My Journey into Cold Water Therapy

It all began with the BBC1 show Easy Ways to Live Well, which I hosted alongside my brilliant co-presenters, Steph McGovern and Dr Zoe Williams. Dr Williams had been researching methods for tackling stress and discovered compelling evidence that “cold water therapy” could significantly reduce stress and improve mood.

I didn’t consider myself particularly stressed, but I had to admit that during busy periods, I often felt “hyper,” waking up early and taking work home. My family, however, were quick to suggest otherwise.

So, Dr Williams chose me to “road test” cold water therapy, while Steph opted for belly dancing (and turned out to be a natural!). My task was to swim outdoors in the sea or a lake whenever possible, or start the day with a cold shower when that wasn’t practical.

To make things even more challenging, I began this journey in January, when the water was freezing. Just days into my cold shower routine, I found myself at a tidal swimming lake near Clevedon, just outside Bristol.

On that mid-January morning, a hard frost covered the ground. The tidal pool, only about 5 feet deep, gets incredibly cold quickly. On this day, the water temperature was a chilling 4 degrees Celsius.

“That’s the coldest we’ve had so far this winter,” I was told, and I could see why.

As I descended into the icy water, the shock was overwhelming; I could barely breathe. It was far too cold for a novice like me, and if I hadn’t been with experienced swimmers, it could have been dangerous. They only allowed me in for two minutes—thankfully, I didn’t want to stay longer!

Meanwhile, the regulars swam about, chatting and staying in for ten minutes or more. Afterward, they enjoyed hot drinks and wrapped up in fleecy robes while I struggled to dress, shivering uncontrollably.

Yet, within minutes of exiting the water, a strange tingling sensation spread across my skin, followed by an inner glow, as if my body was warming itself up. Alongside this, I felt a mild euphoria, despite still being extremely cold. It was as if my body had a plan to take care of me, and that felt incredible.

Talking to the others, I heard stories of how cold water therapy transformed their lives. Many attended these sessions several times a week, finding camaraderie in this shared endurance. The intensity of the experience, they claimed, brought profound mental benefits.

“I just know I’ll keep doing this for the rest of my life,” one participant declared. That was a clear endorsement!

Despite my initial reluctance, I decided to persevere. I didn’t immerse myself in such frigid water again for nearly a year but stuck with my cold shower routine. It starts with a hot shower, followed by a cold blast. It’s always a shock, but after about 30 seconds, it becomes refreshing. After a few minutes, I step out feeling invigorated, and that buzz lasts for hours.

That January swim was nearly two years ago, and since then, I haven’t missed a day of cold water, whether from a shower, bath, river, or pond. We’ve moved back to Devon full-time and are lucky to have a pond at the bottom of our paddock. It’s perfect for morning swims, although I sometimes settle for a cold shower if pressed for time.

During these unusual times and with the second lockdown in place, I’ve kept up my pond swims. I have no plans to stop, even into the new year. When work takes me away, I now worry that hotel water won’t be cold enough to deliver. I’ve even been known to seek out wild swimming spots while travelling.

If I need to, I’ll order a bucket of ice to chill the bath water—after all, I’m committed to my cold water journey!