cold water immersion curiosity
journal from season 1
My curiosity started a few years ago.
I learned more about breathwork and the potential benefits of cold water immersion from Wim Hof, and I started the breathwork — loved what it did for me. The cold though, I wasn’t ready for that.
I had read about the benefits of the cold water — Immune system support. Increased blood flow. Pain reduction. Metabolism boost. Better sleep. Energy. Mood elevated. Practiced discipline. Increased resilience. Lower inflammation. Reduced muscle soreness. A lowered risk of dementia as shown in some of the research? Wow. Check, check, check. I’m into all of it.
I could do the cold showers for a minute or so in the summer after a hot run… but that’s as far as I could imagine.
I wasn’t someone who embraced the cold with ease. You’d think my childhood would have changed that — the daily trips to the barn to tend animals no matter what the weather. I especially dreaded dark winter mornings.
But then it arrived. A deep curiosity for what this immersion in the cold water could be like. And when did it arrive? Winter.
On January 1, it drew me into action and I headed to the creek. This is where my journal begins, where I’ll share the emerging insights and introspections of my experience so far.
January 1
45° — To the water because of my curiosity and calling. I’m nervous in an excited way and don’t know what to expect. Breathwork first. Then I stayed in the water for 5 breaths. I can do anything for breaths.
Then… A feeling I’ve never experienced. Noticing the rush of heat and energy after.
February 13
17° — Breathwork first. This song by Olivia Fern playing.
“Mother of the land, you hold my hand as I walk through the peaks and valleys of my life You are ever giving, ever listening, ever singing and I hear you, oh I sing for you You help me unearth, help me give birth to my own heart Renaming, reclaiming my untamed parts Mother of the water, I am your daughter Please teach me how to let go of the need to know where I’m going Trust the ever flowing, ever opening, ever growing Allowing life to be, allowing life to flow through me She is calling us home, she is calling us home To our own hearts She is calling us home, she is calling us home, To our own hearts Our wild hearts, Our wild parts Our wild hearts
I stayed for 5 breaths got out and then went back in for 5 more breaths. Going in I knew it would be uncomfortable. But I’m not doing this because I like being cold or because it’s comfortable. I even fell in the creek on the water there, with water pouring over my boots. I debated not doing it because I thought “I don’t have dry warm socks and shoes!” But… I’m not going to die.
The sting. After the cold I feel such life flowing through me. The water, my teacher.
February 16
34°— I hesitated to go today. I woke up feeling tired and depleted. I decided I would explore the possibility that this could be what I needed rather than be afraid of it. Breathwork beforehand. Full moon in Leo. I looked at the water on the way in with judgment of how cold and harsh it looked. I thanked it for how it would flow through me. Life flowing through me. Healing. I broke the ice to get in. I stayed and found a place of bliss as I looked up and saw the sun shining through the trees. I found a place of calm I hadn’t felt the first time. I stayed for 15 breaths. As soon as I left the water I immediately felt I could’ve stayed longer but then I was reminded — this is all new and I’m exploring my curiosity. I’m noticing how in this process my tendency to get it "right" and also when I get out and think "I could've stayed longer" as if that was the goal, always pushing for more. Connection over perfection.
February 17
38° — Sprints by the creek beforehand. Breathwork 1 minute, 2 x 1 minute 30 seconds. Thanks for the water. Thanks for the space. May I be happy, may I be healthy, may I meet my experience with peace and ease. I stayed for 17 slow controlled breaths. Laughing as I noticed that it’s February 17 and I didn’t go in with that conscious notion -- the synchronicity.
February 18
25° — The creek area was inaccessible because the water was so high from rains. Raging water let loose. I went to a different spot for the first time and stayed for 18 breaths. Such a rush to feel the movement of the waterfall as I sat breathing.
February 20
18° — It’s too cold. You don’t have time. It was a different experience. Painful sting. 15 breaths, before I got out then went back in for another 10 breaths. So much sting in my hands and feet. So beautiful though. The light coming through.
February 22
39° — Breathwork. I felt fear and then I heard, you’ve done this before… and it’s awakening and enlivening. The mantra settled in. I am awake, I am alive. I am awake. I am alive. I repeated this mantra all the way in and all the way through for 25 breaths.
February 23
30° — Did a strength training workout and sprints first. Forgot my boots and the creek was high so I got in with my shoes where I usually cross the creek. Messy and scrappy. I thought beforehand, I’ll get to 22 breaths and then see if I can stay for 5 more. I was so surprised at how easy it felt to stay. It felt different than any time before. I stayed for 40 breaths and didn’t even feel a strong urge to leave. I got out and waited about 15 seconds and then decided to go in for another 11 breaths.
March 1
36° — Breathwork first. I thank the water, asked for whatever I needed today, whatever teaching, whatever lesson, and I remembered what I read recently about staying until you don’t feel the need to leave anymore. I slowed my breath, I felt the tingling, the pain, the sharpness… and I stayed past when I wanted to leave. I got to a place where I looked around and thought I can stay. I can do this. I lost steady count. I can stay.
March 2
36° — It feels like spring in many ways. New moon in Pisces today at 12° which is exactly where I have Jupiter in Pisces in my birth chart… And Jupiter is conjunct the Moon and Sun in Pisces. I interpret this as major amplification of the energy right now in my life. I did breathwork at the waterfall today before going in to set intentions for the new cycle… cleansing from last cycle, cleansing to finish out the cycle before I enter the new, and all things new are coming. I ask for creative downloads, for the strength to stay. Before I head in to the water I hear “Here I am so here I go. I paused more today. I paused before I entered and looked around. I felt my body, I felt my presence in this space. I thanked the water and the space as always… and instead of counting breaths I focused on my mantra. Here I am. I stayed until it was hard and then I stayed some more and then as I started to feel a strong tingle and the pain of the cold I decided to stay for 12 more breaths. I maintained more presence as I got out of the water than I have before. I wasn’t in such a rush. I kept hearing… power. And then, your presence is your power. Your presence is your power. Here I am. Presence.
coming soon… season 2
Until then, May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you meet your experience with peace and ease.
