Into the water! Winter swimming on Lake Attersee

Diving into Lake Attersee - in the middle of winter: the perfect remedy for the winter blues. Ice bathing boosts the immune system and ensures the powerful release of adrenaline, endorphins and anti-inflammatory substances. Everything you need to know about ice bathing, important tips and the necessary preparations can be found here.

What is ice bathing:

Ice bathing: Bathing at temperatures from 0 °C to 4 °C. (There does not have to be real ice for this)
Cold water bathing: from a temperature of 5 °C to max. 15 °C.

Ice bathing should be enjoyed with caution

In addition to the beneficial effects, ice bathing also harbours high health risks and, in the worst case, can lead to death from hypothermia or drowning. People with cardiovascular diseases in particular should seek advice from a doctor beforehand.

Water temperature

6,4 degrees
Status: 08.04.2025

How long should ice bathing last?

Start with short sequences, e.g. 30 seconds and no more than twice a week, otherwise it is too strenuous for the body. As a guideline: stay in the lake for as long as it is cold. This means: degrees/2 = minutes for ice bathing. Do not submerge, as a lot of heat is lost through the head. It is best to cross your hands over your chest and keep them above the water.

After the ice bath

Continue to breathe calmly and evenly, put on warm, loose clothing (to make it easier to get in) and don't forget your hat and gloves.

Highfive von zwei Frauen im kalten Attersee beim Eisbaden

Tips from a professional

Interview with Wim Hof instructor Christian Schütz

Daniel Meissl - Wim Hof Instructor

"As a Wim Hof Instructor, I will accompany you into new spheres that we rarely reach in everyday life.
Be curious and open to new things, listen deeply to your body, mind and soul - a pure transformation of your body and your willpower.

For me, the overarching goal of the retreat is:
Connect with yourself,
Connect with others,
Connect with nature!
Happy, healthy and strong!"

What characterises the Wim Hof Method and my work in particular:

Everyone knows the euphoria of retreats and workshops => Only if you can integrate something into your everyday life afterwards (despite having a lot on your mind), does it actually create MORE VALUE!
There are handouts with the most important information afterwards.
Guided breathing session (recording incl. background music) to keep you going.
Cold shower plan to familiarise yourself with the cold water and the healing powers of the cold.
A list of recommended books.

Atmospheric group dynamics that make you want more and where there are no stupid questions, just room to GROW.
Experiences and stories from my breathing and ice bathing experiences. You don't have to experience every mistake first-hand
Connection with nature, as my second mainstay is sustainability (with a focus on the circular economy), >> being in harmony - with yourself, your fellow human beings and nature << is particularly important to me.
And above all, one thing is very important: FUN and JOY in ATEM TECHNIQUES, MINDSET TRAINING and ICE BATHING

Did you know,....

that breathing is one of the few basic functions of the autonomic nervous system that we can CONSCIOUSLY influence and control.

While many other functions such as heartbeat, digestion and blood pressure run automatically and without conscious control, we can change our breathing at will.

This enables us to activate forces that lie deep within us.

We will examine questions such as these and many more together and also gain an insight into the theory and individual studies of the Wim Hof Method.

Ultimately, we want to know what is behind the "ice bathing" hype and why more and more people are focussing on cold exposure and targeted breathing techniques.