I took an ice bath every day for two weeks – and it really eased my back pain

Gough’s clients have included the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and her husband is the former England cricketer Darren Gough, who is a convert to the cold water technique.

“Getting into cold water means your only focus is on the here and now – that of controlling your breath and surviving in an uncomfortable environment,” she shares.

“You have to shut out distractions, silence your ‘monkey mind’ [internal chatter], and just be in the present.

“It isn’t only about reconnecting; the therapy teaches you how you can adapt your stress response with your breath, which you can then apply across all areas of your life.”

To find out if that was the case, I sought expert advice, mastered some breathing techniques (outlined below), and then took the plunge myself.

Did it make a difference? Read on to find out – and to decide whether to take an icy dip or not yourself.

To discover the experience of cold water therapy for myself, I tested the Cold Pod. It’s a portable ice bath and can be used indoors or out.

Once I got it set-up and filled with cold water, I took a daily dip for two weeks (in an unseasonably cold April, I might add).

Sounds chilly, right? It was. Here’s what I learned…

I won’t lie, I found it difficult to get in. It’s not just the process of clambering into freezing cold water – just thinking about it beforehand literally left me feeling cold.

A lot of my friends are wild swimmers and members of cold water swimming groups, such as The Bluetits. They find the encouragement of other people plays a huge part in helping them get into freezing water.

With a Cold Pod you really are on your own.

But despite my misgivings, I had agreed to do this, so I was determined to get in.

I did the breathing exercises outlined above beforehand. Then I gingerly clambered in. Yes, it’s a shock and yes, I swore.

I had to battle to control my breathing because all I wanted to do was jump straight out. But I stayed focused on my breath – on the inhale and exhale.

I did my best to relax – and I lasted all of one minute before I leapt out and grabbed my towel.

Once I’d dried off and got dressed, I did more breathing exercises and got myself moving again. Then, you know what? I felt great! Really, really good.

I’ve had spinal surgery and although that was a success, I still suffer daily back pain. That 60-second dunking took the pain away. The effects didn’t last long, but it was enough to spur me back into the water the next day.

By day three I was staying in the Cold Pod for two minutes. It doesn’t sound long, but the water was still unseasonably cold. I took my dip after a 7km (4.4 miles) trail run. I didn’t get the heaviness in my legs I often suffer from.

Every day I managed to stay in the pod a little longer, and by the end of my two-week trial, my minutes had reached double figures – but only just.

Now that the test has ended, I confess that I haven’t used the pod every day. The excuses have crept back in, although I’m still going in several times a week.

I know that getting into cold water will remain a battle for me, but I keep doing it and I keep feeling better for it. That in itself is motivation enough.

The Cold Pod was simple to assemble – it took just a couple of minutes to put together.

But it’s important to be careful about where you locate it. Once it’s full of water, it’s so heavy you won’t be able to move it, so consider how you’re going to drain it.

I put mine on paving slabs next to a downpipe drain so I could easily empty the water down it.

Supporters say there are many benefits of cold water therapy – it can boost immunity to the common cold, combat symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve circulation, stimulate the lymphatic system and reduce swelling and soreness.

There is some research backing up some of the claims, but many studies are small scale or anecdotal. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t work – just that there isn’t yet enough scientific evidence to support all the benefits reported.

Gough says: “I’ve taught hundreds of people and all of them have been helped by the cold water. Some benefits are temporary, but if we’re looking at things like back or joint issues, regular cold exposure means that temporary relief builds up to something more permanent in your daily life.”

She says other benefits are longer lasting: “I suffered from anxiety, and cold water has made a lasting difference to my life. It has made me realise, like so many others, that we are more than our thoughts and so much more resilient than our anxiety makes us feel.”

You can find out more about Anna’s work at The Big Retreat Festival, in Pembrokeshire, next month, where she will be running breathwork and cold water workshops.

I’m the first to admit that cold water dipping isn’t something I look forward to, but what keeps me getting in is how I feel afterwards. I feel so much more alive, my back stops hurting for a few hours and any other aches and pains go away too (albeit temporarily).

Long term, I will be interested to see whether those benefits continue and whether it helps my Raynaud’s – other sufferers have told me cold water therapy can help.

My partner reports that I’ve been a lot more cheerful since cold water therapy. And an added bonus is that he has been too – he’s laughed more than he has for years while watching me take a dip!

Would I recommend it to other people? Yes, I would, with the usual caveats. If you have health issues check with your doctor, if you’re nervous, then enlist the help of a cold water coach.

But otherwise, give it a go. Once the shock wears off, I think you may become a convert too.