Why some people are taking a wintry dip from the banks of the Bow River
One health expert says there can be a fine line between the benefits and risks
It's an uncommon sight to see in January.
A group of nearly 20 people, in their bathing suits, gather along the banks of the Bow River to plunge into the icy waters.
While a midwinter dip might not be at the top of everyone's to-do list, it's become a ritual for those participating.
"I was fascinated by it. I thought it to be a crazy activity," said Lucas Ramage. "I started this not thinking that it would be part of a regular health routine, but immediately I can see it has a bit of an addictive nature."
A cold plunge is a form of cold water therapy — a practice that's used to treat health conditions or stimulate health benefits.
Ramage started plunging this year after hearing about it from a friend. He says the mental and physical health benefits, the addictive nature and the sense of community are why he, and so many others, continue to immerse themselves in nearly freezing bodies of water.
How does it work?
Putting your body in such a state of extremity is said to trigger a hormetic response.
That means that the body is challenged and adapts by changing the way the physiology works to improve functionality, said Dr. John Holash with the University of Calgary's faculty of kinesiology.
"It's a tremendous shock," he said. "It's an insult on our system because it's so cold."
Holash said the body has a number of ways that it normally responds to that, primarily vasoconstriction — the narrowing of blood vessels by contraction of their muscular wall.
Watch | Dr. John Holash explains the effects of cold water therapy:
In the short term, Holash said, the effects seem really positive. There's an increase in adrenaline and a large boost in dopamine, which is long-lasting.
But there's a fine line between the health benefits and the risks associated with the practice.
"In a certain period of time, we're not able to compensate for extreme changes in temperature and we end up losing too much of our body heat," Holash said.
"At that pressure, if you have a really hard shock to the body and your body's at a really low body temperature, it can actually cause your heart to stop beating."
A balancing act
For Grady Semmens, the health and hazards of a cold plunge are in close proximity.
He's been regularly doing the frigid plunge as a form of meditation and exercise ever since he started working from home due to pandemic restrictions.
Over that period, he's learned more about his body and what he can handle when it comes to extreme temperatures.
"When you start going in the river, and I've been doing it for a couple of years now, you do really kind of know how cold you're getting," he said.
Once you get it right, the benefits start to become noticeable.
"I find that I have more energy throughout the day.… I eat less, I'm just feeling better, in better shape, more health and in a better mood."
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With files from James Young