Shadowing Practice: Cold Showers - Why They're Good For You - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Back in the day, hot water was a luxury.
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Back in the day, hot water was a luxury.
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People had to live near hot springs in order to enjoy a hot bath, so for most of human history we bathed in cold water.
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But even when the Ancient Greeks developed heating systems for their baths, they continued bathing in cold water for the health benefits.
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You've most likely been taking warm showers for your entire life and there's nothing wrong with that.
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However today I'm going to tell you about the benefits of switching from warm to cold.
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And at the end of the video I'll explain the best way to do it.Ok, so why take cold showers in the first place?
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Believe me when I say this, but if there were no advantages, then I would't take them.I don't love taking them, but I love the benefits they give me.So the first benefit is;energy and alertnessObviously, an ice cold shower is going to wake you up.
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If you have trouble getting up for the day, cold shower is a good cure for your sleepy morning.
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A change in body temperature sends your body into a slight state of shock, which instantly boosts your alertness and the feeling of being awake.The freezing water is going to get your heart pounding, lungs pumping and eyes wide open.When you get hit by the cold water, it forces you to start breathing more deeply and you'll get more oxygen in to your body.
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It's like entering a meditative state.Your heart rate will also increase and it's going to feel like drinking a cup of coffee.
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You'll have extra energy to be more productive and tackle the rest of the day.Second benefit is that it canboost your willpowerBy doing something you are resistant to doing, you make your willpower stronger.
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Kind of like a muscle.
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To make a muscle bigger and stronger you have to push yourself to move more weight than the last time.
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Willpower works the same way.
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By exposing yourself to something that takes some serious self discipline, you start building that willpower muscle.And one of the best ways to build it, is to do something as hard as taking a cold shower.
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By building willpower in one area of your life you will end up having more mental strength overall.
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That means if you build enough self-discipline to take a cold shower every day, you will have more self discipline to hit the gym, quit smoking and overall make better life decisions.Imagine a cold shower as an obstacle you have to overcome every day.
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By getting over that initial obstacle, every other obstacle becomes easier to overcome.The third benefit is thatit improves circulation.If you’re not motivated by feeling better or doing better, then at least be motivated by becoming healthier.Good blood circulation is vital for overall cardiovascular health.
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It also speeds up recovery time from demanding exercises and work.
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When the cold water hits your body, your arteries pump blood more efficiently, therefore boosting your overall heart health.Alternating between hot and cold water also works.Cold water causes your blood to move to your organs to keep them warm.
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Warm water reverses the effect by causing the blood to move towards the surface of the skin.
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Thus improving circulation.What's more interesting is that in one study they found that even 30 seconds of cold water exposure can improve your immune system.
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The participants of the study who took cold showers for 30 seconds or more, were less likely to get sick.So not only do cold showers improve circulation, they also make you more immune to diseases.
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Now, if I have you convinced with the benefits, let's take a look at how to actually take a cold shower.
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If you’ve spent most of your life showering with warm water, suddenly going cold, can be a pretty big shock for your body.
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You don't want to start off too cold right away, as this can come be a big surprise for your immune system, and it might actually make you sick.
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My suggestion is to gradually decrease the temperature of the water, so your body can slowly adapt.
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So you don't have to jump straight in to ice cold.
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In fact, I start my showers warm.
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Over the course of about two minutes I steadily approach my desired temperature.
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And by slowly changing from warm to cold, I give my body enough time to adjust.
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So basically what you do is: you start your shower with warm water.
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Enjoy yourself.
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Then make it slightly colder.
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After a few seconds you'll get used to it and then you can go even colder.
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Keep on making it cold until you reach a temperature you can handle for about 30 seconds.
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It doesn’t have to be ice cold, just cold.
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So here’s your experiment.
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I challenge you to take a cold shower tomorrow morning for just 30 seconds and see how it makes you feel.
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Actually, how about about we make it a 7 day challenge?
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Remember the first cold shower is the hardest one.
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Every single day you do it, it gets easier.
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You just have to condition your body to get used to the cold, just like with any other training.
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For example, Wim Hof aka "The Iceman", can stay in an ice bath for 2 hours without freezing.
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He also holds many other world records, such as climbing the highest mountains in the world, in only his shorts.
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So even if the cold showers don't make you the next Wim Hof, you should still experiment with them and see how they make you feel.
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Do they make you more energized?
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Or do you feel like they do nothing for you?
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Let me know in the comments below.
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And together we'll become better than yesterday.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice English listening and speaking skills using the fascinating topic of cold showers and their benefits. By focusing on a transcript from a video discussing the advantages of cold showers, you will improve your understanding of how to express ideas clearly and effectively in English. As you engage with this content, you will also enhance your ability to articulate health and wellness concepts in everyday conversations. This exercise is perfect for anyone looking to improve English pronunciation and gain confidence in their speaking abilities.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Alertness: The state of being awake and aware, especially for quick responses.
  • Willpower: The ability to control oneself and make decisions that may be difficult.
  • Circulation: The movement of blood through the body, essential for health.
  • Immune system: The system in the body that fights disease and infection.
  • Adjust: To change something to suit different conditions or needs.
  • Challenge: A task or situation that tests someone's abilities.
  • Condition: To train oneself to adapt to something over time.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience on this shadowing site, consider using a shadowing app to help you with pronunciation practice. Here are some specific tips to follow as you engage with this lesson:

  • Listen attentively: Play the video or audio at a comfortable speed where you can clearly hear every word. Pay attention to the tone and emotional intonation of the speaker.
  • Shadowing activity: Repeat phrases immediately after the speaker while mimicking their tone and pace. Focus on matching their energy and clarity as closely as possible.
  • Break it down: If the speaker's pace feels too fast, break the transcript into smaller segments. Practice each section until you feel comfortable moving on to the next.
  • Record yourself: Use a voice memo app to record your shadowing practice. Play it back to compare your pronunciation and intonation with the original speaker.
  • Daily practice: Incorporate this lesson into your daily routine. Consistent practice will help you improve English pronunciation and build fluency over time.

As you engage with this content, you'll also be gaining valuable English speaking practice that can be applied in real-life situations, helping you to communicate more effectively.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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