Cold Is the Great Equalizer: How Shared Discomfort Builds Trust, Inclusion, and Human Connection
Something powerful happens when strangers step into the cold together—walls drop, masks come off, and connection begins.
This is more than muscle recovery or mental resilience. Cold immersion has become a modern ritual of community—where discomfort becomes the catalyst for trust, inclusion, and raw human connection.
As Robbie Bent, founder of Othership, puts it:
“You can’t fake who you are in the cold. When people breathe together through stress, something primal kicks in—it creates real, meaningful bonds.”
Whether it’s 4°C (39°F) in the tub or 6 a.m. in the woods, cold plunging has become a modern social ritual—one that creates genuine connection, fosters inclusion, and activates our neurobiology for belonging.
The Science of Chill + Connection
When we immerse ourselves in cold water, we kickstart a neurochemical cascade: dopamine, endorphins, norepinephrine—and importantly, oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone.” Oxytocin is deeply tied to trust and social bonding.
As noted by Basic Balance, cold exposure increases oxytocin and serotonin levels, priming people for connection. A shared cold plunge can literally rewire our brains to feel safer, more open, and more connected—especially in group settings.
Flow Centre confirms:
“Oxytocin fosters a sense of community… after a group cold plunge, people are content to talk and connect.”
Why Social Wellness Hubs Matter
The magic of cold plunging happens in the shared experience. Strangers become allies as they brace for the cold together. People high-five, breathe through discomfort, and celebrate small wins. There’s no hierarchy in the tub—just raw humanity and real encouragement.
This phenomenon is reflected in studies of winter swimming communities, where shared cold exposure builds belonging and motivation through “relatedness and connectedness”.
Ontario’s Simcoe Swim Club (@simcoeswim) founder Andrew Edge describes it perfectly:
“Every Saturday, I witness people pushing past their comfort zones, cheering each other on, and discovering their own strength. This isn’t just about cold water – it’s about what happens when people show up for each other, week after week.”
Cold plunging becomes a container not just for discipline—but for safe vulnerability.
Inclusion Through Shared Experience
By creating a space for people to challenge themselves together, real community follows naturally. We’re privileged to help our clients create cold immersion spaces including Othership‘s Toronto locations, Alter in Toronto, Aether Haus in Vancouver, and Leela’s Thermal House in Calgary where cold is the great equalizer. Once you’re in the water, job titles, fitness levels, and backgrounds fade. Everyone’s in it together, and that shared discomfort becomes the foundation for trust and inclusivity.
Entrepreneur magazine spotlighted this shift toward “social self-care”, noting that today’s recovery studios are fostering real human connection—not just optimized performance.
“There’s no posturing… people show their true colours.” —Entrepreneur.com
In a world increasingly dominated by screens and curated content, cold plunging brings us back to the basics: breath, presence, shared struggle—and most importantly, belonging.
At Ice Works Bath Co, we’re not just crafting custom cold plunges. We’re building spaces where people show up, drop their guard, and connect—one breath at a time.
