Have you ever wondered why so many women are embracing cold water therapy? Beyond the invigorating rush, emerging research suggests that cold immersion might offer unique benefits for female hormonal health through several fascinating mechanisms.
How Cold Water Therapy Supports Women’s Health
We take a look at how cold water supports female health, how it creates community and connection for so many women, and how ice baths offer a unique advantage for female athletes.
Why women may have a cold water advantage
Discover why women might have a hidden advantage when it comes to cold water immersion. Research reveals women's bodies may adapt more efficiently with better stress responses, superior recovery, and enhanced nervous system benefits.
The ‘Queen of Latin’ turns Ice Queen
Discover how dance legend and Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas built her remarkable career against all odds. This exclusive series explores her evolution from world champion to beloved TV personality, sharing her experience on menopause, mental wellbeing, and her latest adventure-embracing cold water therapy at 64.
Can Cold Water Swimming and Ice Baths Help with PMS and Menopause?
Discover how cold water exposure impacts female hormones across your menstrual cycle and during menopause. Research reveals cold water swimming helps to balance stress hormones, reduce PMS symptoms, and bring menopausal relief when properly aligned with your body's natural rhythms.
Our guides on ice baths, cold water and womens health
It’s a physiological fact, women do feel cold more intensely than men. They begin shivering at higher temperatures, their skin cools faster and report discomfort quicker. But this heightened sensitivity doesn't mean weakness. Instead, it reflects a fundamentally different physiological response to cold.
This International Women's Day, we're proud to spotlight the remarkable women who help make Brass Monkey a place where resilience thrives and boundaries are pushed daily. We sat down with several of our team members to discuss their experiences, inspirations, and what it means to challenge limits both in and out of the workplace.
Stories from our community
The women in our cold water community are nothing short of exceptional. Creating international swimming groups, using the cold to connect and support each other through life's challenges and triumphs, and treating life-changing illnesses to emerge stronger.
Sisters of swim
The rise in outdoor swimming groups has rocketed since 2020, and although many swim for the incredible health benefits, for women in particular, there is something even more powerful at play. Watch the beautiful story of the Sisters of Swim, who meet at 6am all year round to take to the water and take on the world, together.
Cancer, Chemo and Cold water
Linda Davies is a women’s life coach, a writer, a mother, a cold water swimmer and a cancer survivor. We spoke to her about her journey from diagnosis to recovery, the vital role that cold water played then, and the life-giving effects it has today.
The birth of the Bluetits
Discover how Sian Richardson's personal challenge grew into a 100,000-strong global wild swimming movement. Learn why facing the cold together transforms fear into strength, helping the women courageous enough to join her "arrive like lambs and become lions."
Autoimmune disease vs. An ice bath
Twenty years ago, Rosie Marcel (best known for her role in the BBC1 drama, Holby City) was diagnosed with Behçet's syndrome. A rare condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels and tissues. Painful swollen joints, sores, memory loss, and severe headaches were just some of the symptoms she faced. Hear her story of how an ice bath became the essential tool in managing her condition.
Parkinson’s disease vs. An ice bath
Jules King lived with undiagnosed Parkinson’s disease for 16 years. When she started taking medication, her life changed for the better but her condition left her with chronic pain affecting her speech and movement. She began swimming in the sea for the huge 250% dopamine hit delivered by the cold. In her own words, ‘When I got out, oh my good god, the pain in my legs just disappeared.’ Now, alongside her meds, she has a Brass Monkey barrel to support her new life as an adaptive CrossFit athlete.
Chill with Sweaty AF
Join Lucy and Joey on a biohacking adventure as we explore the depths and diversity of cold water therapy benefits with the Sweaty AF podcast team. They sit down with an incredible line-up of experts doing extraordinary things in their field across yoga and mental health, science, sports, performance coaching and recovery before ending each episode with a cold dip in their Brass Monkey, Betty!
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Learn more about resilience in our guide to deliberate cold exposure.
Master your mental, emotional and physical health with our one-stop guide to deliberate cold exposure. Get the science behind the benefits, discover why it’s so good for you and how to get started.
We make the worlds finest ice baths
The ice has the power to change us for the better. Make us stronger. More resilient. More in control. That is why we build the world’s finest ice baths and cold plunges.
