“I can do hard things” is what I told myself before I did my first cold plunge. I sat in the lobby of the social wellness club Remedy Place on a frigid January morning, anxiously awaiting the specialist to take me downstairs. It wasn’t my first visit to the Manhattan flagship—I’d been a few times before for much more frivolous pursuits—none of which had my nerves so bad.
This wasn t technically my first cold plunge—that is if you count my fraught attempts as a high school athlete. My coach sending the entire track team to an ice bath after a hard run. The idea seemed simple enough—just get in the water; yet every time I got knee-deep in the chilly waters I succumbed to the cold. Quickly getting out of the tub and laughing away my Coach’s encouraging words.
When I asked Dr. Jonathan Leary, CEO and founder of Remedy Place, why the studio offers ice baths among its other wellness offerings, he said “it trains the mind and body that you’re in control.” It was this idea of pushing through the discomfort that drew me to the practice this year; though I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz around the practice in recent months. “Basically, it makes you feel like a superhero,” he continues, adding a list of additional benefits outlined below.
- It teaches the body how to adapt to stress.
- It helps lean you out and alter your body composition.
- It drastically improves sleep.
- It boosts mood by spiking dopamine.
- It enhances circulation.
- It trains your body to regulate its temperature.
Leary, who has a doctorate in chiropractic and alternative medicine, would set up ice baths for his private practice clients, and eventually in 2019, set up a breathwork ice bath class at a wellness retreat in Costa Rica—to aid the group’s recovery. “The class was a hit," he says. "People went nuts, claiming it was life-changing.” So, he knew he had to make it a mainstay in the Remedy Place menu.
“Kiana,” the specialist called. At once, I was guided to a changing room to put on my bathing suit. Covered with a robe and outfitted with rubber sandals, myself and another first-time cold plunger were led to a dimly lit room, a faux fire place creating a rather relaxing glow in the background. Three bath-like pools were situated along the wall, each with a padded bed next to it.
We were instructed to choose a song we’d like to listen to during our plunge. (Per Leary, "During an ice bath, depending on the type of experience you seek that day, it’s crucial to match the right music to your desired mood.") I chose my favorite song by 6lack and my counterpart, a classic Marvin Gaye. The team member loaded our selects into an iPad before leaving the room.
Next, our breathwork began session began. “We have guests do our breathwork before taking an ice bath to prepare the body to excel in the cold immersion,” Leary explains. “In adaptation training, it’s crucial to prime both mind and body for success, and breathwork accomplishes precisely that!”
Admittedly, I was too nervous to focus on my breathing. I couldn’t stop thinking about just how cold the water was about to be. “Mind over matter” I told myself. With breath work completed, the only thing left was to take the plunge—6 minutes in 39 degree Fahrenheit water.
So there I sat, straddling the pool waiting for the six minute timer to begin. I looked at myself in my phone, which was propped up in typical millennial-Gen Z fashion to record the experience. I gave myself a thumbs up and thought of my brother, Elisha who had just months prior had an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down for six weeks. In time, he has gained motor function in his hands and legs, but remains in recovery to regain his strength—all with a smile on his face and the infectious spirit he is known for. If he can do that, I can surely do anything.
“And, go!” the specialist exclaimed. Suddenly I was in the tub. My breathing quickened, and I sat frozen with the water up to my ribs. I tried to focus on something, anything, to pass the time and not embrace every single second. I suddenly appreciated our song choices, and the encouraging words of the specialist. Unlike my high school days, I made the decision to stay in the water.
The first 90 seconds are the hardest, as your body becomes acclimated to the temperature. But after that, I felt my muscles relax and I was slowly able to ease more into the water. Remedy Place recommends getting in up to your chest for the full benefit.
Faster than anticipated, the first song was over and the familiar hum of Ain t No Mountain High Enough sang over the speakers. I smiled to myself—halfway there. To pass the time, I sang the words softly, already eager to call my mom and tell her what I’ve done. One minute left. Then 30 seconds, 15 seconds…five, four, three, two, one.
I arose from the water, sat on the bed, and quickly grabbed my towel. My legs, visibly red, felt cold to the touch. No matter what sensations my body felt, nothing could shake the smile on my face.
There are many reasons why someone might appreciate a cold plunge: the easing of sore muscles, the circulation boost; but for me, it was about feeling proud of myself. For actively choosing to push my body past limitations I placed on myself. For showing up for myself and not giving up.
And to me, that meant everything. I did four more cold plunges through Remedy Places’s cold plunge challenge in January; and honestly, I would’ve done more if I lived closer to its flagship. (A new, lower-Manhattan location is reportedly in the works.) With each session, the plunges got easier.
But no matter what, I always left with that same accomplished feeling—more motivated than ever to keep moving. Who knew six minutes could leave such a lasting impression?
