Experiencing an ice bath is no longer reserved for elite athletes. More and more people seem to be enjoying the many benefits that come from a chilly submersion.
I’d seen a new gym had opened in my home city of York. Alongside the traditional workout space, The Recharge Hub also offer wellness facilities, including an ice bath.
Always keen to experience something I’ve never done before, I headed down to give it a go as one of my fifty-two new things in fifty-two weeks.
Would I be able to freeze the fear and last the full fifteen minutes of icy bathing, or would I need to emerge early having been chilled to the bone?
Benefits Of An Ice Bath
An ice bath is a form of cold exposure therapy which has had quite a platform in the past few years. Wim Hof has been a key voice and influence in the area. A few years earlier, I followed one of his guided breathing videos as one of my new experiences, but hadn’t embraced the more physical aspect of his teachings.
Home ice pods are becoming popular and, reading about cold exposure therapy on the Wim Hof Website, I uncovered some of the many ways people are reaping the rewards from controlled time in low temperatures.
Physically, people may experience things such as:
- A reduction in muscle soreness and swelling.
- Support for their cardiovascular circulation.
- An increase in energy.
Mental health benefits can include:
- Relieving stress.
- Increasing will power and concentration.
- Some alleviation for depression.
Of course we are all different. What one of us experiences may not be the same for someone else. I was curious to find out for myself and to discover what time in an ice bath might do for me.
I’d been for a run in the morning, and was almost on day 800 of my latest run streak. I was hopeful that at the very least my muscles would feel some benefit from the experience.
The Recharge Hub - Experiencing An Ice Bath
Despite a few messages on Instagram a few months earlier, I never committed to an ice bath and hadn’t made a booking for a session. Taking a chance that they could fit me in, I arrived at the premises, entering into reception which was populated with some of the friendliest folk.
One of the owners, Marius, was on reception at the time. He was happy to help support me to try two new things on my visit. Booking me in for an ice bath and a red light steam pod, he showed me around the facilities.
Adjacent to the reception is the hub area. It’s a relaxing and cosy space where people can work, have a coffee, take a moment to chill, or have a chat, which is what a couple of ladies were doing when I arrived. They overheard what I was up to, and wished me a cheery good luck with my glacial dip.
I have never been in a gym like it. It’s small but perfectly formed, and super friendly.
Experiencing An Ice Bath - Preparing To Take The Plunge
Similarly to at a swimming pool, bathers are required to take a shower prior to entering the water. The spray was warm enough, but getting changed had certainly felt a little on the fresh side.
I had my swim shorts on and, because I wasn’t feeling overly brave, I wore a sports t-shirt over the top of my swimwear, thinking it might take the edge off the chill.
The ice bath itself wasn’t in a separate room. Instead, it was in a small recess in the wellness facilities area. All that separates the bather from other facility users was a thick curtain; my only concern was that it wouldn’t drown out any sudden outbursts I might accidentally make when I entered the water.
The Ice Bath
Perhaps the fact it is called an ice bath is a little misleading. The water wasn’t actually frozen, there weren’t any blocks of ice to sit amongst and we didn’t have to chip away at an icy surface to make an entry point.
The temperature was 10 degrees, but don’t let those double digits deceive you.
Whilst in the UK we may be familiar with 10 degrees as a pleasant, yet still brisk temperature in early spring, it is often considered the lower end of the scale for cold water immersion.
Bobbing about on the surface was a rubber duck, a nice reminder to not take this too seriously, and something to focus on if I needed it.
Deeper than your average bath tub, there was plenty of space to lie back and chill out, with chill being the operative word!
Previous Cold Water Experience
I’ve been in cold water before; let’s face it, the UK isn’t renowned for having particularly warm waves lapping at our shores. I’ve also been swimming in the Baltic Sea. It was in the summer, but it was still very fresh!
My previous experience with cold water might be one you recognise. Paddling out, the water gradually creeps up your legs, getting colder with every step. Then comes that moment: either you keep wading, or you take a deep breath, bite the bullet, and lower yourself in until the cold hits your torso, leaving you with no choice but to lift your feet and swim.
That’s the point I always hesitate—overthinking just how cold it’ll be—and then, through gritted teeth, I take the plunge.
After that initial ‘Oh my God, it’s so cold!’ and a few frantic strokes, the temperature seems to fade, its grip loosening as my body adjusts, and it quickly becomes an afterthought.
