Fighting evil with the cold. This is a bit like the watchword of the new trend of “ice therapy”. Immersing your body in extremely cold water would help combat mood disorders and notably improve resistance to stress. A fashion that is gaining more and more fans.
In the 9th arrondissement of Paris, at a time when many still have difficulty recovering from the alarm ringing, Alexandre, a thirty-year-old Parisian, is preparing to experience his first ice bath session, known as the Wim Hof method, named after a Dutch explorer famous for his experiences and other records of exposure to cold. “I read a book called The art of cold and who explains that it is very good when the cold arrives to avoid getting colds, flu, that the Scandinavian countries are happier perhaps because the cold makes them more mentally resistant. We will see if the result is there…“, he laughs.
Before the immersion, everything begins with breathing exercises, guided by Caroline Arditi, cold coach, and founder of the Paris Ice Club. “Exhalation is always passive, she explains. Just with the power of your breath and your concentration, you will change the biochemistry of your blood, that is to say that we make our blood more alkaline and when our blood is more alkaline, our cold sensors decrease, so we feel less cold in the bath“, she explains to her novices of the day.
The bath shows a water temperature close to zero. Alexandre jumps into a custom-made pool for a bath of almost three minutes. “It's horrible! I felt like electricity was being sent to me. Afterwards, it's true that you feel good”he comments. François is already in his third session. “It’s a great way to start the day with lots of energy.”he decides.
“The first few seconds in the bath, you have to push yourself hard. But, in general, people who come here like to get out of their comfort zone a little and, in the end, there are a lot of benefits.”
Caroline sees more and more customers like him. There are around thirty of them per week, compared to only around ten two years ago and it is difficult to stop when asked about the advantages of “ice therapy”. “At the body level, it is the strengthening of the immune system, the better blood circulation. You produce the same level of adrenaline as if you were skydiving for the first time. It also plays a lot on cortisol, the hormone stress”she assures. Caroline even claims not to have fallen ill since she started taking ice baths.
Supposed benefits that around thirty clients come here every week, compared to only around ten two years ago, ready to pay 45 euros for a one-hour session. The practice is, however, not without danger: an increase in blood pressure which can prove risky. The practice is not recommended for people with asthma or those with cardiovascular risks. Faced with the lack of scientific consensus on the benefits of the Wim Hof method, sports doctors are calling for caution, spacing out sessions and not practicing alone.
