Ice Swimming

What is your reward for taking part in cold therapy or cold plunges?

Why do we subject ourselves to the cold when it seems difficult. There are many scientifically studied benefits to the cold water plunge including increased circulation, reduced inflammation, improved muscle recovery, better immune response, mood enhancement, increased energy and alertness, hair and skin improvements, and stress reduction. This may seem like enough, but wait, there’s more. The stimulation of all of your senses is there too.

Recently I wrote about some of the things I collected at the beach, some plastic and wood flotsam, artifacts of industrious and forgetful people, and interesting rocks and shells. Today I made a conscious effort not to grab any physical treasures to put on a window sill to remind me of the past cold plunge. Today, I tried to focus on the feelings created by the environment. As Antonio Damasio writes in his book “Descartes’ Error “, We are not thinking machines, We are feeling machines that think.” We create meaning through experience brought to us by our senses. We experience the world and this drives our thought.

The Ocean in April can bring sensory experiences that allow us a feeling of being in a “flow state”. In this place our thinking is influenced by being in the moment. All of our senses are engaged simultaneously. Reflections from the shimmering, crashing waves engage our vision while the sound of those same waves accompanied by the screams of gulls fills the ears. Our skin is tingling because of the cold and the feeling of sun at the same moment. The familiar smell of the ocean’s plant and animal life pours in, and we taste the salt as we swim. For many of us, a day at the beach overwhelms our senses in a good way, so our neural pathways respond, sending messages of reassurance and positive connections to the environment to our whole selves.

Yesterday, at the beach in New Hampshire, the wind was pretty intense. I was chilled before getting in the water, which was churned up from an approaching April Nor’easter.

Approaching the foaming waters, I couldn’t help but revel in the familiar embrace of the sea. It was spring, which was clear to me now through the feelings brought to mind. It wasn’t the temperature. It was still late wintery cold today; rather, it was a subtle change in the light brought about by the earlier sunrise.

Standing there, soaking in the warmth of the sun, I felt a sense of serenity wash over me. With no one else in sight, I had the expansive beach all to myself, stretching out for what seemed like miles. As I basked in the rejuvenating rays of vitamin D, I couldn’t help but anticipate the invigorating plunge awaiting me in the swirling 41-degree waters.

With each step towards the sea, I reminded myself of the unparalleled sense of refreshment and tranquility that awaited me upon resurfacing. As I waded in, I knew that I would emerge renewed, ready to embrace life with a newfound sense of clarity and calm. This was appropriate, I thought, as Easter, a time for Christians to celebrate the renewal of life had just taken place the past Sunday.

Easter was a few days ago and this Easter Bunny remained in the sand.

In these conditions, it’s fun to revel in the good feelings, But don’t forget that even though the air is not freezing, the exposure can be dangerous, so please keep an awareness of your surroundings when you are trying this. As Wim Hof says, the goal of this it to improve ourselves, not to cause any damage. I mostly avoided damage. Today, I managed to gulp a big swig of sea water, as a result of the crashing waves. I coughed a bit and was reminded of how densely salty and flavorful the water is in this zone. So much for the low salt diet today.

So, beyond being a catalyst for numerous health benefits, submersion in cold water can create a flow state experience powerful enough to supercharge your day. Taking the steps to find a way to the ocean, a lake or river can be a step toward changing your experience of existence. If you have not given this outdoor experience a chance yet; It is worth a try. If you have tried it, you might have the feeling that you can find something different on each plunge. The treasures you bring home may be found within you.