Anne Kristin Møller would be the right person to answer that. She has been an eager ice bather since 2015. Having recently publishing a book about ice bathing, it's safe to call her an expert on the subject.

"Every Saturday at 9 a.m., I prepare myself mentally and get very focused. I am going down to get new energy," she says about the weekly ritual she has had for the past seven years.

A hobby for everyone

For Anne Kristin, it all started back in 2015 when she was one of 320 people that took part in an event to set a new Norwegian ice bathing record at Tjuvholmen in Oslo. She describes it as a "very refreshing experience" that got her hooked – this was to be her new hobby.

"The rush you feel in your body and the contrast of going from cold to warm is an absolutely fantastic experience. It gives me great joy in life, and is good for both body and soul. At the same time, it makes me very focused." 

Anne Kristin thinks that might be the main reason people love it so much. Experiencing nature that way is also very special, she adds.

"I always get so surprised at how beautiful the nature is, showing itself from a new side every time. There is an incredible silence at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings, when almost nobody else is outside yet. It feels like receiving a gift when you walk towards the bathing jetty, and it's easy to get euphoric."

Check out Møller's top ice bathing spots!

Ice bathing boom

With the rising interest in ice bathing, new ice bathing clubs have appeared throughout Norway. There are now over 100 different clubs from the south to the north.

"There was a survey that said that 1 in 5 Norwegians plan to go ice bathing this winter. That's around 1 million people. There can never be too much ice bathing. I think we need to get out of our comfort zone and challenge the forces of nature," says Anne Kristin enthusiastically.

She also points out that it's a great way to make new friends or find local guides in the places you visit.

"There is an ice bathing club almost everywhere in the country, and it's easy to find them. Just google 'ice bathing' and the name of the place you are visiting, or look for Facebook groups. In most places, you can join a guest bath, or join the club in time."

You can have experiences that will remember for a long time. For Anne Kristin, one of the most special moments was when she took a dip in the Arctic waters off Svalbard.

"When I was working on my book, I wanted to bathe in a place that was not so close to the city, so I sailed on M/S Polargirl to Nordenskiöldbreen in Billefjorden, a four-hour boat ride from Longyearbyen. Bathing between the ice floes was my most exotic ice bath ever, in many ways. Just a few days later, polar bears were spotted in the exact same spot where we had been."

...might be wise to stick to the safer bathing jetties in town!

Not sure how to start?

Don't worry, that's totally normal.  Anne Kristin has some good advice on how to gradually get comfortable with the cold water shock and become a regular ice bather.

"The easiest way to start is to not stop bathing when the summer is over. Then you will get a natural transition from warmer water to cold water, and your body will adapt to the cold water more easily," she says. 

She also recommends finding a friend that wants to take part in the same hobby.

"It's nice to have a regular bathing day and a friend who wants to join you. Both because you have more fun together, but also because of safety reasons."

See Anne Kristin's five best tips on how make your ice bathing experience as smooth as possible below.