Do you remember where you were on Tuesday 6th February 2024 between 6:30 and 8:30 pm? Here in Wales, the wind was at gale force and the rain was torrential. So, like most sensible people you would probably have been curled up in your warm living room in front of the TV with a glass of red or a hot chocolate, yes? Not me. I was halfway up a mountain, experiencing extreme heat and cold…
I was at Mountain Yoga, just north of Taffs Well outside Cardiff. The centre is set in acres of mountainous countryside, with amazing views over rural north Cardiff. Well, there would have been, but for the clouds and sheets of rain… Did I mention that it was raining? … Anyway, there is a yoga studio on the mountainside, approached up a steep set of steps and slope. And even further up the hill is a platform on which stands at one end a large marquee. Must have been well secured that evening, or it could have blown away… Did I mention that it was windy? … At the other end of the platform was a cold plunge pool, about 6 metres by 2 metres, filled with fresh mountain spring water. I was there for their new Fire and Ice experience…
After a treacherous drive in Maudie (my li’l campervan) being battered by the wind and driving along flooded roads (I did mention the weather, yes?), I arrived in the car park. Dressed in my swimming skins (think long-sleeved rash vest and leggings), with my long raincoat and fetching footwear in the form of my pink sliders, I made my way through puddles (literally) and up the hill to the marquee. I was greeted by Josh, who offered me a hand to get up the steps to the marquee entrance. ‘Be careful,’ he said, ‘people sometimes get their knees caught in their coats on these steps.’ How ridiculous. I wasn’t about to do *that*. No, sir. Catching the toe of my slider on the step and falling over was a much better look 😂
Inside the marquee it was toasty warm. A large gas-flame heater stood in the centre, kicking out some substantial heat. And around the edge of the marquee sat my co-adventurers. Men and women, probably mainly in their 30s, some in sports kit, some in swimmers, some in the same sort of skins as me. I sat next to a woman called Christine, and we joked that it would be easy to remember one another’s names.
The two instructors – Josh (the step monitor) and Chris – outlined the plan for the evening. In the marquee, we would move… we would warm ourselves up and raise our heart rates, we would stretch and we would learn the art of relaxed nasal box-breathing. Oh and we would bond…! In the plunge pool… well, we would plunge. Obviously.
There were four rounds.
Round 1. We talked a little bit about breathing. We talked about how to get warm after being cold, and what to do if we saw a fellow adventurer struggling. We did some squats and toe touches. Then it was time for the first plunge. The pool temperature was 8 degrees. And it was chucking it down with rain and the wind was howling. I’ll stop going on about the awful weather soon… just want you to understand the madness/determination that was involved in this adventure!! All we had to do was 1 minute under the water. I can tell you, it felt like an age. It was deep for short people like me. Getting in and out was both difficult and inelegant. And the water felt bloody freezing. Nevertheless, the one minute passed, and then we were back in the ‘Fire’ to warm up.
Round 2. After a bout of intense movement of arms, legs and whole body to get warm, we then practised some balance – important for focus – did some stretches, and then started to explore breathing techniques. Some of the instruction was pretty standard for me as a flute player (breathing to expand the diaphragm, rather than into the chest for example). We were also instructed in box breathing. This is the technique where you count your breath in (say for 5 seconds), hold for the same count, out for the same count, hold for the same count… and repeat. Think of following the outline of a square or a box – hence the name box breathing. This was the breathing technique we were recommended to use during the next plunge. 2 minutes this time. Standing beside the pool, the feeling this time was less pleasant than for round 1, probably due to knowing what to expect this time. But 2 minutes passed, and I hauled myself out and back to the comfort of the warm marquee.
Round 3. More intense movement to warm ourselves up. The focus of this session was on controlling our heart rate through our breathing. We moved – squats and knee raises – to raise the pulse, then breathed to lower it. We did this several times, in preparation for the third plunge. 3 minutes this time. Even the thought of that amount of time in the freezing cold water (and rain, and wind) seemed unbearable. Nevertheless, in I went. I assumed my position – perched on the ledge at the side of the pool, immersed up to my shoulders, focused on a small patch of light on the decking between pool and marquee… and I breathed. Actually, the three minutes passed quite quickly. And then we were back in the tent.
Round 4. More intense movement to warm up. We had explored mobility, flexibility, resilience, and now it was time for the fourth element, of camaraderie. We danced. We danced, in the Wim Hof ‘Horse Stance’ around the gas burner (a bit like the video, but faster like a dance and with loud music and *loud* chanting). It was impossible not to smile. And then it was time for the final plunge. It was a ‘free’ plunge – go for a minute, go for 2, 3, 4, or 5… longer if you wanted… or not at all. I went with the intention of staying in longer than 3… 4 if I could make it. I settled in my preferred corner of the pool, focused, and breathed. I’m going to put a picture here. I am there in the corner. My face looks soooooo grumpy… But that, my friends, is my game face. Concentration and focus right there. Breathing. Relaxing. Focusing my mind. And I stayed in that cold water for a full 10 minutes. No-one was more surprised than me.
Back into the tent for the final warm up, dry off, and the experience was at an end. I made my way back down to my trusty van, where I was able to get into dry clothes in quiet comfort and privacy, and drove myself home.
I felt AMAZING. Ravenously hungry, but amazing. Alive. Fulfilled. Awesome.
I thoroughly recommend the experience to anyone. I’ll even come with you and do it again myself. Just maybe when it’s not raining…
50shadesofbrave 