Standing half-naked on a muddy patch of riverbank, fighting both feelings of apprehension and an uncontrollable shiver, whilst staring out at the mirky façade of what has become my regular swimming pool, in that moment at least, doesn’t feel like the key to anything, except some imminent and rather powerful discomfort. Five intense minutes later however, with numbed hands and redded skin, I emerge with a re-doubled allegiance to the church of cold-water immersion.
Perhaps a surprising trend for a culture increasingly intend upon the pursuit of quick fixes and instant gratification, therapy through exposure to cold water occupies a spot in the wellness, self-improvement zeitgeist which is becoming hard to ignore. Being touted, inevitably, by some Viking-like master of the cold who advocates for the practice with a nigh on religious zeal, and promising benefits ranging from all the way from physical performance, to psychological proficiency, to prophylactic protection! Indeed, this was my experience coming across the, now high profile celebrity, Wim Hof – an eccentric Dutchman who developed a his own method of breathing combined with cold exposure to improve his own mental and physical health. Wim is unashamedly his own loudest hype-man when it comes to the success of this method, boasting that the cold has the power to heighten your senses, improve your mood and even bolster your immune system. These are all bold claims, and considering the level of popularity Wim and others have garnered on their basis, it is only right that we hold some icy feet to the fire and investigate them.
Continue reading “Cold Water Immersion: A passing fad? Or the secret key to wellness?”