“Electrifying.” That’s how Laura Stokes from Shellharbour Village describes her first-ever ice bath. 

“I was nervous to do it, but it’s good to prove that it can be done,” says Stokes. 

A beaming Sandra Biggs

Stokes, along with two other brave women, were the first ones to take the plunge at the pilates and ice bath-event at Killalea State Park on Saturday 21 April.

The event, organised by Snap Fitness Kiama, introduced a local group of women to ice baths, which can help with muscular relief, pain reduction, inflammation and overall recovery.

Laura Stokes lets it all sink in

It can also give you an “ice-bath high,” explains assistant club manager at Snap Fitness Kiama, Sam Baskerville. 

“It’s a bit of a serotonin boost, so it’s going to make your mood lift. And it will last ten times as long as when you exercise. Up to 24 hours,” explains Baskerville.

But voluntarily soaking yourself in an ice bath with a temperature of 3°C, containing 10-15 bags of ice, takes guts.

Ice bath debutante, Cassi Nash from Nowra

“I was nervous about how cold it was going to be,” Stokes recalls, as she sits on a bench afterwards, face turned toward the warm autumn sun. “Especially as she [Baskerville] had the temperature, I thought, ‘oh, no’.”

“The first bit was not bad. After 10 seconds it got harder. I was waiting for the timer so I knew it was time to get out,” she says.

Most of the women chose to sit, each in a portable bath, for between two to five minutes. If you’re an ice bath-novice, Baskerville says the secret is to go slow.

Sam Baskerville from Snap Fitness counts down the time for the women in the ice baths

“Yeah, if you’re never done it before, start slow. Bring your breathing down. And the more you do it, the frequency, it gets easier,” recommends Baskerville.

“Eventually, you’ll be able to go for longer and will keep getting into a little state of calm,” she adds with a smile.