Cold Revolution for Body & Mind

By Aryan Davani, Founder of IcePass LA

In a city where hustle culture meets wellness trends, the demand for real, effective recovery methods has never been higher. Among these methods, cold plunges have emerged from the sidelines to take center stage. What used to be considered a fringe wellness ritual — something only elite athletes or biohackers swore by — is now becoming a go-to practice for everyday people who simply want to feel better, sleep deeper, and stress less.

But it’s no longer just about sitting in freezing water. The new era of contrast therapy —alternating between hot and cold exposure — is changing how we recover, reset, and reconnect with our minds and bodies.

From the Edges of Wellness to Everyday Ritual

When I started IcePass LA, I was met with equal parts curiosity and skepticism. Most people would ask, “Why would anyone willingly sit in a tub of ice?” But those who tried it once often came back — not because it was trendy, but because it worked.

What surprised me most wasn’t the athletes or gym regulars who swore by the benefits. It was the creative professionals, the overworked parents, the startup founders, and the weekend runners who felt something shift — mentally and physically — after just a few plunges.

They didn’t just feel better. They felt reset.

The Physiology Behind the Freeze: Why It Works

So, what’s happening in the body during a cold plunge? Or even more so, during a contrast therapy session?

1. Cold exposure triggers vasoconstriction (blood vessels narrow), helping reduce inflammation and muscle soreness.

2. Heat exposure (like in a sauna or steam room) causes vasodilation (blood vessels widen), improving circulation and helping your body detox.

3. Alternating between hot and cold creates a pump effect that flushes out metabolic waste and boosts fresh oxygen and nutrient delivery.

But the real magic lies in the nervous system regulation. Cold exposure activates your sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight), but when you consciously breathe through it, you train your body to stay calm in stress. That’s powerful — not just in the tub, but in life.

Breathwork: The Anchor in the Storm

Before every plunge at IcePass LA, we guide participants through a short breathwork session.

Not because it’s trendy, but because breath is your anchor.

When your body hits the water, your heart races, your mind panics. But if you can learn to slow your breath, everything changes. You learn to stay present, to override fear with awareness.

One of our members, an artist, said something that stuck with me:

“In the ice, I found clarity. For once, my mind wasn’t racing. I was just… here.”

That’s the deeper benefit. Beyond muscle recovery, cold therapy builds mental resilience. It teaches you to be still in chaos — and that’s a tool you can carry everywhere.

From Wim Hof to the Wellness Club Next Door

Thanks to trailblazers like Wim Hof, the conversation around cold exposure has gone mainstream. But what’s more exciting is how local wellness clubs and communities are reshaping it for everyday people.

We’re seeing more urban recovery spaces pop up — in LA, New York, Austin — where cold tubs sit next to infrared saunas, kombucha on tap, and breathwork circles in the corner.

Even in Europe, the movement is growing. In Zurich, Keen Wellbeing is bringing the cold plunge experience to a new audience and more individuals invest in at-home tools like Arctic Plunge to make recovery a daily, intentional habit. These spaces are creating a shift in wellness culture.

You don’t have to be a pro athlete to deserve recovery.

You don’t need to “earn” your rest.

You just need to show up for yourself.

Real Stories, Real Shifts

Some of the most powerful moments at IcePass LA have nothing to do with records or

performance. They’re emotional.

• A new mom crying in relief because it’s the first 10 minutes she’s had to herself all week.
  
  
• A startup founder realizing they don’t need more caffeine — they just need 3 minutes in the ice.
  
  
• A man in recovery using the plunge to help reset his nervous system and stay grounded in his journey.

These are the stories that remind us why we do what we do. The cold becomes a mirror. It reveals where you’re tense, where you’re holding on, and gives you permission to finally let go.

Cold as a Connector: Why Community Matters

Recovery doesn’t have to be a solo journey. In fact, some of the most powerful healing happens in community.

At IcePass LA — and through at-home setups like Arctic Plunge — cold therapy is becoming a shared ritual — simple, powerful, and accessible.

We’ve seen strangers become friends. Regulars build routines. People come for the cold, but they stay for the connection.

The Takeaway: You Don’t Need to Be Tough — Just Willing

The biggest misconception about cold plunges is that you need to be “tough” to do them. That’s not true.

You just need to be willing.

• Willing to feel discomfort.
  
  
• Willing to breathe through fear.
  
  
• Willing to show up — for 2 minutes, for yourself.

Because every time you step into that cold water, you step out with something more: clarity, calm, courage.

And that makes all the difference.

 

About the Author:
Aryan Davani is the founder and CEO of IcePass LA, a community wellness club in Los Angeles offering cold water immersion services, saunas, and social events to promote health and well-being.