Good Cold Fun: A Body-Centered Approach to Getting Your Spark Back in Sobriety
By Katie Tomaszewski
Health and Wellness Educator
Founder of Chicago Cold Club & DryNamics
I first tried a sober break to free up some money and time for my business. Or at least, that’s what I said to everyone. Truly, I was having one bad night after the next. Getting into dumb fights with friends, having horrible dating experiences, and waking up confused and stressed…usually accompanied by a short fuse with my daughter and low motivation to execute on my business ideas.
Courtesy of Chicago Cold Club / Katie Tomaszewski
Like most of us do, I fell in love with the positive side effects of my sober choices like higher energy and less anxiety. But at the same time I found myself feeling bored and unsure of how to fill the social gaps that alcohol once occupied. I was searching for ways to feel alive and connected again. That’s when I discovered cold exposure—and everything started to feel more exciting.
I’m Katie Tomaszewski, a Health and Wellness Educator, Breathworker, Pilates teacher, Founder of Chicago Cold Club, and Creator of DryNamics.
The Shift: From Meh and Blah to a Sparky New Life
It started with curiosity. A fellow Pilates teacher had told me about taking cold showers and ice baths. To be honest, I had no interest in cold exposure! I just really wanted to hang out with this new friend—he was so funny, and this was the only opportunity that wasn’t focused on drinking. Bored out of my mind I decided, hey why not try something totally wacky? (What else did I have to do?)
Driving up to meet him, I started feeling differently. Wait, what the F had I signed up for?!? It was January, mind you- and we were going to hang out in a TUB OF ICE, in his unheated basement??? What started as a stupid/silly idea was now getting very real and I was honestly a bit scared.
My desperation for a hangout with fun people outweighed my fears about the context of it all happening in an ice bath and so I showed up. And looking back, I’m very grateful that I did because the experience was exhilarating! The shock of the cold water snapped me out of my funk, and something shifted. Afterward, I felt more alive than I had in months. My mind felt clearer, and my energy returned in a way that surprised me. And as an unexpected bonus, the niggling back pain I’d been struggling with for months also completely disappeared!
Cold showers became a regular part of my routine. I attended cold exposure workshops and retreats, connecting with people who were also seeking something deeper, something real. The nervous system regulating activities within these spaces made for a very relaxed way to connect, something I hadn’t yet experienced as a nondrinker. These experiences helped me rebuild my social life in a way that felt meaningful and authentic, free from the influence of alcohol.
I started hosting “Ice Bash” parties in Chicago, a social experience where the attendees got to sit in tubs of ice and BE the cocktail instead of drinking them. A new community was being built and one by one, I saw my former drinking buddies become cold-curious. And then in 2023, we decided to start meeting at the lake…the beginnings of what would become the Chicago Cold Club.
Courtesy of Chicago Cold Club / Katie Tomaszewski
The Power of Cold Exposure: A Boost of Energy
What I love most about cold exposure is how accessible it is. Even if I don’t have time to plunge into an ice bath, I can still experience its benefits through a simple cold shower. Before heading to events or social gatherings, I’ll take a cold shower, and it’s like an instant energy boost. Instead of relying on alcohol for confidence or excitement, the cold water resets my mood, gives me clarity, and brings a rush of endorphins that makes me feel ready for anything—especially a good time!
Healing Through the Cold
The benefits of cold plunges go beyond just feeling more energized—they actually help your body heal from the years of alcohol abuse that most adults have experienced. Cold exposure activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing inflammation and improving circulation, helping your organs heal—including your brain! Over time, I noticed I was sleeping better, recovering faster from workouts, and feeling more mentally resilient.
Most importantly, cold exposure helped me reconnect with myself. It reminded me that I was really freakin’ brave and that I didn’t need alcohol to feel alive or social. I could cultivate that feeling naturally, through my own body’s power with just a little bit of ice.
Feel & Heal
Cold exposure, much like our first few alcohol-free social experiences, can be undeniably uncomfortable—but that’s exactly what makes both challenges such powerful mindset tools.
In my coaching group, DryNamics, we do not shy away from social challenges. Armed with the desire to experience our thoughts and feelings differently, we intentionally push our edges and in that process conquer fears, build resilience and gain the confidence we need to take REAL risks in our lives.
The cold is some seriously powerful stuff and while it can be exhilarating and fun, there are some risks, safety and proper training are essential. Chicago Cold Club hosts Cold Class, a monthly training where you’ll learn everything you need to know before taking the plunge. Cold Class is LIVE on Tuesday December 3rd at 7pm. Sign up today to attend live or get access to the recording and be invited to our upcoming Sauna Beach Day on December 7th!
You can feel good in sobriety and you CAN make friends with winter too—it’s good, cold fun!
