Gary Martin: Does ‘wellness' really count if you're not miserably suffering?
As winter approaches and the mercury dips, most of us are bracing for the usual seasonal discomfort — cold mornings, foggy windscreens and the annual return of thermal underwear.
But while many seek warmth and shelter, a growing number are doing quite the opposite.
They are flinging themselves into tubs of freezing water — on purpose.
Cold plunging — otherwise known as ice bathing — is winning over wellness circles across the country as people willingly swap warmth for water that could make even a penguin wince.
Fill a tub — or wheelie bin, bath, barrel or purpose-built plunge pod — with ice and water, jump in, breathe through the shock and then sit still while your limbs freeze over.
Some plunge first thing in the morning to start the day with a jolt while others incorporate it into workout recovery routines.
But behind the brave faces and blue lips lies a frosty question: why are so many people throwing themselves into the deep freeze in the name of health? Professor Gary Martin is CEO of AIM WA and a specialist in workplace and social trends. Credit: Jackson Flindell / Jackson Flindell / The West Aust
Part of the answer lies in the changing nature of wellness itself.
Health and wellness were once about a balanced diet and going for gentle walks.
Fast forward to today and it seems that it is not enough to take care of your body. You have to show you are punishing your body and testing your personal physical and mental limits.
Supporters of this frosty phenomenon also point to a range of alleged benefits including sharper focus, improved mood, better sleep, reduced inflammation and boosted resilience.
But not everyone is convinced.
While some research does support the release of feel-good chemicals after cold exposure, much of the broader hype is — well — on thin ice.
On top of that, plunging into an icy bath is a wintertime ritual which seems, quite literally, out of touch with reality.
Most Australians spend winter avoiding the cold at all costs by layering up, lingering in hot showers and cranking up the heater at the first hint of a chill.
None of this is to say that cold plunges are inherently bad.
For some, they offer a genuine boost.
But we should remember that in a world which increasingly treats discomfort as a badge of honour, real resilience might just be about picking what is right for you, even if that means giving an ice bath the flick.
So this winter, while others are busy tipping ice into tubs and timing their plunges, it might be wiser to think about what wellbeing really looks like for you.
After all, wellness does not have to come with a frost warning.
Professor Gary Martin is CEO of AIM WA and a specialist in workplace and social trends
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