Are you looking for a way to boost your mental and physical health, build camaraderie, and increase overall well-being? Look no further than the Sunday Swim movement.

Source: TEDx Talks/Youtube

Founded by Brendan Cooke, Brett Scher, Nick Pfeiffer, and health coach Brendan Morgan, Sunday Swim is a Long Island, New York-based group that takes a polar plunge into the Atlantic Ocean every Sunday at Robert Moses State Park. The group promotes the benefits of cold water therapy on mental and physical health, and encourages anyone across the country to join in on the fun.

But why take a dip in freezing water on a regular basis? According to Cooke, the idea for Sunday Swim came about when his life “spiraled out of control” in 2021 as he struggled with his mental health. After discovering the Wim Hof Method, which is based on cold exposure, Cooke took his first polar plunge in October 2021 and found that it changed his life.

“I fell in love with living once again,” Cooke said. “I was excited to wake up in the morning. Fear became my friend, my guide. I gained confidence and control. I found my purpose.”

The Wim Hof Method, created by Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof, focuses on three pillars: commitment, breathing, and cold therapy. According to the Wim Hof Method website, proper exposure to the cold can lead to a cascade of health benefits, including weight loss, improved immune system, balanced hormone levels, improved sleep, and the production of endorphins.

But don’t just take Cooke’s word for it – medical professionals have also noted the benefits of cold water therapy. Dr. Tracy Zaslow of the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute states that cold water therapy has been proven to increase energy levels, boost dopamine levels, decrease depression and anxiety, reduce inflammation and joint pain, increase blood flow, and improve mental clarity and immunity.

So, what are you waiting for? Join the Sunday Swim movement and see the life-changing effects of cold water therapy for yourself. As Cooke says, “All it takes is a leap of faith.” And who knows, you might just find yourself looking forward to waking up on a Sunday morning to take a dip in the icy Atlantic.

Related Content:

• The Benefits of Cold Showers
• 10 Plant-Based Foods to Improve Joint Pain During the Cold Season
• Tips From Physical Therapist to Release Hip Trauma [Video]
• Exposure to Cold Water Can Help Cut ‘Bad’ Body Fat, New Study Finds
• The Health Benefits of Cryotherapy

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take the initiative by standing up against fast fashion pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!