b"16 JANUARY 13, 2023 The Great Eastern MailCold water dips good for physical and mental healthAheat and humidity); help your central group of passionate Metung locals have established anervous system (by improving sleep, Dippers club, which meetreducing fatigue and consequently regularly around dawn, to reap theenhancing reaction times and health and social benefits of a coldperformance); train your vagus water swim. nerve (which, due to its link with the The group (who have, over theparasympathetic nervous system, years, been referred to as Metungcan actually help you face stressful Sea Wolves,The Dippers andsituations more effectively).Metung Icebergs), was originallyLike any practice, obviously, started by Jay Gale, who firstpeople have to be sensible when dived into cold water swimmingit comes to ice bathing. You cant ten years ago, as a way to combatstay in too long and anyone with inflammation that was contributingpre-existing cardiovascular disease to symptoms of long-term chronicFun dip or high blood pressure would need fatigue. to be careful due to the changes in Over time, more and more localcore temperature and the resultant have joined him in his quest fordecreased blood flow that occurs optimum health. when your blood vessels constrict in Its a great routine to start theresponse to the cold.day, says Adele Rosmelan, who isOf course, in addition to the a devoted member of the group.physical health benefits from cold I feel so much more focused andwater swimming, the group also grounded; it helps me to collectenjoy social benefits from regular myself, my thoughts and mytheir get-togethers. intentions for each day. group also set up an ice bath once alevel, adds Adele. It can feelas the cold is believed to combatWe are accountable to each other, Other members of the group agree,month on the shores of Shaving Pointdifferent for everyone; some even saythe small tears (micro-trauma) insays Adele. No one wants to be the saying an early morning cold waterin Metung. their joints no longer hurt. For me, icemuscle fibres and resultant sorenessperson to pull the pin on meeting up. dip leaves them feeling invigorated,Everyone brings down some icebathing leaves me feeling incrediblycaused by repetitive or high intensityThe Dippers typically meet at energised and with incredible mentaland we throw it all into an IBC beforeenergised afterwards. exercise. In addition to this, ice bathsShaving Point in Metung around 7am clarity. taking turns to get in, Jay explains. Ice baths have long been a go-tocan also limit the inflammatoryevery day, 7.30am on Saturdays, and To take things to another level, theIce bathing takes it to anotherrecovery method among athletes,response (decreasing the impact of8am on Sundays.A CRACKINGand mental wellness sessions on GOODthe Metung Village Green. These morning sessions included Forest Bathing, Gentle Yoga, Pilates, HIIT, Moving Mindfulness, Slow Flow Vinyasa Yoga, Sister Circles, Bodyweight Bootcamp, Mindful Manifestation and Zumba Gold, enabling participants to kickstart SUMMER every day with a healthy dose of wellness!Karen Tough from Sister Circle said of the session she delivered, I had 10 beautiful women attend and it was awesome! Thanks again Whippy Griggs. Photo courtesy Lisa Davis for allowing me to be part of this amazing space. On Facebook, the Pilates with Kate session that was held on the T HE Metung Business andmorning of new years eve, attracted Tourism Association (MBTA)positive feedback including: Great were excited to showcase ansession this morning, Thanks Kate evening of family entertainment onand Metung BTA, such a great way Friday 6 January.to start the day! And Amazing The fun kicked off with bouncyturnout, what a fabulous way to end castles, party games, face paintingthe year.and roving entertainment by Wacky Similarly, participants from other Wombat. Seven Sundays boutiquesessions shared their feedback offered late night shopping,online saying things such as: It Electric Empire performed livewas SO good, and I went to Forest on the Village Green, and it was all then followed by an incredible whip-cracking show from Nathan Whippy Griggs. Nathan is not only Australia's number 1 whip-cracking entertainer, he is also a five-time whip-cracking Guinness World Record holder! Four times for fastest records with both one and two hands, 697 cracks in a minute two whips, 359 cracks in a minute 1 whip and for the longest whip in the world cracking a whip over 100m long! When it comes to whips you will not find a more inspiring and passionate man, and being a newPhoto: Wacky Wombat Entbreed of Australian whip-cracker,ertainmentNathan is currently taking the world by storm. Located in Mataranka (NorthernWhippy Griggs. Photo courtesy Lisa DavisTerritory), Nathan has invested aBathing with Jo yesterday and really lot of his time into perfecting hisenjoyed it. Weve signed up for a few whip-cracking and whip-making Nathan has spent the past 10cracking talent, and distinctive stylegrant submission to Businessmore different sessions.expertise. Now a professionalyears touring Australia. His passionof Aussie humour.Victoria for Business Chamber and While the sessions are free, gold entertainer and artisan whip-maker,for rural Australia and travelling hasMBTA were also very excited toTrader Groups. coin donations are welcomed as his whips are in demand from allseen him take his show to hundredssuccessfully present the 'MetungThe series ran for 20 days,a way to further strengthen the over the world. as is his whip- of towns, entertaining thousandsSummer Wellness Series', whichcommencing on 27 December,likelihood of the series returning cracking entertainment. with his ever-evolving whip- was made possible by a successfuland offered free daily physicalannually."