Perth Voice Interactive

INTREPID locals will take part in the inaugural International Ice Bath Day at Leighton Beach in North Fremantle this Saturday (March 1).

The event is the brainchild of White Gum Valley’s Mark Hughes, who last year set a new World Record for the First Ever Biggest Group Ice Bath (509 people), also held at Leighton Beach.

He’s been a long-term advocate of taking ice baths to improve mental and physical health, especially treating conditions like anxiety, stress and depression.

“Our mission is to have people around the world partake in this annual event to bring together communities and raise awareness for proven strategies to benefit people suffering with depression and anxiety, along with the myriad of other benefits that breathwork and cold exposure can bring,” Hughes says.

A total of 17 countries are participating in the event including the UK, Canada, America, Sri Lanka, Bali, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. At Leighton Beach, there will be 30, 3m inflatable pools situated next to the shoreline, and the event will use about 22 tonnes of ice. Ocean water will be pumped into the pools with the carbon footprint offset by a donation to Greenfleet Australia.

The not-for-profit event will raise funds for Beyond Blue.

Hughes is the founder of One Life Live It, a local small business focused on personal coaching, ice baths and breathwork.

It aims to help people develop resilient mindsets and break out of anxiety and depression.

“Ice baths, cold-water exposure and breathwork have been shown, through a multitude of recent, scientific, peer-reviewed studies to have a profoundly positive effect on those suffering with mental health issues, not least of all anxiety and depression,” Hughes says.

“The significant physiological and mental benefits of cold-water exposure and breathwork are well documented, and people’s lives can be immeasurably changed through regular practice of these two modalities alone.”

International Ice Bath Day will be held from 8am-2pm at Leighton Beach with a free breathwork and yoga session from 8am-10am, pre-ice bath session at 11:30am and the big plunge at 11:45am.

To participate, go to the “Events Page” at onelifeliveit.com.au. For more info see internationalicebathday.com.