TEMPTED TO DIVE RIGHT IN?
GRAB YOUR COZZIE. ELLA WALKER SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO GIVE WILD SWIMMING A GO – AND THEN CARRY IT ON INTO WINTER
WHEN temperatures hit a furnace-worthy 36.9°C in July, one lido in London was literally mobbed by a crowd of 500 bikiniclad, goggle-toting people. Obviously, the hot and bothered siege at Brockwell Park prompted a call to the police and the lido shut down for a few hours.
But rioting aside, you can sympathise with the would-be outdoor swimmers’ intentions – they just wanted to be in some cold H2O on a sweltering day.
And why limit yourself to chlorinated, turquoise-tiled pools – however David Hockney-esque they might be – when there are natural places to take a dip instead?
Or restrict yourself to swimming outdoors in summer? The health benefits are worth enjoying whatever the season – even winter.
“When you plunge into cold water, it releases a flood of endorphins and whatever mood you were in beforehand, you don’t regret it,” says Daniel Start, author of Wild Swimming (Wild Things Publishing Ltd, £16.99).
“Being submerged in cold water makes you feel alive and elated.
“You’re so in the moment,” he adds. “Particularly if you’re surrounded by nature and have a frog’s eye view of the world – it’s like a form of meditation, you feel very present.”
For those concerned about diving into icy water for the first time, Daniel explains that ‘cold adaptation’ tends to kick in around your third cold water swim. This is when your body will begin to adjust and not feel quite so sensitive to the chill. Obviously, “the more cold water swims, the better” to build up your tolerance levels, he notes.
As well as being a cheap, fun and easy way to stay fit, studies have found that people who swim in cold
water throughout winter are half as likely to develop a cold, while it’s also believed to be beneficial for those with mental health illnesses, MS, ME, anxiety and depression, among others.
It’s also “a great way to reclaim your life”, muses Daniel. “Just swimming down a river, it’s very achievable, but doing it gives you a
huge sense of accomplishment. Combine that with the endorphin release and the exercise element and you feel fantastic.”
Plus, “nothing burns calories like swimming, especially swimming in cold water”.
If you’re heading out on a wild swim, it’s always a good idea to take someone with you, dress
appropriately for the water temperature, check the current and depth of the water and have some warm, dry clothes on the shore for when you’re finished.
Wild swimming is fantastic fun – but it’s always important to know your limits and build up your experience in the open water slowly.