Surprisingly Nervous
Nerves were something I hadn’t expected, getting into a bath isn’t usually particularly daunting. My mind was questioning what I was about to do, and my legs needed a little more encouragement than usual to take me to my soak.
That initial submersion was the part I was most bothered about, and how my body would react to the sudden cold. I gave myself a pep talk, I just needed to not hesitate, remember to breathe, and if it was really that bad I always had the option to get out.
Getting in
Taking a few deep and steadying breaths, I steeled myself for an icy dip.
Following the advice of Marius, this was going to be a smooth and fluid movement.
With control, I placed my right foot into the water until it reached the bottom. Without taking a breath, I brought my left foot in to join it.
The water was above my knees. I didn’t give myself time to stop and think about it, and lowered myself into the bath in one continuous movement.
I was in.
What It Felt Like Experiencing An Ice Bath
Don’t roll your eyes when I say it was cold. Of course it was cold, that isn’t a surprise. However, it wasn’t the sort of cold that makes your body involuntarily shake and your teeth helplessly chatter.
There was no sharp shock, just an immediate tension as my muscles reacted to the drop in temperature. The water, initially cool and velvety, soon settled into stillness around me, like the strange comfort of slipping into a cold bed. Surprisingly it soon became bearable, and then almost pleasant.
Resisting the urge to bob about, or swim my hands through the water, I found remaining motionless to be a friend. Marius had recommended staying still, as it allows your body to adapt to the cold. It felt counterintuitive – my instinct was to move. Using a mighty amount of will power I stayed focused and remembered to breathe.
The silky water was reassuringly there, a bit how I imagine a weighted blanked might feel. Cooling and smooth, it was nothing like the prickly and stinging sensations I’d anticipated.
The realisation of ‘I’m actually doing this’ began to wash over me, and I’m pretty sure that gave me an extra bit of a glow.
Fifteen Fresh Minutes
The timer was set for fifteen minutes. A full quarter of one hour.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s not very long, but in this situation it could have dragged.
Marius stayed with me for a chat. It wasn’t something we’d discussed before hand, but I was genuinely curious about the gym and enjoyed talking with him so was more than happy to have his company.
Feeling as though I’d only just got in, I was surprised to find there were just three minutes remaining. The time was flying by.
Keeping mind over matter, and paying attention to Marius rather than fully focusing on the sensations was, I’m sure, a key factor in lasting the duration.
How It Felt After Experiencing An Ice Bath
Emerging from the icy waters, I wrapped my towel around me, and was amazed that I wasn’t shivering.
My skin felt pleasantly tingly, and my body felt good, strong, and of course wet. Mentally, I felt an overwhelming sense of achievement and ready to take on the rest of the day. But first, I was off to try another new thing, as I entered the red light steam pod.
I felt really positive; invigorated yet relaxed at the same time, and I slept like a log when I went to bed.
I had a renewed sense of gusto on my run the next morning, and I’m pretty sure that was my muscles saying thank you.
Would I Go In An Ice Bath Again?
Definitely. Whilst it might not be something I do regularly, I’m pretty sure I will revisit the chilly waters.
I enjoyed the sense of control I had whilst I was submerged, and the warmth of adrenaline when I got out.
Whilst I certainly felt the benefits after one session, I’d definitely be keen to explore how it feels after more cold water exposure, and I’m going to try the occasional cold shower at home too!
Want To Try It Yourself?
- For the same experience that I had, you need to visit The Recharge Hub in York. You can either book on line for a guaranteed time slot, or you can turn up and see if it is available.
- There are lots of places offering ice baths, from gyms to specialist centres, so why not look and see if there is one near you.
Cost Of Experience
- My 15 minute experience cost £15.
- The price will vary from venue to venue.
Recommendations
- Be safe. First and foremost, if you are going to try cold water therapy, do it safely. It is best to experience it in a controlled environment where people can help you if you do have any reactions.
- Breathe. Focus on controlling your breathing as it can help to distract you from the cold sensations.
- Get straight in. Dipping a toe in first will make it harder. Keep moving until you’re sitting in the water.
- Try to stay still. It will allow your body to adjust to the temperature.
- Find distractions. Whether that’s taking a book in with you, listening to a podcast, or having a friend to chat to, having something to do which means that your mind isn’t solely fixated on the sensations, can make it easier.
- Check what you need. Some places offering cold water therapy may provide towels and slippers, but it’s always worth checking in advance so you take the appropriate things.
- Enjoy! I’d love to know how you get on, so let me know how you find it if you try experiencing an ice bath.