesting! Several physiological reactions that improve recovery take place when you submerge your entire body in cold water. For example, the initial shock constricts the blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the muscles which minimizes swelling and inflammation. These narrowed blood vessels allow lactic acid to be flushed out faster which reduces post exercise soreness.
Your body naturally heats up again after you exit the ice bath. Your blood vessels dilate which allows for increased blood flow to your muscles bringing more oxygen-rich blood to your muscles, which helps your muscles recover faster.
Our vagus nerve is responsible for our nervous system and stress levels, and is also activated by ice baths. Our stress levels decrease and our mental clarity increase when the vagus nerve is activated.
If it is your first time trying the ice bath you can keep your head, neck and chest above the water to adjust to the water’s temperature. This prevents your body temperature from rapidly decreasing and keeps your heart out of the water. You can start dipping your body deeper into an ice bath once you’re comfortable with it. You can take a 10-minute ice bath in water that is 10 degrees Celsius or a 15-minute ice bath in water that is 15 degrees Celsius. It is advised to take two or three ice baths per week to reap the benefits and stay healthy and to fully experience the benefits of surfing.
Our Weligama Ice Bath
We have a brand new ice bath at our Weligama surf camp, which is a fantastic complement to our spa. After a long day of riding Sri Lanka’s stunning surf breaks it’s the ideal way to unwind. The water’s temperature is about 10 degrees Celsius which is ideal for calming your muscles and lowering inflammation, allowing you to recover quickly and be fully recovered for tomorrow’s surfing practice. The ice bath is a must-try activity while visiting because it is free to use when you are staying in our camp. To improve your surfing experience at Kima Surf Weligama, use it after a long day of surfing or even in between surf sessions.
Are you prepared to take advantage of our ice bath for yourself?