Jahnava Nitai Das 2 Report post Posted January 10, 2002 What are the effects of getting water in one's lungs from breathing in the steam when one takes a hot shower? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gauracandra 1 Report post Posted January 10, 2002 I think one effect is it clears out the nasal passages. I always find (not to get too gross here) that I can blow my nose very easily right after a shower. It completely unplugs my breathing first thing in the morning. Its just hot, moist air that does the trick. Though I find at night if I take a hot shower it can prevent me from sleeping well. I think the body heats up, and then has to expend a lot of energy cooling itself down, and this makes it difficult to sleep right off. Gauracandra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jahnava Nitai Das 2 Report post Posted January 10, 2002 My own experience is that it becomes hard to breath with all that heavy air in your lungs. As soon as you come out of the shower and smell the open air, it is so refreshing and clean. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gauracandra 1 Report post Posted January 10, 2002 I can understand what you mean. Actually I find the best is when you can take a hot shower, and have a window open at the same time. The fresh air really helps you breath better. I think you are right that the moist hot air does seem heavier on the lungs. Gauracandra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jahnava Nitai Das 2 Report post Posted January 11, 2002 When you take a shower, the increase of the hot steam is so gradual, that you don't notice how thick and heavy the air is becoming. But if someone had taken a hot shower, and then immediately afterwards you enter the shower, you will have a real hard time breathing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
valaya 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2002 Best to alternate between hot and cold to stimulate the circulation! Loofah sponge is also highly recommended. Finishing with the water as cold as possible helps clear phlegm (spelling?), too. BTW I prefer lukewarm from start to finish--keeps my chanting more steady! valaya Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atma 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2002 It does wonders for your pores though. All the hot steam open up the pores really nicely and you can unclog them and remove all the dead skin cells and blackheads. The trick is to finish with a cold shower to close up the pores again. BTW, I thought that brahmacaris take only cold showers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pratyatosa Dasa 0 Report post Posted February 13, 2002 Originally posted by atma: BTW, I thought that brahmacaris take only cold showers. When I was a "brahmacari", living in ISKCON temples (1970-73), I was told by a fellow "brahmacari", that Prabhupada said that taking a warm shower is like embracing a naked woman, but maybe this "Prabhupada said" was started by a temple president who was trying to save money on the utility bills. An alternative to taking a cold shower is to walk around wearing nothing but a dry gumcha (loincloth) after taking a warm shower. Do this until completely dried off and cooled down. Then perspiration will be completely stopped and the pores closed so that bacteria can't enter, and by getting completely dry, especially between the toes and the genital area, fungi have a more difficult time to grow. [This message has been edited by Pratyatosa Dasa (edited 02-13-2002).] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
