Once you fall in love with bathhouses, you naturally start exploring different locations and new ways to enjoy them more deeply. One method I always recommend — especially to beginners — is contrast bathing.
Contrast bathing is the practice of alternating between hot and cold water immersion. You soak in a warm tub to open up your blood vessels, then dip into a cold pool to constrict them. Repeating this cycle acts like a natural pump, boosting circulation throughout your body.
Improved circulation can ease fatigue, reduce shoulder stiffness, and most notably — help you feel mentally lighter. During one of the hardest chapters of my life, contrast bathing became an unexpected refuge. My body felt heavy, like a sponge soaked with worry. But after just one session, I walked out feeling lighter, not only physically but emotionally too. That cloud of gloom slowly began to lift, and I found myself becoming a bit more hopeful.
Of course, stepping into a cold bath isn’t easy. It takes courage — and that’s okay. You don’t need to plunge in all at once. At first, just dip your hands or feet. That alone can help cool your body down, and you’ll start to feel subtle changes. Eventually, you might find yourself thinking, “Maybe I’ll try a little more next time.” That curiosity is the start of transformation.
Once you get the hang of it, I recommend this cycle:
- Warm bath (fully soak and relax)
- Cold bath (stay just long enough to feel refreshed)
- Rest (in a lukewarm bath or sitting on a bench)
You’ll start to notice a tingling sensation as your blood vessels expand again during the rest phase — it’s an invigorating, almost addictive feeling. I usually repeat this set two to four times depending on how I feel that day.
⚠️ Important Note
Contrast bathing can be taxing on the body. Avoid it if you have heart conditions, or if your physical condition isn’t optimal that day. Always listen to your body.
If you begin to enjoy this heat-and-cool rhythm, I suggest trying the same cycle using a sauna instead of the hot bath. Wait until sweat rolls down your chin before stepping into the cold plunge. Then take a short rest. No need to follow a strict timer — just go with your natural rhythm.
After all, this is just one of thousands of ways to enjoy a bathhouse. I hope you find your own version — something that brings you comfort, calm, and clarity in a noisy world.
The Healing Korean 