Meet the Cork people taking 6am ice-baths in their back gardens

LONG considered something for elite athletes or fans of extreme sports, cold water immersion is growing in popularity in Ireland.

Portable ice baths were the Christmas gift of choice for many Irish people last year. My brother was among them, which was a surprise to me. Not one to typically follow a wellness trend, I found it hard to believe he was willingly sitting outside in cold water after doing a day’s work and playing a match.

He’s not alone, though. People up and down the country are choosing to get out of their warm beds and into freezing cold water.

So what is it about cold water immersion that has Irish people hooked?

Happier, healthier, and stronger

The practice was popularised by Wim Hof, aka The Iceman, a Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete. He has broken a number of records for cold exposure, including: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts, running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle barefoot, and standing in a container while covered with ice cubes for more than 112 minutes.

His method of cold water exposure and breathing practices claim to “help you to become happier, healthier, and stronger.”

Fans of cold water immersion say that it boosts energy, improves mood, aids muscle recovery, and helps with sleep.

Research on cold water therapy is limited, and there is no significant evidence proving its benefits, but a review in Sports Medicine Journal in 2022 found cold water immersion “was an effective recovery tool after high-intensity exercise.” Some studies show that it can result in a positive change in mood.

In recent times, Irish people have turned to sea swimming all year round to get the benefits of cold water exposure. Not everyone lives near the sea though, or has time to drive to the beach every morning. For busy people seeking the wellbeing boost of cold water immersion, portable ice baths provide an accessible and convenient way to give it a try.

Alternative remedy

Melanie Burke from Frankfield, Douglas, runs a graphic design business and is a mum of two. She describes herself as someone who hates being cold, so it was an unlikely move when she purchased an ice bath in December.

Before Christmas, she experienced her first ever migraine. The pain was debilitating and as the migraines continued, she wanted to find a way to deal with them that didn’t involve taking medication. After a bit of research, she discovered that cold water therapy was popular as an alternative remedy for migraines.

With nothing to lose, she ordered an ice bath and decided to give it a go.

Since the beginning of January, Melanie gets into her ice bath six or seven times a week. On her first attempt, she managed just a few seconds. The water measured a freezing -1°C, and she had to break through ice on the surface before getting in. Melanie doesn’t advise having the water this cold, and says “between 10-15°C is recommended.”

Two months in, she can spend up to four minutes in the cold water.

Comfortable with discomfort

As someone who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, Melanie finds the cold water immersion helpful. Being able to control her breathing in an ice bath helps her to control it in other circumstances too.

“You have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she says.

She admits that some days are easier than others. The hardest part for Melanie is going outside and getting into the tub. The first couple of times, she found it challenging for a few seconds, but she soon got used to it.

Once she is in the bath, she gets “into a meditative state,” she says.

I focus on my breathing, and it helps me stay a bit longer.

Energy boost

Since starting the cold water baths, Mel has noticed some big changes. She finds that she is more positive, and starts the day on the right foot. As a busy mum and business owner, she often felt sluggish.

These days, she says: “I have more energy and I’m more focused. I’m ready for bed by 9.30pm and sleeping a lot better.”

She has noticed an improvement in her mood too. Melanie says she used to “fly off the handle” when stressed, but now she can take a deep breath instead.

I feel there is more calm in my everyday life, even though it is still chaotic.

Perhaps most significantly for Melanie, she hasn’t had a single migraine since beginning her daily cold water immersion. She has no plans to stop any time soon. It’s “completely addictive,” she says.

Having seen the effect it has had on her, Melanie’s husband has started taking cold water baths too.

To anyone considering dipping their toes in, her advice is not to think about it too much. “Procrastination can take hold of you, so just do it. The benefits outweigh the discomforts.”

Shake up the daily routine

Maria Petco lives in Killeagh, County Cork. Originally from Moldova, she moved to Ireland 10 years ago to learn English. Since then, life has been busy. She trained as a barber, became a mother, opened a barber shop in Midleton, and bought her own home. After the pandemic, Maria started to feel stressed. She had just bought her house, then had to close her shop and move to a smaller premises.

While looking for a way to escape the pressures of daily life and shake up her routine, she saw someone online talking about ice baths. She decided to buy one, and told herself: ‘I’m going to do that, and I’m going to do it every day.’

Like a meditation

Since January, Maria has begun every day by getting into a cold water bath in her back garden. For her, starting with an ice bath means she “wins the day” and feels ready for anything. Her attitude is: ‘If I can do this, what can go wrong in my day?’

Maria has noticed an uplift in her mood since beginning her daily ice bath routine. After her cold water dip she feels wide awake and happy. She loves being outside early in the morning, “when night meets day.” Her daily cold water bath lasts about four or five minutes, but the length of time isn’t important to her. Just getting into the water makes a difference. Even a few minutes listening to the birds helps her to feel grounded.

“I have a child to drop to school and a business to run,” she says.

This is a chance to take a minute for myself.

Although Maria is dedicated to her daily ice bath, it’s not without its challenges.

“It’s not easy getting up at 6am. Some days it’s raining. No-one pushes you to do it.”

But the feeling she gets from the cold water is worth it.

“Once you sit in the bath, your mind is clear,” she says. 

Your thoughts disappear. It’s like a meditation. Every cell in your body wakes up.

To anyone thinking about trying a cold water bath, Maria recommends finding your ‘why’. There will be hard days when you wonder why you are doing it, so you have to be clear about your reasons for braving the cold.

She says: “You need some courage to overcome your thoughts.”

While there may not be a lot of evidence on the health benefits of cold water immersion, that doesn’t bother those who do it regularly. They experience a boost in mood, more energy, and a greater feeling of resilience after braving the cold.

If you’re looking for something to help you feel present, wide awake, and give you a sense of achievement before you even start your day, it might be worth taking the plunge.