Taking the Cold Water Plunge
There’s something about getting up at daybreak, before the rest of the world is awake, that fills me with a sense of adventure. It’s like the world is yours and yours alone and the day is bursting with potential. It’s glorious.
It’s that sense of adventure which fuelled me when I got up at 5 am yesterday to get myself ready for my first Soulful Sunday session. By the time I got on the road I was just in time to watch the sun rise, turning grey skies gold as I made my way to Loch Lomond, stopping off to pick up my friend and fellow adventurer on the way. Tracey has long been an advocate for cold water therapy and its numerous health benefits and so having her by my side boosted my bravery on what felt like a very bold mission. Soulful Sunday was a first for both of us though and so we made our way there unsure of what lay ahead, filled with glimmers of excitement that reminded us of our teenage years.
We arrived in Luss, yoga mats and dry robes in hand, ready to take our place on the tiny tree lined shore which looks out across the loch. I can’t imagine a more peaceful setting for an early morning yoga practice and cold-water dip. Even with the rain threatening the loch was misty and beautiful: clear water gently lapping on the shore, lush greenery all around, swallows darting and diving across the water just feet away from us and a glowing fire pit offering warmth and a focal point for our practice.
Met by Soulful Sunday founder and teacher Natalie Valenti we were immediately put at ease and made welcome as we joined a group made up of die-hard cold water enthusiasts and other first-timers like us. Through a series of guided Qigong movements, yoga exercises and breathwork, Natalie stretched us out, warmed us up and calmed us down, grounding us on the shore before we took to the water. It’s a while since I’ve practiced yoga and I’d forgotten how good it can feel when you work through movements which gently stretch and challenge your body, ironing out the kinks along the way.
In preparation for the cold dip, we gathered round the fire as Natalie talked us through the breathing essentials and the steps we’d take to go from standing on land to being safely up to our chin in cold water. Then we were off, walking confidently in the direction of the loch. I’ve heard a lot about the benefits of cold-water therapy and when I recently interviewed Julie Nimmo, who is also a Soulful Sunday teacher, I was intrigued by her own experiences and observations about the transformative power of the water. What I realised as I stepped in and felt the cold water grip me vice-like around my legs was that I wasn’t worried in the slightest – I completely trusted that my body was doing its thing to adapt, sending the blood away from my extremities and straight to my vital organs to help me maintain body temperature. Within 2 minutes, up to my chin in cold loch water, I felt a complete sense of physical and mental peace which was exhilarating. I now understand why it’s such an addictive practice: it makes you feel incredible.
That feeling stayed with me when I stepped out of the water and it stayed with me while I enjoyed a warm cuppa by the fire. It was still there when I finally arrived back home ready to take on the world and it was with me when I went to bed at night and dropped off into the deepest sleep I’ve had in a very long time.
Interested in giving it a go? Check out Soulful Sunday for details:
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