Across Merseyside, people are continuing to meet throughout the winter months to take part in cold water plunge sessions, despite freezing temperatures.
The sessions involve brief immersion in cold water and are less about performance and more about shared experience, with participants supporting one another.
At a winter session in Liverpool, wellness practitioner Charlotte, who runs The Wellness Space, explained how winter can affect people’s routines and habits.
She said: “Winter’s really all about slowing down and calming the nervous system.
“But I think we often take it the opposite way and don’t get outside in nature. We stay inside, which isn’t always good for our mental health.”
On the Wirral, Steve, who co-founded The Hot Place with a friend, regularly takes part in similar sessions and says cold water therapy has become part of his routine during the winter months.
He said: “There’s a real sense of community. People come down together, support each other, and it gives them a reason to get out during winter.”
With steam rising from the water and participants encouraging each other poolside, the sessions highlight how community-based physical activity can bring people together, even in the depths of winter.
