Springtime Cold and Wild Swimming in Simcoe County

The ice has melted on the lake. Daylight lasts longer. The trees are ready to burst in greenery. Animals everywhere are ready to create the next generation. We know spring has arrived! 

The anticipation of the warmth after the long darkness beckons us outside more often. Now is also a PERFECT time to try our hand at some cold water swimming! 

But I misspoke. The water is COOL, and definitely not cold.  

It’s natural for us to harbour fear of the fierce bite of the frigid ice water in mid-winter, but now, what is the excuse? The spring sun is there to greet us after our swim, warming us from the outside in. Meanwhile, our body is actually designed to warm itself from the inside out, but we often forget the power of our ancient biological machinery. Our modern monkey mind gets in our way! When we let go of thinking and we trust what our body is capable of, we can do great things. 

Spring “wild swimming” is a wonderful time not only for beginners who are left without any reason, beyond serious cardiovascular issues (actually the gentler cool waters can be better for these cases; always consult with your doctor first if this is you), to NOT take the cool plunge, but the dedicated winter dippers now are rewarded with no ice to have to cut through. What a treat for all!

For the newbies, simply spending two to three minutes in these cool waters can help to build confidence for future dips. They may find they want to stay in longer, and even swim around, just like their winter-loving compatriots. There is such joy in being able to move your body in cold water. It stems from trusting oneself, which is a central benefit of practicing cold water immersion to begin with. 

We learn to set our mind to something challenging, and then are rewarded with the numerous benefits of cold water exposure: strengthening of the cardiovascular system and circulation, improved immunity, lower systemic inflammation, boost in mood and energy, improved metabolic health and improved sleep. 

Our body releases 500% more noradrenaline than when at base levels, as well as 230% more dopamine, meaning that after spending some time in cool water (just a bit more time than in cold water for the same effect) we have just helped our body and mind get a little bit stronger. 

In fact, I am using cold water immersion in combination with breathwork and mental focus, a technique called “The Wim Hof Method,” to help men with addiction. Medicine can be found for free in nature, and from within. We just need to learn how to access it. I teach the men that we must learn to access our inner pharmacy, to tap into our body’s innate ability to heal itself. Our body releases tons of feel-good neurochemicals that promote feelings of ease and calm. 

Self-improvement starts with self-assertion: “I want to feel better.” 

Many folks are deciding they want to feel better when they come to a cold plunge with our growing group, “The Couchiching Cold Community.” My dear friend Vita Rubino and I created this community in the fall of 2022, and it has grown to almost 400 members on Facebook. If you want to experience cold exposure in a public setting, you can look us up on Facebook and come to our Friday or Saturday dips at 9:45 am at Couchiching Beach Park at the beach beside the pier. 

If you are looking for a deep dive into the Wim Hof Method, I am a certified instructor and offer workshops regularly in the area. We dive into the interesting science, powerful breathing techniques and of course we plunge in a tub of ice water. Wim Hof, aka the Iceman, showed scientists he is able to warm his body with his mind alone, among other amazing things. I would love to impart my knowledge and wisdom around a technique that has given others and myself so much! 

Until then, may you savour the sweet scent of spring, and revel in the growth that abounds around and within!