What a time it is to be alive in the world, with all of the new inventions, cutting-edge technology, and things that just all around make our lives better. I’m not necessarily talking about cold plunges, but they sure are a neat addition. Whether it’s at your local gym, sauna, or at your friend’s home, cold plunging is most definitely an item being discussed across the world.
My own household has had the conversation many times about not only the benefits that may come along with the act of taking a plunge into frigid water, but also why the benefits come from such a tormenting process. The best things in life don’t come easy, right? The gym is not at the forefront of today’s to-do list; the “healthy” meal option is often not the most desirable thing on the menu. But when we can look past this and take a new perspective on our body, it’s usually not so bad after all. We end up feeling renewed and relieved (maybe that it’s over), and our bodies and minds seemingly enter a new state.
In Las Vegas last October at the International Pool Spa Patio Expo, I had the opportunity to break through some of the icy controversy about cold plunges and present the facts about why cold plunging can be a great addition to any client’s outdoor living space. This act of rejuvenation and renewal has been tracked back thousands of years, but in those times, some believe this was a medically necessary act for curing the outside of the body from skin ailments or the like — contrary to today’s thoughts on cold plunging, where we now focus on the internal healing of the mind and body through the act of cold water submersion.
I have the guilty pleasure of visiting spas when we travel around the world, and if you haven’t opened your mind to the benefits of visiting a resort spa during your travels, I encourage you to do so. In that spa, I’m almost positive there will be a cold plunge vessel of some sort — and you must try it. The idea is that the mix of cold and warm environments are to be used together. You will find that there may be a thermal spa, or a sauna close by. Do both. Rotate between all three or four wellness activities that are placed around that area to take in the sensations of warm and cool temperatures. If nothing else, I’m sure it will be a story to share when the conversation about cold plunges inevitably comes up in your friend group or family dinner.
At The Pool & Spa Show in Atlantic City this January, I had a wonderful chance to premiere a new course, GENESIS D330: Comprehensive Aquatic Design: Where Water Wellness and Architecture Meet. We had an incredible time talking about bringing these wellness elements right into your clients’ outdoor living spaces. Again, we broke through some of the mystery surrounding the acts of doing these unique activities and then discussed how simple it may be to form a conversation around this with your new or existing client. While building the backyard of their dreams, we can easily add in a vessel to do a cold plunge — perhaps adjacent to the hydrotherapy spa that you’re already constructing for them. Or say the job has already been completed and your client just found out about how much they enjoy this wellness activity — there are solutions for that, too!
I must say, the pre-fabricated option is not always my first choice, but on occasion, it just makes sense. Perhaps the client wants to try it before they make the investment into doing a new shotcrete structure and living through a period of construction again. As a pool builder, it’s your job to help the client make an informed decision about the options that you lay in front of them. On the design side, our company may have a different opinion, but we are sure to insert our thoughts and make the client’s life better because of our combined efforts with the building team.
I’m seeing a huge trend in commercial properties that are taking a stance on the side of wellness. In any city near you, you are sure to find a new high-rise or a small community that boasts their efforts to try to capture the wellness and mindfulness elements of this growing trend in the United States. We often work with architects and developers to make a captivating outdoor and indoor environment that adds to the quality of life of its tenants and owners. These luxury units are marketed with the very things that our pool companies capitalize on. Wellness. Pools. Spas. Cold Plunges. Gyms. Saunas. Steam Rooms. Why stop at only building the pool? Why stop at only designing the pool? It is our stance that the pool alone is not what should be designed; it’s the space surrounding the pool that forms the experience. What can we add (not clutter) to the space to add to the experience?
The better that our industry can understand the growing demand for these items, the more we will be able to satisfy our customers and enrich the lives of people around us. That is what we are really in this for, right? The smiles on the family’s faces when they get to enjoy their new pool or host their first gathering in their new outdoor living space is what has always had me hooked on this industry. Whether it is a cold plunge that you add to an existing space, or a complete overhaul of the backyard that exceeds the expectations of the world’s finest resorts, I’m sure you will be happy that you have helped make someone’s life just a little bit better.
This article first appeared in the March 2026 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
