Overcoming Winter Drab: A Narrative on the Benefits of Cold Plunging
Writer: June Rezendes ‘27
Editor: Angelica Marin
I was first introduced to the glories (and terrors) of cold plunging in October of 2020. My good friend Erin, a 71-year-old author and pickleball savant, was a seasoned cold plunger who fearlessly ventured into our local harbor every first Saturday of the month. On October 3rd, 2020, I fell victim to Erin’s linguistic superpower–persuasion–and joined her monthly plunge in exchange for a cone from our local creamery. Hand in hand, Erin and I plunged into the crisp harbor and let the shallow waves overtake us. To my surprise, the water temperature was manageable due to the occasional 70-degree fall days that preceded our plunge. Together, we waded through bits of lingering seaweed until our toes began to ache. Upon exit, our bodies felt instant gratification at the contact of warm(er) sand, warm(er) air, and a snug towel. More notably, the shock your body endures during such a dramatic temperature change is matched by a near-immediate reduction in anxiety levels. I later learned this wasn’t just a feeling;, research from Stanford Lifestyle medicine has pointed to cold plunging’s effect in “improving energy, focus, and mood…and [can be] used in the treatment of neurological conditions that involve low noradrenaline, including anxiety and depression” (Shetty, 2024). As the minutes on dry land passed, new benefits continued to emerge, such as a decrease in joint pain and a newfound glow to my skin. I felt like a more vivid version of myself.
Over the next few months, I became Erin’s consistent plus one–with or without the postgame ice cream–and our plunging posse of 2 quickly transformed into a crew of thrill-seeking locals. As the years progressed, our monthly plunges became weekly, and on the days Erin was busy, I was recruited by my plunge-junkie coworkers to engage in a much-needed post-shift dip. As a unit, we would pile into someone's sand-infested car and shuttle ourselves from the cafe to the beach 5 minutes down the road. Erin and I’s once-duo had officially transformed into an entire community.
As I entered the world of being a college student, the nature of our community's cold plunges shifted rapidly. I was void of our weekly adventures and was lucky enough to make an appearance once or twice during the winter months. My time as a cold plunger disintegrated (unless I was brave enough to subject myself to the terrors of the Charles River), and I began to crave the cardiovascular effects that a cold plunge brought. With time and research, I was presented with various local alternatives that incited similar benefits to my plunging practice. The simplest alternative being simply embracing Boston’s frigid temperatures and getting some movement outside. Higher up in the ranks was utilizing the amenities at your respective gym. Nearly every Boston gym offers its take on a cold plunge, whether a traditional ice bath or a temperature-regulated cold bath. The experience most closely comparable to my times plunging with Erin and company is at Boston’s SweatHouz: a chain of studios that offer various hydrotherapy services and, of course, a cold plunge and sauna.
Although much of my experience plunging was made by the community with whom I plunged, the impact it has made on my health and wellness has been invaluable and proven itself as an incredible alternative to various anxiety-reducing techniques. I still have yet to work the same persuasive techniques that Erin used on me, but I hope that down the line I will get to introduce my community in Boston to the community that cold plunging has brought to me. After all, who wouldn’t want a little extra glow to their skin and a free ice cream (on me)?
Shetty, Maya. "Jumping into the Ice Bath Trend! Mental Health Benefits of Cold Water
Immersion." Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, 22 May 2024,
longevity.stanford.edu/lifestyle/2024/05/22/jumping-into-the-ice-bath-trend-mental-health-benefits-of-cold-water-immersion/.