How I got into a cold-water love affair

And so it began…

We started that morning by getting comfortable on a sunny spot in the middle of the park. We began our session with a breathing practice, which later found out was a *“Wim Hof Breathing Method” to prepare the body for cold-water immersion.  (I will explain it later)

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I am familiar with several breathing techniques and different types of meditation, but even for me this was so different. It was something I had never experienced before. Yes, I can admit I felt lightheaded from time to time, I saw some colours swirling in front of my eyes, I felt tingly sensations all over my fingers and my toes, my heart was pumping blood like a mad and yes, I felt “blood running through my veins”, that’s the most popular phrase Wim Hof uses during his breathing practice. After the breath work, we did a series of warm up exercises lead by one of the group members. During the warm-up practice they start to take their clothes off to prepare for cold water dip, and the first thing which came into my mind was “it…it’s really happening…, sink or swim!”.

I watched in awe as one by one with ease and enjoyment they entered the cold water, that day it was 6^oC, and the water temperature was the same. Then it was my turn, and I decided “If they could do it, I can do it too!”. So in I went. With fantastic care and guidance from Darius (mentor and creator of the group) and all the other members of the group I finally made it. That day I lasted around 1 minute in the water – screaming, all the way, inside.

Let me explain. Initially it was ok as I started to walk into the water until the water reached my knee level. As I went deeper I started to gasp the air, followed by rapid uncontrollable breathing, I felt an increase in my heart rate and blood pressure akin to ‘cold shock’. Luckily I could hear “breath slowly, just breath, just relax” ……all members of the group around me were so helpful and nice. I was made to feel safe and finally I relaxed and was able to enjoy my first cold-water dip.

I learnt that you need to breath smoothly once you feel your ribcage tighten, and you have to let your limbs reach out into the icy water around you to experience the benefit of the cold-water. The water demands your full attention and submersion in cold water has a similar effect on the mind as yoga practice or meditation: it takes you straight into the moment.

Once we were all out of the water I knew it wasn’t going to be my last time. As soon as my body hit the air, blood rushed into my capillaries, and my skin turned the colour of ripe, red tomatoes! For hours after cold-water immersion, the blood seems to still shimmer through the veins which makes you feel alive. Your mind and your body are busy and your energy levels are high!

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I put on my wool socks, leggings, hat and a Mexican scarf. I literally turned myself into an onion, putting layers and layers of clothes on to keep myself warm.

I was excited, ecstatic, proud and God knows what else I felt all at once…. A study showed that it increases levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that stimulates the brain’s reward and pleasure centres, by 250%. It also raises levels of serotonin, which helps us to regulate our mood, significantly decreases tension, fatigue and negative states of mind, and improves our sense of general wellbeing.