My last visit to a Canadian Sparkling hotel, where I first learned about cold therapy, was about six years ago. Since then, the practice of cold showers, winter swimming, or being in icy cold rooms has become more and more popular.
After that stay at the hotel offering cryotherapy, I stepped out of my comfort zone a few times. I became braver, paragliding on skis, breaking my own record in downhill skiing at a speed of 96km/hr, and even trying skydiving. However, I still wasn’t sure if I was willing to compromise my love for warmth.
I often attend various workshops or seminars, so a few years ago, I booked myself a Wim Hof experience in London. Having only watched a documentary and read a few testimonials, I packed my bikini and headed to Camden Town in February.
Welcomed by a smiley Ice crew in a very dark Roundhouse, I lay down on my yoga mat and started questioning my sanity. My worst nightmare of lying next to someone noisy or smelly and spoiling the experience for me was quickly chased away by a friendly-looking lady of my age, placing her mat next to mine. Her name was Jaquie, and we clicked immediately. She was experienced, having purchased Wim’s course and practiced cold showers… Oh my, and I had no clue.
The power of the collective, the need to grow, heal, overcome fear, the atmosphere, the relaxing music, the charisma of Wim Hof, the spirit of 800 people wanting to overcome discomfort and change something in their lives, was powerful. So powerful, like the cold itself.
The motto 'We are one' or 'We are in this together,' sounding like a cliché, was never more true for me than then.
We listened, we learned, we hyperventilated, and then stripped into bikinis or swim trunks.
800 half-naked people dancing, breathing, some singing, some crying. You do unpeel a few layers of your consciousness while breathing deeply. It was crazy. We were split into groups, and one by one, we queued up to have our turn in a bath full of ice in North London, in February.
Yep! And I was there too, holding Jaquie’s hand because she decided at the last minute that she was quitting. She was cold, scared, maybe another time, she wasn’t ready, she needed to go home…
One thing I can do well is to be quite persuasive :-) so off we went. Covered in goosebumps, we immersed ourselves in a paddling pool full of ice.
It wasn’t comforting; it hurt, but we did it. The dose of dopamine, the happiness, the excitement, and pride. We made it and together overcame whatever we wanted to on that day. I definitely learned that fearful skiing wasn’t the only thing I could consider getting out of my comfort zone.
Jaquie was happy and couldn’t thank me enough for encouraging and supporting her. We swapped numbers, and our last cold hug moved me one step closer to yet another chapter in my life.
Immersing myself in the cold, losing my mind while keeping my sanity, was never handier than during winter 2020-21.
Comments