We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jacob Daybell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jacob below.

Jacob, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

My life has felt like a million defining moments all added up to get me where I am today. If you would’ve told me 5 years ago that I would be living where I live and doing what I do now, there is no way I would have believed you.

I went to school to be a family/relationship therapist, then covid hit. Instead of going back to school to officially graduate, I started my first business running sales teams and planned to build it for the rest of my life. Fast forward 3 years later, I made the decision to separate from my partners and leave that business. This was a big defining moment for me. I had made an unexpected pivot in my career and stepped into the unknown. I faced my fears, doubts, and stress head-on as I was committed to find a new path to provide for my family and one that felt more aligned to my purpose.

Around that same time, I began yoga teacher training off a hunch. I didn’t even know why I joined at first, but quickly fell in love with somatic healing. I always loved athletics and physical challenge. I always loved psychology and mental health modalities. Using the body to heal the mind just made so much sense to me personally and I began to realize that I had actually been helping people with somatic therapy for a long time unknowingly.

Back in the day, I used to give a cold shower/ice bath routine for my sales team. I would also teach my favorite breathing exercises in the sauna to my friends and old business partners. Back then, it was all in the name of mental toughness. It was to help guys build confidence and perform better at work. But as I reflected on my schooling, training, passions, and purpose, I realized that contrast therapy is so much more than that.

One of the most potent defining moments for me was when Polarity Plunge opened its doors. While it seemed that I was just taking the next step in front of me my whole life, I was really being prepared and guided to make the decision to start this sauna/cold plunge studio. Looking back now, I can see how many of my experiences were secretly leading me to offer this practice of healing and empowerment to people. I cannot wait to continue to have defining moments as we build a healthy and happy community around Polarity Plunge.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Polarity Plunge is a center for health and wellness. Most people come in the door to attempt a cold plunge or to recover in the infrared saunas, but they leave with so much more. My wife, Rachel, specializes in somatic breathwork and I am trained in somatic movement. The breath and the body are where we spend our entire lives. We believe that if someone can learn about the power of somatics through the breath and movement, then they can have true peace in their lives.

Mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, ptsd, and addiction are treated through contrast therapy. Physical health woes such as soreness, sickness, inflammation, and injuries are overcome with contrast therapy. We focus on the Nordic cycle, which has been tested and proven for centuries in scandinavian countries as the answer to many pains that we face with our health. Alternating between the infrared heat (20 minutes) and the cold water (2 minutes), will allow you to feel refreshed and revitalized like never before.

With our memberships, you are able to make this practice a habit. Just like everything in life, consistency is key. Studies show that a sauna session 3-4x a week and cold water immersion for at least 11 minutes per week can change the brain and body in the most positive ways. You won’t just live longer, but you will feel better throughout your life as well.

Community is an important pillar at Polarity Plunge. We want to invite athletes, nutritionists, therapists, and health practitioners of all kinds to events and collaborations so that we can all participate in making America healthy again.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

One of my favorite quotes by Carl Jung says, “Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul.” Especially in the field of health and wellness, I believe that the most important thing is to simply connect with each other. To be human. To be a friend. This is the foundation of our wellbeing because we are social and emotional creatures at the end of the day.

To be of service and to help others without expectation is the most fulfilling aspect of any work. And that is true success!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Here are my favorite books on leadership that I believe everyone should read, because we are all leaders in certain ways.

– Leadership and Self-Deception by the Arbinger Institute

– Staring Down the Wolf by Mark Divine

– Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Dr. Jean Greaves

– The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Wilink

Also, the Ted Talk entitled “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” by Simon Sinek

And would highly recommend the global community that I am apart of “Leaders Create Leaders” created by Gerard Adams

Contact Info:

• Website: https://polarityplunge.com
• Instagram: polarityplunge
• Youtube: reapyourroots
• Other: Personal instagram is jake.daybell and mens work instagram is reapyourroots

Image Credits

Rachel Daybell (rachlphotos instagram)