The friend I didn’t know I had…
Winter sea swims
I had always said goodbye to the sea at the end of August. The August Bank Holiday meant the end of seaside fun.
But in lockdown, when we moved back to Cornwall, I discovered winter sea swims and my cold water therapy began.
New possibilities
It’s like a whole new world of possibilities has been opened up. Through lockdowns and restrictions and all the layers of fear and missing loved ones, finding joy in getting in the freezing water has felt like an absolute gift. It is well documented how cold water can benefit both our physical and mental health. It is on my gratitude list each and every day.
Depending on where you live, you may be limited with sea swim options unless you live NEAR the sea but please consider the option of lakes and rivers with the right guidance too. Or like me you could start with cold showers as a starter. There are so many potential benefits and Wim Hof has an easy to follow 28-day challenge that includes the power of the breath and mindset too. My best advice is to turn to cold at the end of your normal shower and start small!
Immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi describes that even x2 cold showers per week can benefit those with inflammatory diseases, and 30 days can reduce infections and improve our immune function. Studies show that getting in the freezing waters of the winter ocean can boost your metabolism and circulation too.
Confidence boost
Commit to it. You will feel like a badass as your confidence grows and you will wonder (as I remember saying about weight training) what else you could do and are capable of! It is kind of feel the fear and do it anyway as the saying goes. Don’t take unnecessary risks but it has definitely been a period of growth for me.
Menopause benefits
If you’re feeling low and lacking joy in your midlife and around menopause or actually at any point in life then there are so many potential benefits. For example cold water can help with pain by reducing inflammation and I have definitely found that my arthritic knee from a horse fall many years ago, has not needed meds this winter. The low mood and brain fog of reduced levels of oestrogen in midlife can also benefit as some studies have shown. Read more about the potential physical benefits here
Reduce stress and anxiety
There is such a connection with nature as you realise you are a very small part of this precious experience we call life. I have talked about the blue gym in a previous blog as the negative ions of being near the sea uplift us and improve our mental health. Happy hormones such as dopamine and serotonin are released and can help with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Mindfulness at its best
Reduce stress and increase your mental wellbeing by being in the moment with all the energising sensations that come with it. The need to focus and a detachment from all the worries and concerns of daily life are left behind. The mindfulness of being in the present moment creates space in your mind. Leave the screens and technology at home…although a post glow selfie is allowed as above!
Stay safe
Of course stay safe and be sensible. Start small and acclimatise…my sea swim is definitely a DIP and that feels totally amazing too. I wear a very uncool woolly hat and I don’t care because that little bit of warmth on my head works! If possible cold water swims work best in terms of safety going with a friend or have a helpful someone on the beach waiting for you. There are many groups in Cornwall and having someone to get in with is so important and I have made so many new friendships and connections. The Bluetits are a national group of women who live by the ethos of encouragement and equality. You will find some sort of swim near you wherever you live. From pools, rivers and lakes there are groups of women in their Dry Robes and woolly hats living their best lives! Having said that, I have had to do a lot of it on my own and it hasn’t stopped me. But of course I have been doing this for a few years now. For proper inspirational wild swimming with an amazing recovery story please watch my beautiful friend Katie Maggs film here .
Don’t stay in too long and always take a warm drink for your warming up reward and warm dry clothes to change into. If it’s rough don’t take risks and always be aware of tides especially on our Cornish coast that can be so unpredictable.
Winter sea swims are inclusive of anyone…any age, shape and size. If you told me I would be defrosting my car to get in the sea in the middle of winter when the land temp was zero… in just a swimsuit I would have said “NO WAAAY!!”
But don’t discount it. Winter sea swimming has literally given me skin-tingly- life-affirming LIFE and I absolutely recommend…
