Sometimes you need to do something drastic to make a change in your life.
For Holly Shipton that moment came during Covid lockdown in 2021, when she was juggling home schooling of three children ranging in age from Year 12 to Prep, plus the demands of a two-year-old.
“It was the most challenging period of my life. I found myself in a situation of not doing anything for myself ever.”
Feeling desperate, Holly headed for her favourite beach at Silverleaves. And despite it being winter, on a whim, she just walked into the water.
“I felt like it was the right thing to do,” she said. “When I jumped into the cold water, it took my breath away. My skin felt burnt when I got out. The next day, I went back and I’ve been doing it every day ever since.”
All through winter, every morning at dawn Holly would head for Silverleaves and submerge herself in the cold water. Plunging in made her feel more alive, more energetic and most importantly, happier.
“Well before I even started looking up the benefits of cold water therapy, I started to feel the difference,” she said. “I was out of bed at 5.30am every morning and just exploring.”
Holly created the Submerge_Phillip Island Instagram page, with images from her early morning dips and soon other people started to join in. “Initially friends followed me and started to come with me. Then it just grew by word of mouth.”
It’s not a paid group, and there’s no swimming involved, but the morning ritual has created a unique community. These days, every morning at sunrise there are between five and 10 people who meet at the beach (sometimes Silverleaves, sometimes Cottesloe Avenue in Cape Woolamai) for a cold water dip.
After creating her morning ritual, Holly started researching the Wim Hof Method, which is based on breathing techniques and cold water therapy. Its founder Wim Hoff, also known as The Ice Man, says there are a range of benefits, including increased energy, better sleep, reduced stress levels, increased will power and stronger immune system.
She also took inspiration from William Frost, a certified Wim Hof Method instructor, who she describes as her guru.
Holly couldn’t jump into an ice bath every day, but she had the ocean. To get the benefit of cold water immersion, the water temperature needs to be between 10 and 15 degrees, something that Phillip Island’s beaches can provide throughout winter.
And even though the water in summer is too warm for cold water therapy, Holly says the “community benefits” of the group swim is what gets her up in the morning.
“The ocean is really healing and soothing, when you’re in the water, in that energy and environment. A lot of people in the group who struggled to sleep say now they are going to bed and sleeping the whole night. It’s been life changing for people.”
The group continues to attract new members, who Holly calls her “mer people”.
There are no age restrictions and while most people take to the water just in bathers, you can wear a wet suit if you want to. “We even welcome toe dippers.”
She recommends anyone with health conditions to talk to their doctor first. “I love people and I’m always supportive, but I’m not a qualified therapist.”
But she is living proof of the benefit of the daily ritual in helping deal with the stresses of life. “The ocean is always there and you can go anytime,” Holly said, making it the perfect place to shake off your worries. “I tell people to put it all in the ocean.”
Follow Submerge_PhillipIsland on Instagram and Facebook.
By Eleanor Mckay.
Photos: Supplied
