How to get your hands on our first-ever print issue, and learn about the world of cold-water therapy
Ever thought to yourself “Wow, I’m really enjoying this article on the benefits cold-water therapy has on recovery after athletics, and I love how it looks on the webpage, but what I’d love is a beautiful collection of Plunge content that I could take to my next outdoor swim, and show to my friends”?
Well, you’re in luck! Here at Plunge, we’re excited to announce the release of our brand-new quarterly print issue, pulling together gorgeous visuals and diving into the topics you care about. In issue one, you’ll find articles on the way that cold water affects your hormones and elevates your mood; how to check water pollution doesn’t spoil your outdoor swimming adventures; and the ways in which cold-water therapy has helped one enthusiast kick the booze for good. There’s also our hotspot pick for a must-see wild swim destination and info on Wim Hof’s innovative breathing method. So there’s plenty for you to sink your teeth into.
Our deputy content editor, Eve, had the idea to make a cold-water therapy magazine over Christmas when she noticed more and more people going for cold dips in the sea and buying cold plunge pods for their gardens. “I thought the energy and community around cold-water dipping would make great content for a magazine. So I pitched the idea and was delighted to have it accepted for this project,” she said.
Plunge team best bits
Producing this print issue has been an exciting venture for our team. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it. We have researched topics, spoken to experts and heard people’s cold-water dipping stories to share with you.
Here’s a few of the Plunge team’s favourite things about working on the magazine:
“The research for my article about water pollution was truly eye opening. We don’t always hear about the pollution that enters our waters on a daily basis. Swimmers need to be aware of the harm this can have on their bodies. But the work being done by the organisations mentioned in the article means that there are databases for swimmers to check if their waters are safe. It really delivers some hope for the future health of our waterways,” said our contributor Ashley Thieme.
Moreover, contributor and illustrator Sophie Colson said: “I loved talking to Rosie Regan about how she winds down and marks special occasions with a cold dip. I’m not much of a cold dipper myself, but the way she described her swims at sunrise sounded so beautiful that I’m tempted to put on my cossie and bobble hat. It was so lovely talking to her about her experiences with loss and mindfulness, and I felt very privileged that she opened up about such tender moments in her life to me.”
Our deputy production editor Hannah Wild said: “For the first print issue of Plunge Magazine, I was lucky enough to be commissioned with choosing our first hotspot cold-water swimming location, being a recurring feature that will run in each issue. For this, I thoroughly enjoyed researching people’s favourite cold-water swimming locations across the UK before settling on Llyn Padarn. Having been drawn to Llyn Padarn on account of its scenic views and certified bathing water, I felt this location was suitable for our first issue – and one I loved writing about!”
Head to our TikTok for more behind-the-scenes content.
If that’s not enough cold-water content to whet your appetite, we’re also looking forward to releasing issue two later this month. We’ll be going bigger and better with more personal stories (including that of BBC Radio 2 DJ Owain Wyn Evans on Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof) and deep dives into more exciting, cold-water topics.
So, keep your eyes peeled on our socials over the next few weeks for new announcements. Until then, submerge yourself in issue one of Plunge’s print magazine – and don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter for more frequent dips.