Colder than cold.
Coldwater exposure has been described as ‘a hangover in reverse’: pain for moments followed by a prolonged, wholesome buzz. It’s difficult to put the physical pain and mental process into words exactly, but once you pass the initial ‘ah f*** I need to get out’ you kind of reach this ‘almost’ comfortable zone of 'right, this isn't so bad'. It’s true that the piercing pain doesn’t last too long and, after a minute or two, your breathing settles and you accept you might not be having a heart attack after all. For me, the main benefits are felt an hour or two later: when you’ve finally warmed up and you can feel a little spring in your step, cleansed and even a little pleased with yourself. Keen to try? Ok, they’re some benefits. Boosts your immune system - the effects of cold water swimming has been studied widely. Coldwater helps to boost the white blood cell count because the body is forced to react to changing conditions. Over time, your body becomes better at activating ...
