Benjamin Franklin’s Air Baths
Before cold plunges and Wim Hof breathing, Benjamin Franklin swore by “air baths”—standing naked by an open window for 30 minutes each morning, regardless of season. He believed the fresh air cleansed his body and invigorated his mind, even in winter chills. Neighbors grew used to glimpsing the Founding Father in all his glory, scribbling notes while the breeze hit every pore.
Franklin wrote proudly about these baths in his letters, noting he rarely got sick and felt mentally sharper afterward. He viewed clothing as “constrictive” and believed that illness bred in stale air. Long before modern science embraced the benefits of ventilation and cold exposure, Franklin’s quirky habit proved he was literally—and figuratively—ahead of his time.
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