The following is a first-person account from the Saturday, April 12, LiveWell Sauna and Cold Plunge

On a bright Saturday morning, I packed my bag with a swimsuit and towel. It was one of the first truly nice mornings of spring – something I’d been impatiently waiting for since February. I’ve always had the bad habit of expecting spring to come early, as if I don’t live in northern Wisconsin, and I’m always shocked by my disappointment when it doesn’t. But that morning was warm, and I felt on top of the world.

I was headed to Wisconsin Point, a scenic peninsula with a beach stretched along its length. When I was a kid, we’d come here to swim and visit the Native American Burial Ground. It was there, surrounded by trees as I gently placed tobacco on one of the stones, that my dad taught me the waters of Lake Superior are healing. I intended to take full advantage of that this Saturday morning.

Three organizations from the University of Wisconsin–Superior – Superior Adventures, the Pruitt Center for Mindfulness and Wellbeing, and LiveWell (an initiative of the Pruitt Center) – had sparked my visit to the Point. They invited both students and community members to use their portable sauna and plunge into the icy waters of Lake Superior. It was just what I needed.

Walking down the boardwalk, littered with soft sand, I headed toward the stretch of beach near the lighthouse. There was a small fire surrounded by people, a table set up for signing waivers and two portable saunas brought by UWS. The saunas were black, octagon-shaped, with two pipes coming from the top for ventilation.

I ran into Lynn Goerdt, a UW–Superior social work professor and LiveWell coordinator. She pointed me toward the waiver table and gave me an overview of the event. I had used a sauna before and loved it – but never on a beach, and never before a cold plunge.

Inside the sauna were two benches and heaters. As we poured water on the rocks and let the steam fill the tent, I got to know the community members and UW–Superior attendees around me. It was the ultimate source of stress relief and bonding. From the small window of the sauna, we could see others plunging into the lake. After a while, I was ready to face the water myself.

Other participants were already in – either floating calmly or jumping in and out after realizing just how cold Lake Superior actually is. I internally vowed to be like the calm ones. To get the full benefits of a plunge, you’re supposed to stay in the water anywhere from 30 seconds to three minutes. I planned on staying in for a full minute.

I knew it would be cold, but feeling it was a different ball game. In a second, all the heat from the sauna vanished from my body. And just as quickly, I gave up my vow to be calm and collected – I shot out of the water like a rocket.

Two more quick jumps later, I sat by the fire wrapped in my towel. I felt rejuvenated, more awake than if I’d had four cups of coffee. And I felt accomplished – for trying something new and connecting with our northern environment.

The event ran from 10 a.m. to noon. This won’t be the last time UW–Superior hosts this free event, and I highly encourage anyone interested to come check it out. If not for the healing benefits of the sauna and plunge, then for the sense of community built along the shore.

By Olivia Fleming, English major and student writer for UWS.