Embracing the Chill ❄️
”You must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible".
~ Deepak Chopra
Photo, Cold Plunge & Sauna - Find your Grit Studio
“I’m not interested in your limiting beliefs; I’m interested in what makes you limitless.”
I have a confession: Cold is not my friend! I’m a big baby when it comes to feeling frigid. I hate it. Avoiding the cold is a constant mission for me. Long sleeves in the summer have become my fashion statement, thanks to freezing air conditioning. Hot tub-level baths are a daily ritual, turning my bathroom into a steam room. Sweatshirts and blankets are my must-have travel accessories, even for tropical destinations and local movies theaters. Anyone who has ridden in my car knows that my seat warmer is always on, even in 100-degree weather.
One of my biggest fears?
Cold PLUNGES!!!
One of my closest friends is a fan of Wim Hof, the Dutch extreme athlete known as "The Iceman" for his incredible ability to withstand freezing temperatures. His method combines breathing techniques, cold exposure, and meditation to boost physical and mental health. Two out of three—breathing and meditation—are huge tools in my arsenal. The third piece, ice-cold water? NOPE!!!
Last fall, I traveled to Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming with this friend. Every day, we searched for, hiked to, and found glacial water. He not only swam in the freezing water, submerging his head, but also did a little water “dance” routine. He even ventured into the glacial waterfalls, making me laugh in the best way! His antics made for fantastic video and photo content. (See for yourself)
Yet, I honestly thought he was NUTS!
Instant headaches did not look fun to me.
My trainer and business partner, Grant Taylor, is obsessed with contrast therapy, which involves alternating between hot and cold immersions, such as a hot sauna followed by a cold plunge. This method is known to boost circulation, reduce muscle soreness and inflammation, provide pain relief, accelerate recovery, enhance immune function, promote relaxation, and even improve skin health. For years, Grant braved the cold plunge for half an hour each day—a feat that sounds neither fun nor relaxing to me. A few months ago, we added both a sauna and a cold plunge to his studio.
The sauna? I was ALL IN!
The cold plunge? NOT A CHANCE!
That was, until a few weeks ago, when I injured my right glute, causing sciatica pain. Desperate to alleviate the pain, I had a lapse in judgment. I tried sitting in the sauna, but the combination of severe pain and a hard bench made my body revolt. Standing in the sauna and trying to stretch my hamstring seemed like my only option. I managed to do this for up to an hour at a time, praying for pain relief.
It didn’t work.
It just got worse.
Grant’s brilliant, beautiful, and fierce wife was adamant that I try the cold plunge. I protested, “I thought we were friends!”
Her reply was unwavering: “Friends help friends do hard things!”
Nope. No way! I was NOT doing it.
Then she told Grant to get me in there.
Now, with both of them on my case, I was feeling the pressure.
To my surprise, hours later, a trusted healer I work with asked, “Do you, by any chance, have access to an ice bath?” Seriously, the timing felt serendipitous. I considered my options. Maybe it was worth a try? It’s only 30 seconds. I told myself, “I can handle anything for 30 seconds.” What if it actually helped?
So, I grabbed my bathing suit and headed to the studio, telling my partner, “Okay, I’ll give it a shot.” He gave me a little devilish side grin. (He was enjoying this way too much!)
With his big, bold smile and gentle, yet persistent, encouragement, I walked toward the cold plunge. I knew there was no backing out—Grant was serious, and once I committed, there was no turning back.
Grant showed me how to climb the stairs and position myself on the edge of the cold plunge. I had to sit with my butt on one side and my feet on the opposite edge, with the frigid water waiting below. He informed me I’d need to stay in for a full minute—not the 30 seconds I had hoped for. (UGGH, I knew how long a minute could feel). He guided me through the deep breathing, quick exhale technique, which was the opposite of the deep, quick inhale breathing I was used to practicing.
I was terrified.
I tried to mask my nervousness.
Grant is an MMA fighter—a tough yet caring person. I didn’t want to let him down or, even worse, embarrass myself, like I do when I need an MRI. (That’s a story for another time.)
The temperature was set to 42 degrees Fahrenheit. I could feel the cold air between the back of my legs and the water. We began the countdown.
“Exhale, exhale, exhale, exhale, ONE.”
“Exhale, exhale, exhale, exhale, TWO.”
I instinctively shut my eyes (my go-to for everything).
“OPEN YOUR EYES,” he commands!
I stopped the heating breath. “What? Are you kidding me?” I ask, glaring at him, feeling a mix of disbelief and apprehension. (He even lets me spar him with my eyes shut. LOL)
“I’m not kidding. Just look at me,” he insists.
Oh god, that might make it worse when I chicken out.
“Exhale, exhale, ONE.”
“Exhale, exhale, TWO.”
Without overthinking, focusing only on my breathing and looking directly into his eyes, I quickly lower myself into the freezing water.
My feet touch the bottom. “Exhale, exhale, exhale, exhale.”
And then I giggle.
I think, “THIS is what I was so terrified of? OMG, this is not a big deal.”
