Ice Baths

Winter ice baths are some one of the most refreshing, freeing & calming exercises you can do for yourself in winter. Known now for their myriad of health & recovery benefits and keeping your body functioning in top form, this has become somewhat of a common practice among many athletes and fitness enthusiasts these days.

This strange addiction started a few years back when I first discovered something called the Wim Hof Method.

Wim, a Dutchman who was taking freezing cold showers every morning, swimming in the arctic & running around barefoot in the snow wearing nothing more than shorts and a t-shirt, started this method as a way to teach regular people like you and I to have a little more control over our minds and our bodies. What started out as him teaching just a few students in a hut somewhere in Poland, has now turned into a booming International audience where thousands attend his retreats and workshops throughout the year. I am sure by now, many of you would have heard of this man, some think is crazy, but who I immediately resonated with and wanted to learn everything there was to know about what he does and how he does it. He has completed many cold challenges in the past and set many records along his way, but now spends his time teaching and passing on his knowledge to others.

This method is a combination of breathing exercises followed by cold water exposure. He preaches that it is a three pillar system, with the last one being commitment, as you cannot expect to improve or see results without practicing. Some benefits to regularly practicing this method include reduced stress, stronger immune system, increased energy and focus, better recovery and sleep, and of course a better tolerance to the cold.

I started out by taking cold showers in the mornings and learning his breathing technique that usually accompanies the cold exposure treatments. After some months of doing this, the seasons slowly shifted into winter and I decided it was finally time to put my efforts and training to the test. One particularly cold Sunday morning, I made my way to one of the nearby lakes to attempt my first cold plunge. There was a layer of snow on the ground but the lake had not started to freeze over yet, so I brought my girlfriend along with me to document it with my camera and also keep an eye on me while I was in the water. That first time I didn’t stay in the water very long, but still felt the full effects of the icy water around my body. Complete silence, not just around me but also in my mind. My heart rate slowed and I felt completely at peace with everything, it wasn’t even as uncomfortable as I had imagined. I actually enjoyed it and felt so alive and full of energy when I came out of the water. This was the way I wanted to feel every morning.

So I immediately went to the hardware store and bought a very inexpensive rain water tub, put it outside in my garden, filled it up with water, and by the next morning there was already a thin layer of ice starting to form on top. Maybe not as fun as jumping into a lake surrounded by beautiful mountains, but at least now I had easy access to it everyday, right outside my door. This lead to what has now become a daily ritual, every winter season.

I continue to practice the techniques in summer, but less harshly. The water temperature isn’t as cold as in winter, but the cold showers are still a perfect way to wake up your mind and body to get ready for the day ahead. It will leave your skin tingling and feeling fresher than ever. The breathing techniques also provide with a great way to clear your mind, energise your body and have you feeling reset and focused in as little as a 20 minute session.

If any of this sounds interesting to you, you can find out a lot more information on the Wim Hof Method website as well as sign up for one of his courses to start learning the techniques for yourself and improve your life immediately.