Most of us step into the shower and dial the temperature up or down without a whole lot of thought. However, science has been drip-feeding the health benefits of rinsing beneath hot and cold flows in recent years. Because, when it comes to wellness, getting things steamy or cooling off both have their place in the bathroom – and, given that freshening up is already a fundamental part of your daily routine, tweaking the temperature up or down is an easy way to regularly give your body and mind a feelgood boost.
However, there is more to shower temperature through a wellness lens than aimlessly switching between the extremes – and there are some misconceptions bubbling away too. For instance, while a post-workout cool dip might have created much buzz of late, a steamier bathroom experience actually helps calm the nervous system. In contrast, you might think that a warm flow is required for lifting your spirits – however, it’s not always the case. It’s also worth remembering to listen to your body, and to only go as hot or cold as feels safe for you. Here are the benefits of both hot and cold showering.
Hot: fitness
Just unlaced your trainers after a workout? It’s worth dialling up the temperature for a steamy post-exercise soak. Indeed, there’s evidence that the warmth can soothe sore muscles after training – with one study finding it to be particularly beneficial after resistance training. So that your shower is already hot stuff by the time you’ve slipped off your activewear, you can use voice command – via your Google or Amazon smart speaker – to get your Mira digital shower heating to a preset that you can customise to your preferred temperature in the Mira Showers app. If you’re often in a rush after your sweat session, there’s also the Mira Beacon shower – integrated with handy HydroGlo technology, whose indicator lights up when your shower reaches the perfect temperature. No more awkwardly waiting around on your bath mat for the water to heat up.
Cold: mood
Mental wellbeing has been making an important splash in recent years and, among tools such as therapy and breathwork, there’s evidence your shower can also help you care for your mind. If you cool off, that is. Research conducted by the University of South Australia showed that cold water immersion could ease stress levels for up to 12 hours afterwards. Dip a toe in by enlisting the Mira Activate digital shower with its ColdBoost experiences, providing an accessible form of cold therapy. The experiences range from just one to three minutes, with the temperature automatically returning to normal after a set duration. A study published in the journal Current Psychology found that, when combined with breathing techniques, cold exposure helps improve mental wellbeing after just two weeks of daily use.
Hot: sleep
Struggling to nod off? Hotter pre-bed shower temperatures are best for a good night’s sleep. The warmth helps to aid the natural body temperature regulation process, which encourages feelings of sleepiness, according to the Sleep Foundation. Getting things steamier in the shower will send blood flow to the hands and feet – which will allow body heat to escape more quickly, and help the body to cool down, ready for snooze time. However, instead of using trial and error to come to your preferred temperature, particularly if you’re keen to slip into your pyjamas pronto, enlist the Mira Mode shower – complete with an LED digital dial – for precise control every time. This is particularly important when considering skin and hair health, with a lukewarm range of 37C to 38C your best bet.
Cold: immunity
If you’re starting to feel run down or have a busy period ahead when you need to be on your A-game, then cooling things off a little in the shower can be a smart move. There’s evidence that cold water therapy can help boost immunity, with a study discovering a 29% decline in the amount of time absent from work due to sickness when participants finished their shower with an icy blast for 30 consecutive days – lasting 30, 60 or 90 seconds. Research has suggested that the cold may induce clever physiological adaptations that prime the immune response. Mira’s ColdBoost feature allows you to lower water temperature at the pace, and for the duration, that suits you. You’ll thank yourself later.
Head to Mira Showers to discover the full range of showers available and how to get one installed by Mira-approved experts for complete peace of mind
