Freezing in a mountain stream led to an emotional release.

Enduring cold led to a deeper appreciation of the beauty in my life.

Mountain-fed stream in Tucson (photo by author)

It was a late April Saturday and we were in a beautiful “holler” in the North Carolina stretch of the Blue Ridge mountains. A creek ran through the holler, across the land of an organic chocolate manufacturer. The owner was hosting, and also an instructor for, the Wim Hof Method workshop we were attending.

Chengeer Lee has written a great explanation of the Wim Hof Method. As you will see, cold exposure is a key pillar of the method.

The creek was wide and deep enough for all the workshop participants, maybe a dozen-and-a-half people, to find a spot where we could get in up to our necks at the same time. My wife and I staked our claim downstream from the group. The water temperature was somewhere in the low 40s (Fahrenheit).

The instructor gave the signal and we all quickly immersed ourselves. The water was moving pretty quickly, so I had to figure out how to anchor myself in place while trying to get my breathing under control. You know, because the springtime mountain water was cold. Fucking cold.

The first round was 90 seconds. Everyone had to stand up and exit the water to do our warm-up routine of Tai Chi-like movements accompanied by our syncopated chanting of “hoo-ha”. After getting out of the water, endorphins and other chemicals are released by the body because you made it think you were killing it. It was quite the rush.

I’ve mentioned in other writings that I have been told I have the sensibilities of a stereotypical “southern lady”. I also have the body image issues of a stereotypical teenage girl. I absolutely hate to be around people when I’m wearing a bathing suit. And standing on the bank, pivoting in place, and chanting “hoo” and “ha” did not feel like a good look for me.

The fact that it was my idea to drive seven hours one way to participate in the seminar did not actually help.

Then it was time for a bonus round in the freezing water. My wife and I went back in. Surprise! It was still fucking cold. But, there really is something very interesting going on in your body and your mind at moments of discomfort like that…