In Zell am See

Ice bathing: “Everyone has dared to do it so far”

There is no such thing as a lake in Zell that is too cold for Daniela Bily. The yoga teacher loves ice swimming.(Bild: Daniela Bily)

Yoga teacher Daniela Bily loves water temperatures around freezing point. Because then it's time for ice swimming again. She passes on her passion to anyone who is interested.

When temperatures drop below freezing, it's time to dress warmly. But not for Daniela Bily, who was born in Zell: she takes her clothes off! At least apart from her bikini and a warm woolly hat. "We always leave our headgear on. And we don't dip our hands in cold water either. That's because there are lots of nerve cells there that signal to the body that it's cold," explains yoga and movement teacher Daniela Bily. Overcoming the body and its instincts is what ice bathing is all about. With special breathing exercises, which are also used in yoga, Bily prepares herself and her fellow swimmers for the approaching cold bath.

Daniela Bily (orange cap) passes on her extensive knowledge of ice bathing at courses in Zell am See.(Bild: Daniela Bily)

The yoga instructor is convinced that anyone can make it into the cold water.(Bild: Daniela Bily)

"So far, every participant has dared to get into the water," says the yoga teacher proudly. The motivation of her course participants varies. Some want to prove something to themselves, others want to make the immune system-boosting ice baths part of their routine. Just like ski star Marcel Hirscher, who keeps fit by taking ice baths. "If you regularly get into the cold water, you boost blood circulation, inflammation levels are reduced and happiness hormones are released," says Bily. Two minutes in ice water is enough to do this, the Zell resident can report from many years of experience.

She came to ice bathing via surfing! "I wanted to experience the feeling of being alive and tried swimming in the Old Danube with friends. People got quite a look when we put on our swimsuits there in winter," she laughs.