00:01Bold.
00:03Energizing.
00:06Therapeutic.
00:08Ice bathing is a science of its own.
00:10And for many Latvians, it's a daily ritual.
00:13But for these women, it's an art form.
00:18You can meditate fantastically in the cold water.
00:22Just you, the water, and your breath.
00:25It's addictive.
00:27And it's especially fun when there's actual ice floating in the water, like here in Latvia.
00:34With temperatures reaching as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius, winter lingers until March, especially out in the forests.
00:44But even the capital Riga on the Daugava River stays dusted in white for months.
00:53These are scenes that wouldn't go amiss in a wintery fairy tale.
00:58In that spirit, Baiba Lapsinya and her friends transform into ice princesses to match the winter landscape.
01:05In just a few hours, the women of the Ledus Jeguzes swimming club, or the Ice Cuckoos, will head out
01:12to the lake for a daring photoshoot in freezing water.
01:19We are brave, we are brilliant, so why not show it?
01:23We like to think we might inspire other women to show themselves just as they are.
01:28After all, none of us are models, but every one of us loves our body just the way it is.
01:35Our goal isn't to be famous or popular, but rather to organize through social networks.
01:43The group shares material from their shoots on Instagram, creating different outfits to match the seasons and the weather.
01:53In the snowless winter of 25, for instance, the ice princesses made way for water sprites.
02:05First and foremost, we enjoy the feeling afterwards, your whole body tingles.
02:10But the artistic aspect is also important to us.
02:13A creative approach to ice bathing helps us forget the worries of daily life.
02:18You could say we've grown to love ice swimming all the more because of it.
02:22Combining beauty with health, and having fun together as a group, that's what counts.
02:28Ice bathing has a long tradition in Latvia.
02:31First, the water must be clear of ice shards to avoid injury.
02:37Upon plunging in, the blood vessels constrict.
02:41After bathing, they dilate.
02:43All this improves the circulation, but beware, enter the water slowly and only with a healthy heart and stable circulation.
02:51The long-term effects of ice bathing are debatable, but the contrast of hot and cold invigorates the body.
02:57So, for these ice bathers, the sauna is next.
03:01It's best to alternate between cold and hot. Ice, then sauna. Then it's a good day.
03:08And a good day lies ahead for the ladies of Ledus Jeguzes.
03:13They arrive at a quarry lake, two hours from the capital, Riga.
03:18This ice hole is used by other swimmers, too, but for one hour, Baiba Lapsinha and her ice princesses have
03:25it all to themselves.
03:28Once they're in the water, the clock starts ticking, even though they're experienced ice swimmers.
03:36Our bodies have grown accustomed to extreme temperatures.
03:40We can stay in a lot longer now and don't get sick afterwards.
03:46And then, the moment we've all been waiting for.
03:50The ice princesses step steadily into the water, where they'll have to endure for the next 15 minutes.
03:58For their bodies, for health, for art, and for some plain old fun.
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