The ice bath was scary however as a psychotherapist I talk to clients about the benefit of cold water on our vagus nerve so had to try it myself and it was something I can now speak to from personal experience.

I could write a book about this experience. The short version, for now anyway, is that I didn’t know I needed this. My first ice bath plunge pushed me well beyond what I was expecting — and it only lasted 20 seconds. Somehow, despite my brain doing its best to convince me not to, I took the plunge again (the next day) and lasted a full minute the second time! This might not seem like much — but, if you’re lucky, you’ll experience it too. Just be ready for a potentially life changing experience.

First of all… if you’re gonna do something like this, trying it with a group of people definitely helps gain the courage!!I have a lot of stored trauma + physical injuries that have disrupted my life tremendously for the past 2 years so I was desperate for a release…From the moment I walked into Othership, the warm humidity and aromatherapy opened up my lungs and made me feel so relaxed!There are guides on site that help you every step along the way and coach you through the breathing pattern that will help you face the icy cold waters while coaching you through the cold plunge so you are supported the entire way! After 1 min your body truly no longer feels the cold as you surrender to the healing powers of cold therapy. The guides help track your time and also offer sound therapy during the plunge to help you connect with your body and release tension, stress, trauma, inflammation from your body so you emerge feeling like a brand new person!

I recently attempted to face myself in my first ever cold plunge. It was awesome! It was also a profound practice of surrender, accepting with every breath and ever second that went by in the cold, that the exact pain body in which you were fighting with in that moment, would one day no longer exist. It was the complete surrender to my own awareness of that pain and that truth, that allowed me to reach a goal I never thought I was capable of.The theme of aging well seems to be that one actively seeks to explore the darkest parts of their Mariana’s trench and slays whatever beasts may be lingering there. I had never faced this type of discomfort in my life.But a spiritually wealthy person with a healthy psyche actively seeks out the beast, the mirror. Avoiding truth only makes us sink deeper into the illusion of victimhood.It is because I have been awakened to the truth of my sovereignty, that i actively seek the light in the darkness, or in this case… the cold.Another dark corner of my jungle, conquered.Sincerely,A new ice bath groupie

By the way, been loving the Othership app for building a practice around breathwork. No affiliation and not an investor—just a tool I’ve been using and enjoying. Highly recommend the guided ice bath breathing sessions—they get me more out of these cold mornings.

Been using Othership app for breathwork sessions in the cold plunge.They have guided ice bath sessions that are really good. Really focuses you on the present moment. No affiliation with the company, just enjoying it.