Calgarians take to the icy Bow River for a health boost – Calgary

A group of people headed to Bowness Park on Sunday to immerse themselves in the icy water for a health boost.

“My body craves the cold because I know the benefits of it and how much better I feel the next day,” said Polar Piston Ronnie-lil Shapka.

He recently started joining a group that meets weekly at Bowness Park for ice diving. It's a body shot, but that's the point.

“It's really fun. I feel like I've come back to life – just a sense of vibrancy. I noticed that my mind was better focused. Better clarity of mind and endurance, – said Hat happily after leaving the river.

The group says that cold water immersion is a form of cold water therapy. Ice baths are commonly used by athletes after exercise to enhance recovery.

Bow River Polar plungers say it's a mental and physical challenge to get in and stay within minutes.

“Sometimes when I feel like going out, I say, 'Let's take five breaths.' Let's push it a little bit,' and I feel great when I come out,” Junior Chica said.

He says the secret to getting in is not thinking about it.

“Because if you think about it, it makes it difficult,” Chica laughed.

To help you mentally prepare, the park has an instructor who teaches breathing exercises. The method involves breathing exercises and cold exposure in the form of ice baths or very cold showers.

According to Stuart Widmer, the short-term stress his body experiences helps him cope with stress outside of the water.

“You can do a lot when you can dive into ice water,” Widmer said.

When people get into the water, there's an agonizing half-minute to endure first.

“Usually it's only hard for 30 or 45 seconds, and then your body adjusts,” Widmer said.

According to him, there is a risk of hypothermia, so they only go into the water for a few minutes and there is safety in increasing their number.

“We start with two minutes at most. People take care of each other. You are growing a community. Everyone is trying to do something good for themselves,” Widmer said.

But they are not doing it just for themselves. These cold water connoisseurs have warm hearts.

A dipping group in Okotoks' Sheep River hosts a fundraiser called dips4dinner for families in need.

On March 3, the Polar Plungers will return to Bowness Park to raise funds for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

Chica said you can have a cold bath at home, but the outdoor experience is much more artistic and social.

“Almost every week someone new comes in and everyone comes together and welcomes people and tells them what to expect, and that's how you feel. It's really cool to see people who are all 17 and over 60 come together,” Chika said.

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