Recently, country western superstar Dierks Bentley joined up with radio personality superstar Johnjay Van Es for an unusual challenge: How long could Dierks Bentley stay in Johnjay Van Es’s recently installed cold plunge pool?
Dierks is no stranger to submerging himself in freezing cold water. He frequently celebrates the New Year by jumping into whatever frozen lake seems to be handy, he will also submerge himself in giant trash cans filled with ice in order to get more energy before a show.
Johnjay was recently inspired to try the cold plunge trend by self-help legend Tony Robbins.
It seems that Netflix’s 2016 documentary, “Tony Robbins, I Am Not Your Guru” featured the performance coach regularly using a cold plunge pool chilled to 57 degrees during his famous morning ritual and it inspired the morning syndicated radio show host to immediately have one installed in his backyard. Then he invited his pal Dierks Bentley over for a dip, videoing the whole adventure for his website and Instagram.
Much to the surprise of Johnjay, who says he can only last a minute or two, Dierks was able to stay submerged for over 10 minutes. The hardest part? Watching him submerge his entire head for over 10 seconds in the 43 degree water. Johnjay was clearly impressed!
While many celebrities use cold plunge therapy to increase their energy and have more stamina for performances, serious athletes use cold plunge therapy for other reasons.
I visited with Denver Athletic Club’s clubhouse manager Chris Elliot over the phone. The recently rennovated Denver Athletic Club is consistently ranked one of the top ten athletic clubs by the Platinum Clubs of America. It hosts over 125,000 square feet of athletic space. He says that their cold plunge, built by Diamond Spas in Frederick, CO “is one of their favorite features and gets a ton of use.” He claims one 90 year old guest “thinks it is the fountain of youth and is the only thing that keeps him in the game.” Chris also says that guests “beyond love it.” At the Denver Athletic Club the temperature is set at a chilly 47 degrees. He recommends using it for 3 and 4 minutes, working up to 10.
Practically speaking, serious athletes use cold plunge pools because they are thought to reduce inflammation and promote healing of microtears in the muscles that occur during intense training, making their recovery time faster. Other benefits of cold plunge pools not only reserved for athletes include building mental toughness, strengthening your immune system, and draining your lymphatic system. It helps with depression and anxiety, too.
The mental discipline of doing something day in and day out that you are resistant to requires a lot of mental strength which will carry over to other parts of your daily life.
Your immune system gets a boost because your body’s metabolic rate increases from the cold and trying to keep the body warm. The increase in metabolic rate helps your body produce white blood cells, which fight against illness and infection. Your body also releases glutathione, which is your body’s own uber antioxidant and is thought to also stimulate the immune system. Your immune system also gets a boost because your body’s metabolic rate increases from the cold and trying to keep the body warm. The increase in metabolic rate helps your body produce white blood cells, which fight against illness and infection. Alternating between a hot tub and a cold plunge helps detox the lymphatic system by dilating the lymphatic vessels in the hot water and then constricting them in the cold water, imitating the pumping action of the circulatory system and flushing out toxins. Cold Plunge is also believed to keep depression at bay by increasing levels of beta-endorphins, also the overwhelming amount of electrical impulses being sent to the brain from your skin’s cold receptors is thought to engage your brain’s re-set button.
Not convinced to try a bona fide cold plunge pool? Maybe start out slow with a Scottish shower, so called in honor of everybody’s favorite British Secret Service agent James Bond. Mr. Bond started his shower routine with hot water, and finished it up with freezing cold. Perhaps you, too, will have found the perfect way to start the day. Ready to take the plunge, as they say? Give Diamond Spas a call and ask for a free quote.
