Glasgow dancer says cold water therapy saved her from bulimia and abuse-related trauma

With January in full swing, it seems everyone is working towards a “new year, new me” mentality.

Gym memberships are skyrocketing, people are finally tackling this diet, and the bravest among us are exploring the world of cold water swimming.

The craze first hit lockdown, with people flocking to bathe in the freezing Scottish waters. Armed with dry robes, gloves, hats and flasks of tea, throngs of people immersed themselves in the freezing water – and the health benefits would be through the roof.

Although more research is needed, it is believed that cold water therapy can improve your circulation, deepen your sleep, increase your energy levels, and reduce inflammation in your body. Now people are exploring the mental health benefits.

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Cold water swimming has been praised for thousands of years: Hippocrates documented his cold water swimming experiences in 370 BC. And lately, athlete and motivational speaker Wim Hof ​​has been touting its virtues for years.

One person who fully subscribes to the health benefits of cold water swimming is Chloe McNiven, a professional dancer who has traveled the world dancing with the biggest stars. She has played alongside Nicki Minaj, Little Mix, Zara Larson and Elton John.

“I had a difficult upbringing. I grew up in Govan and there were few opportunities,” she said. Glasgow Live.

“Dancing was my escape and it was amazing to dance with the biggest names.”

A self-proclaimed ‘ice queen’, Chloe explained that it was a happy accident that led her to cold water therapy.

Chloe, who has spent years honing her craft in London, had her first child with her husband last year. The couple returned to Glasgow when their lives turned upside down during the pandemic.

Although Chloe is already a certified practitioner in neuro-linguistic programming, also practicing herbal medicine, breathing and wellness therapy, it was not until her family went through this difficult time that she discovered the therapy by cold water.

“I went on a healing journey and faced my own childhood demons,” Chloe said. “I was sexually abused as a child so I had a lot of unhealed trauma. I wanted to empower others and help change their lives. Coming back to Glasgow, where I nearly fled from, was difficult and with professional difficulties, it was a really difficult moment for us.

“That’s where the cold water happened. It was a happy accident. Before that, I thought, “Where am I going?”

It all started with an “accountability challenge” that Chloe posted on her Instagram account and a bathtub to use as a plunge pool that she bought online.

For anyone interested in getting started, Chloe points out that jumping into freezing water can be dangerous. You have to prepare for it slowly – exactly what Chloe did.

“I didn’t want to do it at first,” Chloe said. “I started by reaching out on my Instagram for a 30 day challenge saying I was scared. I hated being cold, I was one of those people.

Eighteen months later, Chloe has now created an online community of fellow swimmers and was out in the snow last week doing yoga.

Most of her mornings are spent, sometimes in sub-zero temperatures, neck-deep in the freezing cold water of her back garden.

As well as opening up a whole new world of wellness, Chloe credits the cold water with helping her recover from bulimia – an eating disorder she’s suffered from for more than a decade.

“I suffered from an eating disorder for 10 years and despite all the other changes in my life, the eating disorder was still a struggle,” Chloe said.

“I had tried everything, I’m disciplined and I have goals and I wanted to get over it, but it was something I started to feel that would trap me for life.

“I couldn’t say I was healed and it was frustrating and didn’t align with my values.

“My intuition was telling me until I stopped it, that what I wanted wouldn’t happen.

“But it’s been 18 months since I started cold water, I do it every day and I haven’t gotten sick since. For me, it was like ‘this shit works!’ I couldn’t believe it – it was mind blowing, to be honest.

Chloe has since started a business called The Soul Hub, named after her daughter Soul, which specializes in educating and raising awareness about the benefits of cold water immersion.

The company both sells and gives away “starter kits” for beginners, complete with a journal full of prompts, a guide to starting your own cold water journey, and your own pool of water.

Many celebrities have also bought a kit, including Ferne McCann, Jeff Brazier, Amber Davis and James English.

“I started the business because everyone was wondering how to get involved,” Chloe said.

“I wanted to create a product that helped people get started, a community that educated and supported them. Not something you buy online and jump off after filling from the tap, but also something that is good quality and has the looks good in the garden.”

She added: “Journaling is an important part of anyone’s journey and it’s a powerful way to express feelings, so the journal was an essential part of the kit.

“The transformation for me was when I started educating myself about the method. Learning about history and science opened my mind to the possibilities of healing. That was my goal with the kit – educating and supporting people on their own journey.

“I’ve seen the most incredible transformations – women going through menopause, couples going through traumatic experiences, overcoming heartbreak.

“I want to raise awareness because it saves lives. Going into cold water is an amazing outlet for all walks of life. The benefits are profound, for your immune system, the release of dopamine and ‘happiness hormones’. It’s like mental resilience training that makes you feel alive.

“Learning to use tools like breathing goes hand in hand, and optimizing these tools gives instant results for your mental health. It was an inspiring concept for me – that anyone can access these life-changing benefits life no matter where you are in your journey.”

Chloe said she still struggles with cold water diving at times, explaining that it takes time to adapt and acclimate to your body.

“Even after years of doing this, this morning walking in I was thinking ‘I can’t do this – but you have to get over that ‘fight or flight response and remember you’re in control,'” he said. she declared.

“Being indoors and in your bathroom has great benefits, but being outside immersed in nature is super empowering.”

In her quest to raise awareness of the powerful benefits of cold water immersion, Chloe has worked with children and parents at several schools in Glasgow. It was while leading a cold water therapy session at the Royston Youth Club that Chloe realized how much cold water therapy and teaching others meant to her.

“It was the most eye-opening and craziest experience watching these kids work through their struggles. It put things into perspective for me,” she said.

“There was a twelve-year-old girl who said when I asked her why she was there, ‘my dad left me and I want to feel strong’. I was this twelve-year-old kid with no guidance. For their giving that kind of experience and life tools was humbling.

“Life can be overwhelming and difficult, so if you don’t give yourself time to ground and focus, you can quickly spin in circles and lose control. It teaches you that you have the power within to heal.”

“When I was trying to get help from the ‘system’ after being abused, I felt real anger.

“That was years ago, but I remember thinking ‘this is the worst thing I’ve ever done’. I felt like a number on a waiting list and I was trapped of my own trauma. Every day I swore to be the person I needed in those moments.

“My mission is simple – I want to open people to new ways of thinking and feeling through transformational experiences.”

To learn more, visit The Soul Hub here.

If you or someone you know has mental health issues, find help from SAMH here (www.samh.org.uk) or contact the Samaritans free anytime, 24/7 on 7 on 116 123. Contact your GP if you have an eating disorder or want to try cold water therapy for health benefits.