Cold Plunges are Hotter than Ever 🥶🔥

Welcome back to Thrivency’s weekly newsletter. I hope you’re well! 👋🏽

ICYMI: Last week I sent out our largest wellness event lineup ever. There are still plenty of sound bath experiences, mental health check-ins, Pilates gatherings, and so much more that you can check out here.

Now on to the latest edition of our Origins of Wellness series. I’ve really enjoyed the process of researching the evolution of today’s hottest wellness trends, and this one is no different.

Today we’re diving in, or plunging in rather, to the trendiest recovery method of serious athletes: cold plunges. 🧊

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Cold Plunge

Areas of origin: Several ancient civilizations used cold water for therapeutic purposes. The earliest recorded history is from the ancient Egyptians, but the Greeks, Romans, Russians, Japanese, and Nordic cultures all had practices of cold water immersion.

Date of origin: The earliest documentation is found from Egyptians in 3500 BC who noted use of cold applications to treat injuries and skin irritation. 🤕

Original use: According to a 2022 study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, both Greek and Roman physicians used to prescribe cold water therapy for pain relief and injury recovery. Nordic countries had long-standing traditions of alternating between warm saunas and cold lakes to stimulate blood circulation, influencing current practices in modern-day contrast therapy studios.

Their centuries-old wisdom influenced what is being widely studied today: the physiological benefits of cryotherapy. And by the way - the umbrella term, cryotherapy, is inclusive of cold water immersion, as well as other recovery practices using cold air or ice.

Some studies have even tried to connect cold water immersion to positive mental outcomes, such as increased dopamine or a rush of endorphins that improve mood post-plunge.

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So why did cold plunges recently surge into the stratosphere as a major trend? I don’t know that this was necessarily a practice that ever went away. In fact, I begrudgingly took many post-workout ice baths while I ran track in high school. But those ice-filled, plastic bins were a far cry from what you’ll find in today’s luxurious spas.

To be honest, I can’t exactly pinpoint a cultural moment or particular brand that jump-started this trend, but it generally seems to be associated with the biohacking wave. While athletes have used cryotherapy for years, it’s never been more accessible for everyday people to visit a trendy cold plunge studio or even purchase their own tub—which can run you anywhere from $99 to a cool $5,500. 🤯

But also know that the research says there can be too much of a good thing. ❌

All in all, embracing the cold has proven to have benefits for busy athletes who are looking to soothe and stimulate recovery for aching muscles. And when combined with heat, from a sauna for example, it’s a winning duo that’s transforming the wellness industry.

That’s your history lesson for today! Have you taken the plunge? And if so, is it something that you incorporate into your ongoing recovery routine?

While you ponder, make sure to cast your vote for the next topic of Origins of Wellness.

See you back here next week for a Q&A with a wellness tech innovator that’s about to launch the latest app to disrupt the hormonal health market.

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