Discovering Cold Confidence
Reluctantly, I took my last sip of coffee and mentally prepared to leave the warmth and comfort of my home. When I cracked open the door, however, the icy wind cut right through my jacket and chilled me to my core.
“Am I really about to get in the ocean right now?” I mumbled to myself.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t take a little pride in my cold dips. There’s just something about feeling all brave and badass as you slowly lower yourself into the Washington winter sea in just a bathing suit. But this? This was “next level”. It was basically snowing. It just felt wrong.
As I drove the twenty or so minutes to Owen Beach in Tacoma, I distracted myself with the soft Christmas tunes that were circulating the radio. Well, at least I wasn’t going to do this alone, I thought to myself. Community. Everything's better with community.
The parking lot was almost full when I arrived. I watched others - all wrapped up in winter coats, beanies, scarves, and mittens - grab their beach bags and head towards the beach. Some were even rocking the infamous ‘Dry Robe’. Have you ever seen how cozy those things look? Man, I gotta get me one of those. I digress.
I joined the huddle of penguin-looking cold-plungers on the beach and chatted with a few ladies. We talked about how the morning was thus far, the temperature outside, and obviously, how we’re all about to get in the freezing ocean together - for what will feel like a long time. Not just a “big dunk” as my nephew would say. No. We’re not just running into the ocean and scrambling back out. We’re about to immerse our bodies in this vast frigid sea, for several, agonizing minutes, in order to reap the full benefits of cold exposure. We’re doing this intentionally.
Renate (pronounced Ren-ada, I know I made that mistake, too) Rain, the founder of the Puget Sound Plungers, stood in front of the group and welcomed us. She was all bundled up and wore the biggest smile. A quiet confidence radiated from her. She led us through the safety talk and explained how we are not going to go into the water running, screaming, and frantic. But how we are going to enter the water slowly, calmly, and confidently. Together.
She explained that all we need to receive the benefits of deliberate cold exposure is 2-3 minutes of immersion, and that newcomers shouldn’t stay in for longer than 4-5 minutes. She talked about the scary sounding “after-drop” and how to avoid it by getting out before that becomes an issue. She explained how to safely get warm, other best practices, and ultimately how grateful she was for this crew that showed up this cold winter’s morning.
The gals and I were excited and nervous. Intentionally putting yourself in an uncomfortable situation isn’t the easiest thing to do. But I think we were all grateful and encouraged to be uncomfortable together.
The somewhat trendy catch phrase ‘seek discomfort’ floated through my mind.
And then, just like that, we stripped down to our bathing suits and slowly waded into the ocean. Deep breaths were audible and got more intense with each step we took. We all paused when the water reached our waists’ and took a final deep breath before lowering ourselves down into the sea.
The first thirty seconds sucks. It just does. It’s very uncomfortable. Everything is burning and tingling and your primal instinct of “fight or flight” kicks in. The feelings build and become more and more intense until the shock of the cold finally plateaus at about forty seconds. After the initial burn, the body releases those “happy hormones” (high levels of dopamine and norepinephrine) and a wave of peace sets in. It’s weirdly wonderful. My chin was resting just above the water, and as I clasped my hands tightly in front of me, I closed my eyes and found that quiet place in my mind, breathing slowly and deeply.
When I opened my eyes, I noticed the sea was…. steaming? Yes, it must have been. The air, a crisp 30 degrees F, was cold enough to cause the 47-degree ocean to steam like a giant mug of coffee. That was a trippy experience.
I normally cold plunge alone. And, to be honest, that is still my preferred way. As an introvert, I view my ocean time as a form of solitude. It’s my time to slow down and to connect with myself and my Creator.
However, this experience with a crew of 50 plungers was AWESOME. Truly, it was incredible. The combination of those “happy hormones” from the cold and the oxytocin that is released through being in community made for a really special time. There’s something about watching others overcome their fear and discomfort, witnessing their strength, and harnessing it as your own. It’s magic. The power of community became that much more evident to me that morning.
Renate floated around each little sub group checking in on us and giving us the time count. It was comforting to feel her safety instincts, always aware of how others looked and were feeling to make sure we didn’t push it too far.
After four minutes, I decided it was probably best I step out.
I slowly rose from the sea and clumsily walked out of the water and back onto the beach. My body was bright red, and steaming. I didn’t feel much. I was numb and slow and a little stumbly.
After drying off with a towel, bundling into my warm clothes, and sipping on some hot tea I had packed for post-dip, I was on a high. Like, a high. The mental clarity, the energy boost, the release of endorphins that floods the brain - it’s like magic, and medicine. The feeling of warming up after the numbing cold was heavenly.
I basically floated through the rest of that day.
A few weeks later I had the immense pleasure of connecting with Renate once again, this time on land. I asked about her story, how she discovered cold-plunging, and how her group, the Puget Sound Plungers, came into existence. What she shared was fascinating. Her story is filled with the best and worst of life - wonder, suffering, beauty, pain, healing, recovery, and a hope for the future.
Renate did not always like the cold. In fact, she’d do just about anything to not be cold. But life was throwing hardships at her from every angle, and as life often does when we’re in a valley, it opens us up to things we’d normally never try.
Renate faced unbelievably tragic loss as a young adult. And if that wasn’t enough, she was diagnosed with cancer around the same time. She also suffered with debilitating depression and chronic pain for years and years, without relief.
In 2021 she had learned that cold-dipping might actually help strengthen her mitochondria and immune system, so she gave it a go. But what she received was far more unexpected - relief from chronic pain. For those few minutes under the frigid sea, her body was finally at ease.
Renate started plunging regularly, inviting friends and strangers alike. And while her friends may have thought she was nuts, people started joining her and the group grew very, very quickly.
Within a month of her first cold plunge, she knew that she wanted to help more people experience this and the Puget Sound Plungers were born. Strong in numbers with over 4,600 members, this brave group plunges every day all around the Puget Sound. How incredible is that? 4,600 people seeking community. 4,600 people seeking discomfort.
“We really don’t give ourselves the opportunity to feel cold. We keep our lives, ourselves, so comfortable in our daily lives. We have temperature control in our houses, and in our cars. We always bundle up if we’re going outside on a cold day.”, shared Renate.
It’s true. We don’t like to be cold. It’s uncomfortable. And that’s okay, but living just for comfort isn’t really living, is it? I believe, deep down, we crave more than that. And I don’t think I’m the only one. I mean, there’s at least 4,600 others just in the Puget Sound area.
Renate also experienced healing from anxiety and depression after cold plunging consistently, and she even found a new confidence within cold water. This led her to create what is now Cold Confidence LLC. After diving headfirst into the world of I.C.E. (Intentional Cold Exposure) and the additional benefits of water colder than 40 degrees F, Renate is now a certified SHERPA Breath & Cold Coach, passionate about providing a safe space for those interested in ice bathing and the healing properties it possesses. She hosts workshops in her studio, a Morzoko Forge Prism, as part of her home. She’s helped hundreds of people work through various hardships and has witnessed healing and growing confidence from those brave enough to seek discomfort with her oversight.
““The lessons I learn in the cold water help me to embrace discomfort in my everyday life and I am finding myself feeling much more balanced and able to experience peace, joy and calm regardless of what is happening around me.””
Her program has many workshops and opportunities for those interested in diving into the I.C.E. I can’t recommend her enough.
Thank you for all that you do, Renate. I am constantly inspired by your work and the way you navigate all that you do with such poise and confidence.
So… are you ready to seek discomfort?