As I continued my breathing, I found myself laughing at the absurdity of it all. I didn’t listen and I fully shut my eyes, tuning out everything in the room, and focused on the commands: “now, just inhale and hold your breath, inhale, hold, and sink deeper.”
The water reached up to my neck. I was actually doing it!
Instinctively, I popped up and used my triceps to lift myself out of the basin.
I was told I stayed in the water for two minutes.
TWO FULL MINUTES! (And it wasn’t that bad.)
I started shivering, but he showed me how to tense my core to stop it, and I was amazed at how well it worked.
Wow. I felt ELATED! I felt like a badass.
The best part? My glute and hip were pain-free! The cold plunge completely relieved my pain and the relief lasted all day!
So, I started reflecting and questioning. What else am I making a HUGE deal about that might not be a big deal or could even be healing, fun, or expansive in my life? Is fear holding me back from trying other things?
Where are my blind spots? The areas where I limit my growth because of false beliefs, like “I hate cold water. I could NEVER do that! It wouldn’t help me anyway.” Or “Only crazy people like to freeze themselves!”
Where did this belief originate? Why do I think cold water and I don’t belong together? Is it a new or old thought? I recall a particular incident that might shed light on this. It was November, and my friends and I were paddleboarding on the Potomac River, dressed as witches for a “Halloween paddle.” We were listening to music, paddling, and dancing on our boards when I got caught in my long witch's cape and fell unexpectedly into the river. The icy water instantly took my breath away as I sank to the bottom in the deep water, tangled in the silky black fabric. Luckily, I found my way to the top and found my board.
This experience solidified my belief that cold water is my enemy. My cold plunge experience with Grant helped me embrace a new belief, that cold water is healing.
In the past, I’ve overcome similar limiting beliefs:
A tattoo? WAAAAY too painful! I’m too old. What if I HATE it?
Now, my son and I have matching sunflower tattoos on our wrists. I found the process oddly soothing, and I love it!
Kids and marriage? I don’t want to be tied down. Marriage doesn’t work.
I have two young adult sons and have been happily married for almost 28 years.
Graduate school? How can I afford it? How can I find the time? I am not smart enough.
Not true—I have two master’s degrees.
Traveling alone? What would people think? Is it safe?
I tried it, and it’s a freeing way to find adventure. Who cares what anyone thinks?
Yoga teacher? I’m too old. I’m not in yoga teacher shape. Who will support me? It’s expensive. I have a two-year-old; there’s no one to watch him.
I became certified at 40, and it has enriched my life beyond measure. (Thanks, Teresa!)
Morning person? I’m a night owl. I get more done at night. I’ll be too tired all day.
Wrong. I’m unequivocally a morning person. (I can still stay up and hang, though.)
Writer, Artist, Creative? I can’t spell—writers need to spell. I can’t draw—artists have to draw. I’m a wannabe artist—I could never be more. I’m not creative enough!
During the pandemic, I learned I can kinda write. (Spell check is my friend.) I learned drawing is not required to create art. In January, three of my art pieces were in a gallery show. I even traveled alone to Ireland to learn encaustic art.
Meditation? It’s boring! I can’t sit still. I’m too much in my head. My ADHD will make it impossible.
A strong 20-year practice has changed my life.
Where are you telling yourself a story and playing it safe?
Where are you still holding beliefs that may have been true in the past, but you haven’t explored lately?
I have a brother-in-law who thought he HATED asparagus. Until he tried it and realized that wasn’t true any longer.
In what areas do we tell ourselves, "I’m too old," "I’m too fat," "I can’t dance," "I can’t cook," "I can’t write," "I can’t eat healthy”," "I am a terrible driver, speaker, athlete," or "I’m too busy"? Or the big one—"It’s too late to learn something new." I’ve even witnessed teenagers telling me “it’s too late to be a serious musician, athlete, or artist.” How can that be true? (It’s not.)
Julia Child was 50 when she launched her first cookbook.
Harland Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken at 62.
Grandma Moses wasn’t discovered as an artist until she was 80 years old, having only started painting a few years prior.
Samuel L. Jackson, a recovering addict, got his big break in Pulp Fiction at 46.
My aunt, who is in her late 60s, takes horseback riding lessons every Saturday morning.
It’s NEVER too late to find something you enjoy doing. What’s the worst that could happen? You realize it wasn’t for you. At least you gave it a try. Maybe doing the thing that scares you will enrich your life beyond measure. Stop telling yourself you can’t and start asking . . .
“Why can’t I?”
Staying in our comfort zones and limiting ourselves is an illusion of safety. It’s not keeping you safe; it’s keeping you stuck from becoming your best self.
Saying YES can lead us to places we never expected to go, introduce us to people we would never have met, and provide us with unforgettable experiences we never imagined. Even if it’s a flop, it often makes for a remarkable story. A perfect life is beautifully imperfect. We make mistakes, get up, and keep moving. We get the tattoo and try the cold plunge.
“Friends help friends do the hard things.”
Be a good friend to yourself. Embrace new challenges. You never know what incredible magic awaits.
Contrast Therapy, Cold Plunge at 48 F. Far Red Sauna