Taking the Leap with Western's Cold Plunge Club

WWU's Cold Plunge Club has been meeting at Taylor Dock since March for a daily dip into Bellingham Bay.

Ice baths, cold immersion, deliberate cold exposure ... whatever your term, it started as being most common with high-intensity athletes for improved recovery of muscular power, muscle soreness, and perceived feelings of recovery.

Cold Plunge Club members leap off a dock into Bellingham Bay

But trends and studies are catching up on not just the physical but the mental health effects of cold plunging.

I joined WWU's Cold Plunge Club to jump into the bay luckily while the sun was shining, but the water sat at a frigid 45 degrees. The idea was simple, but not super tempting: plop into the bay and swim around for an extended period and reemerge, shivering and shaking, for (hopefully) a rush of neurochemicals that make us feel alert and awake.

Jumping in triggered a fight-or flight response. When I hit the water, without a single thought my legs kicked to get my body back to the surface, and it didn't take long before getting in that I wanted to get out and get back into my warm car. However, the rush of energy and a feel of mental clarity did hit quickly after getting in, and this is what keeps people coming back.

The most important cold emersion benefit I have experienced since participating regularly is the heightened mood and focus following the plunge.

Joey Lane

WWU Cold Plunge Club member

Science says that during exposure to cold water, our bodies are hit with a rush and release of epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and it has also been found that there is a prolonged release of dopamine after cold exposure.

"Often I'll come to the dock dreading the water, and leave ecstatic; it makes the rest of my day so much better," said Cold Plunge Club member Joey Lane of Whidbey Island.

The plunge also uses the prefrontal cortex to exert what is called 'top-down control.' It's the basis of mental determination or resilience, a skill that allows people to maintain calm and clear-headedness through stressors.

"We had started inviting friends to come with us occasionally for plunges, and our community was growing, so we decided to make it official at WWU," said club co-founder Caleb Barville of Kona, Hawaii. "Some days, it was sunny and blue skies, but most days during the winter were gray, sometimes snowy, and quite frigid - but the plunge always feels incredible and helps me a lot with mental health."

Living in an area where the sun has been missing for months means a lot of people in the Pacific Northwest are looking for ways to help with mental health in a positive way.

“The most important cold emersion benefit I have experienced since participating regularly is the heightened mood and focus following the plunge,” said Lane.

Cold Plunge Club was intended to build community of people who not only want to improve their mental health, but also to have a good time while doing it.

"Our club CEO is my neighbor's cat, Amerigo, and we are starting the production of 3D printed animal keychains that you can get if you come to a cold plunge. We also expect to host club potlucks and hikes in the future if everything goes well." said Barville.

To learn more about Cold Plunge Club and to stay updated on plunges and events, visit wwu_coldplungeclub on Instagram or email wwucoldplungeclub@gmail.com.