Taking The Cold Plunge
My great aunt was a lover of life, with a wild streak, a sense of humor, and a great appreciation for the Baltic Sea. When I was a kid, she would announce that it was time for a swim. It didn't matter that it was November in Sweden, that the rest of us were sitting around the fire or had abandoned swimming for the season months before. Objections were vocalized and quickly dismissed as she dressed in her 70's style suit, textured swim cap, and bright blue robe. A little trail of family members would follow her down to the water’s edge, muttering protests in hopes she would come to her senses. But talking sense into a stubborn, free-spirited 80-year-old was pointless. I watched her with both amazement and curiosity, thinking she was crazy and inspiring. It’s only now that I realize perhaps she was saner than we gave her credit for.
The Science of Cold Water Therapy
While there isn't a large volume of scientific research on the benefits of winter bathing, there are some fascinating and promising preliminary studies showing that cold water immersion can strengthen the immune system, promote pain relief through reduction of swelling and inflammation, boost mood through endorphin activation, improve energy, focus, and concentration as well as improve quality of sleep. The 2018 Brain Over Body Study is spurring compelling research to promote the potential benefits of the cold-water plunge. Wim Hof, the super-human Dutchman known as the Ice Man who emerged as a leader in cold water immersion, has also helped increase awareness and bring popularity to his methods that require both physical and mental stamina.
Whether it’s looking at science or our personal stories, water has significant therapeutic benefits. Cryotherapy, which is defined as any treatment that involves the use of freezing or near-freezing temperatures, might seem like an odd path to health, yet the trend seems to be gaining popularity. What we believe plays a huge role in how we feel and how we heal, so being open to new experiences and learning from our resistance is a part of the process.
My Journey
Although my great aunt has long since passed away, she remains influential in my own cryotherapy journey. I have been told that people who live in Scandinavia have an urge to find alternatives to the natural endorphins our bodies get from the sun, feeling a boost in mood from off-season ocean dips, and my family was no exception. Growing up, we were always encouraged to swim in cold temperatures, with or without saunas to warm up in afterward, and often teased for not partaking in family dips. The Baltic Sea is cold, even during the summer months, so comfort and joy with frigid water set in for me before I became curious about the therapeutic aspects of this practice.
I self-identify as a swimmer and have swum for as long as I can remember. In my younger years, I participated in swim and diving teams. As I've gotten older, I've continued to use the sport to strengthen my body and clear my mind, always feeling a sense of calm and contentment after being in or even near water. Swimming for me has been my way of processing emotions as I move through what I am feeling in a physical capacity. I have swum through transitions, greif, and even pregnancy with an ease that reiterates that my body is capable of the things my mind is quick to fear. Peace emerges from the synchronization of body and mind in a timeless and fluid element. I already felt at home in the water, but intentional cold water dipping took my relationship with swimming to the next level.
During the early stages of COVID, my family and I were fortunate to return to Stavsnäs, Sweden for six months of living by the sea. During this time it felt only natural to take a daily swim, and as the colder months set in, I found myself among the many Swedes who maintained their summer swims as a winter activity. In early November the sun would set by 3:30 pm and the water temperatures were around 7C and dropping. I would be exaggerating if I said I "swam"; in reality I jumped in, slowed my breath until the tension in my muscles eased, surrendered to the process for a few minutes, and then frantically climbed up a ladder.
Although I'm intrigued by the Ice Man's ability to control his sympathetic nervous system through willpower and physical training, I wasn’t looking for extremes in my daily plunges. I was simply setting the goal of getting my body in cold water as much as possible and embracing the budding benefits of another natural method to increase health and wellness.
The Effects Of Cold Plunging
Diving in provides an adrenaline rush followed by sharp tingling pain that reminds me of where my body ends and surroundings begin. It’s a practice of presence and a temporary altered state where my body encourages me to breathe deeper, lean in further and finally let go. All the stuff I previously worried or obsessed over seems to vanish as my attention transitions to my invigorating breath and the unexpected bliss from my brain freeze . Primitive survival sets in while my head screams, 'holy shit, this hurts', and my breath calms and reminds me, 'you've got this'. In that moment of surrender, a switch flips and a flood of confidence pulls me out of momentary misery and into a relaxed state of euphoria. My body, now sends a current of dopamine and norepinephrine through my system, even encouraging me to go back for more. My perception instantly shifts, and regardless of life's current outer realities, my energized body helps reset my mind with a fresh and positive outlook.
On a deeper level, there is also a seductive allure felt by many. Anyone who has a relationship with the sea has their own defining words for its unspoken mystery that invites us in. As an element, water carries astrological significance that emphasizes our ability to be creative, intuitive, and emotional. Oceans are healing, nurturing, and sustaining. And water, in general, is always in motion, providing a cleansing component that allows things to wash over or through you.
For me, a sensation of love, belonging, and inspiration emerges from this endless source that humans have barely tapped into. 80% of the world's oceans are still unmapped and unexplored; an entire world rich with a million species of animals and plants lingers completely out of sight to the human eye. This in itself establishes a perspective where we are reminded of our small size in comparison to something much greater that can't always be seen, yet instinctively felt. Sensing without seeing strengthens our faith in ourselves and our environment. And, as our bodies are comprised of 60% water, it is only natural to feel drawn to the element that not only makes up our physical presence but also a majority of the earth's surface as well. It is both within us and around us, constantly calling us to dive deeper.
Water continues to be one of my greatest teachers as I learn more about myself through experimenting with this practice in multiple settings. Home now in Missoula, I’m back to taking the daily cold plunge challenge to push past my comfort zone, and like my great aunt, find warmth in the joy of November swims. My source for dipping has shifted from that of the sea to include the majestic rivers of Montana and our backyard metal stock trough. Not necessarily as glamorous as the Nordic waters I became spoiled with, yet just as adequate in helping me find my flow. Some days I need a hammer to break the ice to get in. Other days the water feels barely brisk. Regardless of source or location, the call is the same.