Polar Plunge Nervous System Reset Retreat

About the Experience

Cold and heat therapy work beautifully together. They help regulate your nervous system, improve circulation, flush the lymphatic system, and support emotional release. More than anything, they remind you what it feels like to slow down, breathe, and let your body lead the way.

This isn’t about pushing limits. It’s about learning to meet yourself — your breath, your reactions, your inner dialogue — with calm and curiosity.

This experience includes:

• A grounding meditation to allow you to sink into your body and quiet your mind to witness your mind stories, allowing you to practice observing your thoughts.

• Sauna in the wood-burning barrel sauna to kick-start the Nordic Cycle and fight/flight response, enabling thermoregulation and naturally releasing norepinephrine, a stress-reducing hormone, known to have lasting effects.

• Ice Cold Plunge in Blackstrap Lake to further release norepinephrine, flushing your lymphatic system and increasing dopamine, the feel-good hormone.

Total duration: 3 hours

This Retreat is for you if you’re desiring an immersive experience in nature!

This Retreat is best for those who desire a guided outdoor adventure with all the equipment supplied, allowing you to show up and enjoy this experience with little planning!

Safety Considerations:

- To prevent hypothermia, limit immersion time to no more than 10 minutes.

- To manage the cold shock response, it’s advised to enter the water slowly, allowing your body to adjust to the temperature gradually.

- If you have an underlying heart condition, this experience is not recommended for you.

- As always, listen to your body during this experience.

“I want to start the New Year off right, taking care of my mind and body”

“I’m desiring a nervous system reset”

“I’m desiring to learn more about myself during uncomfortable situations”

Enhances your body’s natural healing process

Red blood cells travel to the parts of your body that are healing and increases the flow of oxygen, aiding in the development of antibodies.

Improves blood flow

Switching between hot and cold triggers a quick dilation of your blood vessels, increasing blood flow and improves your cardiovascular response, promoting a healthy heart!

Converts white fat into brown fat

Exposure to cold temperatures can activate brown fat. Brown fat contains numerous mitochondria and burns energy to produce heat, aiding in thermoregulation, aiding in weight management.

Improved Immune Function

Sauna increases the production of heat shock proteins, aiding in cellular repair and supporting the immune system. Cold plunging can stimulate the immune system by triggering an increase in white blood cells.

Mental well-being

The combination of sauna and cold plunge can boost endorphin levels, leading to improved mood and reduced stress. The practice also promotes relaxation and better sleep.

Blackstrap Provincial Park, exact location will be emailed upon signing up!

$135 CAD + tax & fees per person

Limited to 8 guests

Here's what's included in the experience:

• Guide to welcome you and provide you with an overview of your session, then overseeing the sauna and ice cold plunge

• 20-30 minute guided meditation

• 2 hours to Nordic Cycle of Hot-Cold-Rest-Repeat (Sauna & Polar Plunge)

• Lemon water & Tea

• Light snack

• Chairs for relaxing

• Rental of Luxury Outdoor Robe and blankets to keep you warm

• Rental of Sauna Hats

• Outdoor fire

Participants will provide:

• Bathing suit or light clothing to wear in the sauna

• Slippers or sandals for walking to the sauna

• Easy to slip on boots or slippers to wear to the cold plunge

• Water bottle

• Towels (2)

• Wool socks or neoprene socks/shoes and mitts/gloves for cold plunging

• Transportation to location

Your experience will begin with meeting your host at Blackstrap Provincial Park. We will begin with introductions and then you’ll get cozy and get ready for the mediation. The meditation will allow your body-mind an opportunity for rest, relaxation and grounding.

Following the meditation, you’ll relax and unwind in the wood-burning barrel sauna!

Following your time in the sauna, you will brave the cold waters of Blackstrap Lake for a rejuvenating polar bear plunge!

This experience is 3 hours in length!

- to prevent hypothermia, limit immersion time to no more than 10 minutes.

- To manage the cold shock response, it’s advised to enter the water slowly, allowing your body to adjust to the temperature gradually.

- If you have an underlying heart condition, this experience is not recommended for you.

- As always, listen to your body during this experience.

Please see “Cost & Inclusions” for a list of what is included and what you will need to bring.

What should I wear?

For the sauna experience, we recommend that you wear light breathable clothing or a bathing suit in the sauna.

Light breathable clothing will prevent you from overheating in the sauna. Be sure that the clothing is breathable and won’t stick to your skin and cause irritation if you begin to sweat.

Swimsuits are a great option since you will be cold-plunging after!

For the cold plunge, you can wear your bathing suit, wool socks and gloves/mitts. We will provide luxury change robes to keep you warm outside of the water!

Will there be a washroom on site?

Yes! There is a drop toilet

Will there be a change room to use?

Yes! The sauna has a three-foot change room and the Lotus Belle Tent has a change tent inside.

Any other questions, please email us at connect@back2naturewellness.com or text us at 306-291-8181!