Fully Alive: the Nordic Art of Winter Bathing
Originally published in Northern Comfort: The Nordic Art of Creative Living

To the uninitiated majority of the world who have never experienced winter bathing (or ‘vinterbadning’ in Danish), the practice of choosing to strip naked and walk into the nearly frozen waters of the Baltic Sea in January—for pleasure—may seem a brand of insanity bordering on masochism.

But for the committed community of Nordic winter bathers out there, quietly taking their icy plunge—day after day, winter after winter—vinterbadning is much more than an arctic affectation, it is a practice rooted in the bonds of camaraderie and in a quest for personal well being. And while winter bathing comes with some risks for individuals with certain health limitations, by and large, the scientific evidence points to a broad spectrum of health benefits (including reduced stress levels, improved mood, and better resistance to infectious diseases) available to those who dare to take up the shiver-inducing activity.*

“I started winter bathing with a friend from university,” explains Anna, a professional and mother living in Copenhagen, “it became our tradition to jump into the freezing cold water after each exam.” When asked to describe the thrill of taking these post-exam polar plunges, Anna replies with a broad smile, “it’s truly exhilarating—it may seem crazy, but jumping into the cold water challenges me both physically and mentally and, once I come out (and get warm again), I feel ‘stronger’ in a way.” With her student days now behind her, Anna has continued winter bathing and sees the practice as a way of staying positive during the short, gray days of winter in Scandinavia. “For me,” she says, “it makes me feel refreshed, awake, and fully alive.”

For Kirsten, a 76 year old resident of the Danish mainland, it is her community of fellow winter bathers that inspires her to return to the cold water winter after winter. “Our local club meets at 7:30 every morning,” she explains, “and we typically bathe naked (swimsuits just get in the way). Afterwards, we always share a cup of coffee and, on Saturdays only, we share a little glass of spirits to warm us up—snaps, bitters, or something similar.” 

For both of these women, and for many winter bathers in the Nordics, one thing is certain: the benefits of the practice—the physical exhilaration, the mental victories, the bond with others, and the time spent in nature—far outweigh the temporary discomforts. “It’s really so nice, once you get used to it, “ says Kirsten, “but, I think you just have to try it for yourself in order to find out.” But don’t wait too long, she warns, “a friend of mine who is 80 now and who just started winter bathing last year has told me many times, ‘Oh, Kirsten, I wish I had started doing this a long long time ago.’”

Originally published in Northern Comfort: The Nordic Art of Creative Living