ZENNEST was never meant to be just a wellness brand. It was born from something deeper — a search for calm, connection, and meaning in a world that never seems to slow down.
Founder Chris Hillary, the mind behind ZENNEST, opens up about how a simple cold-water habit evolved into a life-changing journey — and how that same experience now drives his mission to help others reconnect with themselves and each other through mindful cold immersion.
The Beginning: A Wheelie Bin and a Wake-Up Call
“I launched ZENNEST in 2022 — two years after I started dipping in the sea,” Chris recalls with a smile.
“I became hooked on how cold water made my mind feel — awake, clear, alive. I wanted that feeling more often, but I needed something I could use at home. The only thing I had was a wheelie bin, so I filled it with water and started dipping every day. That’s where it all began — the idea for a portable ice bath that could bring calm and clarity to anyone, anywhere.”
That experiment turned into a prototype. The prototype turned into a movement. And soon after, ZENNEST was born — a brand built on the balance between stillness and strength.
More Than a Product — A Purpose
“From the beginning, I wanted ZENNEST to be more than just a cold plunge brand,” Chris explains. “I envisioned a space — a nest — where people could reconnect with themselves and with others. A community built around wellness, discipline, and inner peace.
It’s easy to sell a product. What matters more is what happens after someone buys it — how it changes their mindset, their habits, and their life. That’s what ZENNEST stands for.”
Just like a flock or a pod, ZENNEST is about coming together. A tribe of individuals sharing one common ritual — the courage to face the cold, and the desire to grow stronger through it.
Building the Tribe: Connection Through Cold
Community has always been at the heart of Chris’s life. Before ZENNEST, he spent six years as a Zumba instructor — bringing people together through rhythm and energy. “What I loved most wasn’t the dancing,” he says. “It was the connection. People came early to talk, to share, to belong. That same sense of belonging is what I wanted to create with ZENNEST.”
In a digital age where so many of us feel isolated, ZENNEST has become more than a wellness brand — it’s a support system. Through the ZENNEST Community Group, people from around the world share their stories, challenges, and progress. “We’ve seen members help each other through tough times — offering encouragement, advice, and accountability,” Chris says. “It’s incredible to see how powerful that can be.”
Finding Peace in the Cold
For Chris, cold water therapy isn’t just a business — it’s a lifeline. “I’ve always been open about the fact that I struggle with social anxiety,” he shares. “Running your own company can be lonely. There are days when you barely talk to anyone. But dipping with others — sharing those Sunday morning plunges — that keeps me grounded.”
Every weekend, he meets friends at dawn to dip in the sea. “That ritual keeps me balanced,” he says. “It’s not just about the cold — it’s about the connection. The talks before and after, the laughs, the shared silence. Those small moments of real human contact remind me why I started this journey.”
Cold water has become Chris’s form of therapy — a way to slow down, breathe, and reset. “When you immerse yourself in cold water,” he says, “everything else falls away. You’re just there, fully present. It’s the most honest form of mindfulness I know.”
The Power of Retreats and Reflection
As ZENNEST grew, Chris began exploring another dimension of healing — men’s retreats. “Men need connection too,” he says. “We’re often told to stay strong, but we forget that opening up is strength.”
He recalls a retreat in Devon where he surfed for the first time in years. “I turned off my phone for three days. There were twenty of us — sitting by the fire, sharing stories, and just being real. It was life-changing.”
At a later retreat in Sweden, the experience took on a spiritual level. “Every day we’d break the ice on a frozen lake and plunge in together. It wasn’t about endurance — it was about unity. We climbed a mountain one day and when we reached the top, everyone just stopped talking. There was total silence. It felt like harmony. That’s what I want ZENNEST to represent — that feeling of peace in connection.”
From a Single Bin to a Global Movement
What began as one man’s experiment in a wheelie bin has grown into a global wellness community. “To date, ZENNEST has helped thousands of people start their cold water journey,” Chris says proudly. “And that’s what drives me — knowing each person has their own reason, their own story.”
ZENNEST continues to innovate — launching new Elite ice bath models and chiller systems to make daily cold therapy possible year-round. “We want people to be able to dip whenever they need to — whether it’s for recovery, focus, or peace of mind,” Chris explains. “Because once you experience it, it’s not just a routine — it’s a way of life.”
Why ZENNEST Tells Stories
Why does ZENNEST share these personal stories? Because ZENNEST is not just a product — it’s people.
Behind every dip is a reason. Behind every routine is a story.
At ZENNEST, we believe these stories deserve to be told — because they inspire, connect, and empower.
They remind us that we’re not alone, that growth begins with stillness, and that even in the coldest moments, there’s warmth in community.
ZENNEST is where wellness meets purpose.
A reminder that healing doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens when we breathe, connect, and take the plunge together.