Cold Plunge for Women: Are we asking the right questions?

Tired of fear based headlines? Discover a balanced, science backed approach to cold plunging for women and why discomfort might just be the key to health.

Cold Plunge for Women: Are We Asking the Wrong Question?

Every other day, a new headline drops: “Is cold plunging safe for women?” or “Should women avoid ice baths?” As someone who has been practicing cold immersion for over five years, I can’t help but wonder—are we even asking the right question?

Let me put my cards on the table: I love cold plunging. Not ice plunging, but cold plunging. And yes, that distinction matters.

One of the biggest issues with the whole “cold plunge debate” is the way it’s become wrapped up in extremes. Just like many wellness trends, cold exposure has become a battleground between sensationalism and science. The truth? It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. It doesn’t have to be an ice-cold torture chamber. There is a gentler, more intuitive way—and for many women, it's already working beautifully.

My Journey into the Cold

Like many others, I was introduced to cold immersion during lockdown. A friend sent me a link to Wim Hof, and the next thing I knew, I was shivering through cold showers every morning. I hated them at first. But something instinctual kept pulling me back. Soon I was swimming outdoors in winter. Eventually, I bought my own cold plunge.

Why? I didn’t know anything about the science at the time. But two things were crystal clear:

1. I felt incredible afterwards—a unique mix of calm and energy.

2. Cold water reconnected me to my body—in the cold, there’s nowhere else to be. No emails. No to-do list. No background noise. Just breath, body, and cold.

That’s what kept pulling me back. And five years later, it still does.

From Curiosity to Career

My passion led me to study Natural Life Coaching, and eventually I became a certified Thermalist Method Instructor, trained by none other than Dr. Susanna Søberg. What drew me to her approach was its scientific foundation, combined with a gentle, preventative-health mindset. It’s not about extremes. It’s about balance.

The real game changer? Contrast therapy—combining cold immersion with heat exposure (hello sauna!). Today, I run Empower, a contrast therapy space from my home, supporting others in discovering the same sense of reconnection and vitality that I found in the cold.

So, What’s the Problem?

Recently, there’s been a wave of headlines suggesting that cold immersion is bad for women. As someone who genuinely values science—not just the science that supports my view—I find this troubling.

Because here’s the thing: these headlines are often clickbait, oversimplified, and lacking nuance. They ignore thousands of years of human resilience, particularly female resilience. We are not strangers to the cold. If our ancestors hadn't learned to endure and thrive in harsh climates, we wouldn’t even be here.

At a time when so many women are discovering the natural, side-effect-free benefits of cold exposure—calmer nervous systems, better sleep, mental clarity—we're suddenly being told to doubt it. Why?

Meanwhile, we live in a world that normalizes chronic stress and overprescription. We take medications for everything, often swapping one issue for a handful of side effects. Where’s the outrage about that?

What If the Real Problem Is Discomfort?

Here’s a theory: the anti-cold plunge crowd isn’t reacting to science—they’re reacting to discomfort. Because cold plunging asks us to do something that modern life has trained us to avoid at all costs—get uncomfortable.

But here’s the paradox: discomfort is exactly where the healing happens. From an evolutionary point of view, it’s discomfort that helped us survive. It built resilience. It sharpened instincts. It kept us alive.

So when I see headlines warning women off cold water, I worry we’re robbing people—especially women—of a simple, powerful, natural practice that could offer real relief in a chronically overstimulated, burnt-out world.

So, Where Do We Go From Here?

Here’s my radical suggestion: Trust your own experience.

Try it. Feel into it. Don’t follow the latest headline—follow your body. Not every trend is for everyone, and that’s OK. But don’t dismiss something just because it asks something of you.

Because maybe, just maybe, the key to healing isn’t in more comfort. Maybe it’s in learning to find comfort within the discomfort.

Empower Your Mind, Body & Spirit
At Empower, we’re redefining wellness through holistic, science-backed contrast therapy. Curious about cold plunging, saunas, or reconnecting with your body? We’d love to welcome you to our space and support you in your own journey—wherever it leads.