If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ve probably heard of cold-water dipping. And if you’re on Instagram, you’ve come across Ron Batuigas, a Torontonian who’s completed more than 1,000 cold dips since he began the practice in November 2020. Why would someone subject themselves to this? Research says that there are physical benefits to cold-water exposure—it’s good for the immune and circulatory systems, for example—and Batuigas can certainly vouch for the mental benefits. Submerging yourself in the cold water, and withstanding it, is a powerful feeling, he says. “I know that if I push myself to do it, I can take on anything. I haven’t been stressed since I started cold dipping.” Wanna try it at the lake this winter? We asked Batuigas for some tips, based on his own experiences.
Learning to embrace the deep, bitter cold, and enjoy it
1) Start gradually, with an ice-cold shower. Once you can stand a full two minutes of that, you’re ready to move up to submersion.
2) Don’t go alone. Ideally, go with someone who has cold-water dipping experience, but having anyone there is good, for obvious safety reasons. “It’s not just the cold,” Batuigas points out. “What if you slip and fall on the ice?”
3) The first 20 to 30 seconds are going to be the hardest. “It’s a battle between fight or flight,” he says. Choosing fight is a mental challenge, not a physical one. That’s why cold-water dipping teaches you resilience, says Batuigas.
4) Wearing a full wetsuit would defeat the purpose of cold dipping, but Batuigas wears neoprene socks and gloves. And often, a swim cap. “Cold water really hurts my head.” After your dip, have a warm (non-alcoholic) drink, and eat something rich in healthy fats, protein, and iron.
5) Don’t push yourself and risk hypothermia; two minutes is enough to get the health benefits of cold water, says the research. And obviously, don’t do this if you have an underlying health condition, says Batuigas. Also don’t do it if it’s just not for you. “Some people can’t even stand to splash ice-cold water in their face.” Hey, that’s okay; there are other ways to embrace the cold.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2023 issue of Cottage Life.
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