We’re Designing the Best Possible Cold Plunge Experience

We’re always looking for ways to enhance your wellness journey, so we've poured our hearts, time, and resources into creating something truly special. We recently installed two massive, custom-built 15-person cold plunges at our Durham location, designed to offer an unparalleled cold plunge experience. Describing these plunges, doesn’t quite do them justice, so watch this installation videoand see for yourself!

We’re not saying that bigger is always better, but it does hold true here. Here’s why these plunges matter:

Installing these two beastly cold plunges in our 1940s building was a major project. We poured new concrete and installed steel footings to support these heavy pools. The logistics of moving these large pools into place was a challenge in itself, but the more critical component is ensuring these pools meet the stringent requirements North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The NC Health Department sets strict guidelines for safety and hygiene in public bathing facilities including gyms, schools, hotels, motels, apartments, boarding houses, athletic clubs and spas. The following is a hefty, yet still not extensive list of all of the requirements from the state.

• Operational permitting and regular inspections
• Water quality standards and continuous disinfection
• On site safety equipment and supervision
• Access to showers to maintain cleanliness standards
• Regulated drain covers and entrapment prevention
• Daily record keeping of pool conditions
• Adequate lighting and contrast for user safety

One of the most exciting parts of our new cold plunges is how they enhance the social experience of public bathing. Bathhouse culture is as much about community as it is about wellness, and our large cold plunges are designed to foster that sense of connection. As the old saying goes, “bonds are forged in adversity,” and when you’re hanging out for 3 minutes in sub 50 degree water alongside someone else, you’ll know exactly what that means. Whether you're plunging with a friend, meeting someone new, or just soaking in the energy of the collective, most experiences are better shared.

When you enter cold water and stay still, a thin, insulating layer, called the Thermal Barrier, forms just above your skin. This barrier creates a buffer zone between your body and the cold water, and can make cold exposure therapy less effective, as it reduces the challenge your body faces.

Our solution - high-flow cold plunges. Plunges with continual circulation, like the ones in our bathhouse locations, mimic the flow of winter streams or cold ocean currents. The consistent movement of the water prevents the thermal layer from forming around your body ensuring constant exposure to cold water. This makes your cold plunge experience more intense, effective, and clean (but that’s another blog topic all together!).

At the end of the day, a pool is a pool, but everyone who steps foot in it is a dynamic individual with different need and preference. We always say that contrast therapy is so special because it meets you where you are along your wellness journey, and our spaces are designed to accommodate that same flexibility.

Whether you want to remain upright and ease your way in, recline and let the water work its magic, fully submerge yourself, or swim some laps because you watched the Summer Olympics and said “hey that could be me,” these giant pools allow you to do so comfortably. You can experience the full benefits of the cold plunge in a way that suits you best.

Cold water therapy is for everyone. From the first time newbie, to the seasoned cold plunging expert, it’s a practice we feel passionate about making accessible to everyone who enters our doors. The best way to accomplish this is providing options, so in Durham we’ll have two temperatures running in the public bathhouse. One, super cold for the cold plunge junkie, or the guest who is looking to push themselves to the next level from time to time. The other, still and intense and effective cold, but a touch more approachable.

When you’re using the bathhouse, you find your rhythm and settle into your own flow of the space. We want to help you stay in that flow state and respect the time that you have devoted to taking care of yourself in our space. With the available water volume in Durham, you’ll always find a spot in the plunge when you exit the sauna. With the sheer size of our pools, we can almost guarantee that you won’t find a cold plunge bottle neck which leaves both the people in the plunge, and those looking to dip their toes in much more relaxed state of mind.

Our new cold plunges are more than just a feature—they're a testament to our commitment to innovation, community, and improving the guest experience in the bathhouse. We can't wait for you to come and see the difference for yourself.

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