A warm invitation to cold water practice
THIS COLD JOY
Let’s get in the water. What’s the best that could happen?
We’re living through a moment when people are searching for rejuvenation and invigoration. Cold exposure is everywhere, and people are curious—about the impact, the practice, and how to begin. But they’re also intimidated. The water is cold, nerve-wracking, and uncomfortable.
For most of Libby DeLana’s life, she believed she hated the cold—it was part of her identity. But in the midst of personal injury, an impromptu dip in icy water cracked open something in her heart. It forced her to examine the stories she told herself that were holding her back. If she could learn to love the cold, what other beautiful life experiences might await?
Cold Joy is part story, part invitation—a warm invitation to step into the cold water. It’s a gentle guide to building a cold exposure practice. With practical how-to’s, gear guides, tested strategies, and cold water diaries, it will take you from dipping your first toes in the tub out into the wild water.
It’s not about “biohacking”—it’s about honoring your body, opening your heart and mind to new adventures, and having a damn good time. Whether you’re a mermaid, a misfit, a first-timer, or someone finding your way back to the water, Cold Joy is your sparkly, sincere invitation to dive in.
Come on in, the water’s fine (and not as cold as it looks).
Why Cold Water?
“Practice doesn’t make perfect. It teaches patience. The cold water can teach us deep, enduring patience if we let it.” — Libby DeLana, Cold Joy
Cold water immersion offers more than a physical jolt. It heals injuries, boosts circulation, strengthens immunity, and decreases stress. Beyond that, it builds something deeper: mental resilience, a spiritual connection with nature, and personal transformation.
There is science behind it—endorphins rise, inflammation drops, the nervous system resets. But for Libby, it's the ritual that matters most: embracing discomfort and emerging stronger. Embrace your own journey into the transformative power of the cold.
Meet the Author
Three Decembers ago, in the murkiest bit of the pandemic, Libby DeLana stopped in the middle of her daily walk, stripped down, and ran into the ocean. The world was in flux. She was in flux. From her own marriage and career—to our collective ability to gather, embrace, and be physically present for one another—everything had changed. She was craving solid ground… but she found it in the open water.
Libby’s first dip was proof of life, proof of love, and proof that she could resist the current. She could find her own way to flow in the water and in the world beyond it. Standing on the beach afterwards—giddy, electrified, and shivering—Libby felt like she’d fallen in love.
Since then, Libby has built a strong cold-dipping practice. She shares her daily “cold plunge shenanigans” on Instagram and writes widely on the topic. Cold Joy is filled with everything water has taught her over the years—and stories about how she learned to listen.
What readers are saying about Cold Joy.
“Cold Joy is an invitation to embrace presence, discomfort, and the fluid wisdom of water. Through tender reflection, DeLana guides us in witnessing our own truths—within ourselves, our communities, and the depths of our belonging.”
— Alex Elle, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Cold Joy is a plunge into the world of aliveness! It’s a compelling invitation to end your allegiance to comfort by following the voice of desire. Filled with bubbling inspiration, sound practical advice, and the sparkly magic that is Libby DeLana, this book will grab you by the hand and lead you to a place where you feel wild, happy, and oh so free!”
— Cheryl Richardson, New York Times Bestselling Author (and the first person Libby got in the cold water with!)
Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: 5 Gyres
A portion of proceeds from Cold Joy book sales will be donated to 5 Gyres, a nonprofit driving innovative solutions to plastic pollution through science, advocacy, and community.
With over a decade of global data collection, 5 Gyres turns research into upstream solutions to creating a future free of plastic pollution. If cold water has changed you, please consider giving back to the water itself by supporting 5 Gyres.
Cold water is better together.
“Be your weird, true, authentic self. Wear the polka-dot bikini. Bring your pom-pom beanie. Say ‘I love you’ out loud. The water loves you. We love you, too.” — Libby DeLana, Cold Joy
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