Journal

If you’re not feeling well and have doubts about doing your cold exposure, always talk to your doctor. But there’s one clear rule that’s useful to know. If you have flu-like symptoms with a fever, don’t get into the water. 

We all have days when we just don’t feel like it. On these days there are usually three mindsets.....

Cold showers are a great entry point when you’re starting your cold water immersion journey. Most people have access to a shower and you can easily play with the temperature and length of your cold exposure. 

If you’re wondering what the options are for starting your cold exposure journey, there are a couple of things to think about:

Everyone breathes. But when it comes to breathwork the word ‘work’ is very deliberate. 

With our modern lifestyles, stress, poor posture, and low awareness of how to breathe ‘properly’ have meant that for the vast majority, this completely free and incredibly powerful tool has fallen by the wayside.

This is one of our most asked questions, and Daniel gives us a great top-level summary of the most well-known benefits of cold water immersion. But let’s have a quick overview of the full range.

Daniel is often asked about the frequency and the length of cold dips. The answer is as unique as the person asking the question. 

You don’t get good at press-ups or handstands, juggling, ju-jitsu, bench-pressing, knitting, playing music or whatever by doing it just once. We know this to be true. CWI is a practice. Show up daily, design it into your routines and reap the benefits.

The most important thing to do when you emerge from your ice bath is to warm up naturally and gradually. 

Yes, it’s tempting to wrap up in your dry robe or dash to the sauna - but hold off! Allowing the body to create its own heat is all part of the process, and where many of the benefits are found. 

In this video, Daniel guides us through a 1-minute cold exposure session. Before entering the water, focus on the conscious decision you made to face the cold. Understanding your ‘why’ is an important part of your mental preparation every time you’re preparing to enter the water.

Feeling drained or like your mental sharpness isn't what it used to be? Trust me, I've been there. Like many of you, I went through countless health tips, looking for ways to shake off this sluggishness. 

When we say “cold” we mean anywhere below 16°C. A typical “ice bath” is 5-10°c. Brass Monkey Ice Baths can be set anywhere between 0.1-10°c. The rule is, it has to be cold enough to be uncomfortable, to create a feeling of “Sh*t, I need to get out, but I can stay in, safely”.

When we say ‘stress’ we usually think of life stress. Money worries, a job, relationship problems, children causing havoc. The list goes on. Chronic and persistent levels of cortisol in the bloodstream can cause serious mental and physical health problems. Tackling these usually requires fixing the cause and/or our response to the cause, which is why exercise and meditation can provide some remedy, even when we’re in the thick of it.

From Tony Robbins to Joe Wicks, there's science behind the link between high achievers and deliberate cold exposure. So many CEOs and celebrities swear by their cold water habit, here's why. How do you picture the morning routine of a successful CEO, Athlete, or Entrepreneur? Probably an early #5amclub wake up, journaling, and meditation. Followed by exercise and a cold shower before the rest of the population is even awake.

When we post about breathwork, the most common response is: “I’m a pro, I breathe every day.” Yes, breathing is what keeps us alive. But most of us aren’t doing it right.

When it comes to ice baths and even wild swimming, there’s one thing you should be mindful of… the after-drop. We’ll explore what exactly the after-drop is, why it happens to our bodies and what we can do to avoid it.

Let’s explore the benefits, precautions, and tips to help you make the most of your first ice bath experience. 

Does cold immersion impact muscle growth and should it be avoided if you’re looking to gain muscle mass? Yes, and no. Our ice baths are used by athletes across the UK as an essential part of their physical recovery. If you’re specifically aiming to build muscle, read on.

The conversation with my wife Gemma went something like this… “I need to empty the freezer to turn it into an ice bath”…