Bodybuilding?veteran Rich Gaspari competed and trained with the likes of Lee Haney in his prime. Despite retiring from bodybuilding decades ago, the 60-year-old still trains regularly. While he maintains a muscular physique, at his age, recovery becomes the most significant priority for any lifter. Hence, to enhance his recovery between workout sessions, the former Mr. Olympia runner-up finally tried an increasingly popular method.

In his latest Instagram video, the 60-year-old bodybuilder revealed he tried the cold plunge for the first time. In recent years, cold plunges have become increasingly popular with athletes for their many purported benefits. 7x Mr. Olympia Phil Heath and actor Mark Wahlberg also endorse the method. So how was Rich Gaspari’s experience?

Rich Gaspari described how it felt to take his first cold plunge

Rich Gaspari shared his cold plunge experience with an Instagram post, and its caption read, “Just did my first Cold Plunge at @thrivespineandsportsrehab in Belmar, NJ.”?The veteran bodybuilder also captured his cold plunge on video, just like 51-year-old?Mark Wahlberg did in May. The video started with Gaspari in the tub, bracing himself right before taking the plunge. While they didn’t appear on video, the 60-year-old had an instructor telling him to?“breathe.”

However, that was easier said than done for the former Arnold Classic champion.?”When you first get your body totally in the water, you feel like you can’t breathe,”?Gaspri wrote.?“Your skin actually burns with pins and needles,”?he added. However, after the initial discomfort, the experience becomes much more pleasant.

“After 2 minutes, you can actually endure the freezing water,”?Gaspari explained. He also wrote about the benefits of?“Cold Plunge Therapy”?in his caption. The Dragon Slayer explained how the recovery method helps bring down inflammation and releases brown fat. He also wrote about feeling energized the following day and plans to make cold plunges part of his fitness regimen, just like Phil Heath.

Phil Heath talked about feeling nervous while taking a cold plunge

While the 7-time Mr. Olympia hasn’t competed in the last few years, he maintains a near-competition-ready physique. Recently, the former champion also teased a return to the bodybuilding stage. Hence, despite not competing, Heath trains like a champion in the gym. Earlier this year, Heath uploaded a video where he described incorporating cold plunges into his morning routine.

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The Gift said that cold showers didn’t really work for him. However, he initially felt nervous about taking the plunge. The 43-year-old felt his hidden aches and pains would get exposed, but when he finally gathered the courage,?Heath didn’t look back.?“It truly feels amazing!”?said Heath, which mirrors Gaspari’s experience. Now the former Mr. Olympia regularly takes cold plunges to recover from intense training.

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What did you think about Rich Gaspari’s experience with cold plunge therapy? Do you plan to try it? Write your thoughts in the comments.