Cold Water Swimming: Mother Nature's Medicine

November 18, 2020
To some, the thought of a wild swim, also known as a cold-water swim, sounds like a barbaric form of torture. In reality, though, I promise, the exact opposite is true. Cold-water swimming is actually hugely beneficial for your mind, body, and soul. I’ll share some of the science-y reasons why it’s good for you, but seriously, when something feels that amazing does the science matter?! At Yoga Field & Sea we get in the sea every day (as long as the waves aren’t too big). Why do we do it? Simply for the love of it. We’re addicted!

Wild swimming in freezing cold lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans, is probably not that appealing to many people, but if you can just break free of your warm and snug comfort zone and dig deep for a little drop of will power to give it a go, you’ll soon see that the thought of it is actually far worse than actually doing it!

Here in the UK, to say that the weather is temperamental throughout the year would be a bit of an understatement. The oceans surrounding the UK can feel icy cold in the summer, let alone in the winter, but once you set your intention to get it done, strip off to your bathers, edge slowly into the turquoise water, and let that feeling of being alive sink in, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try ‘wild swimming’ years ago.

If this has peaked your interest and you are thinking of giving cold-water swimming (or dipping) a try, here are 3 of the science-y reasons why it’s the right thing to do.

1. Cold-water swimming boosts your immune system

One of the main benefits of breaking free of your comfort zone and embracing the freezing cold waters of the English channel, or any other stretch of water for that matter, is the fact that doing so will give your immune system a serious boost.

 

Bathing or swimming in cold water has been found to increase white blood cell counts, due to the fact that your body reacts to the dramatic change in conditions. The more white blood cells you produce, the stronger your immune system becomes.


If you want to avoid getting sick and strengthen your body’s natural defences, wild swimming might just help!

2. Wild swimming boosts circulation

After you have (undoubtedly) enjoyed your cold water swim you will notice increased blood circulating throughout your body. You’ll notice this by the tell tale sign of a healthy looking pink glow, almost like a natural tan. (OR in our case it is less ‘pink glow’ and more ‘ red blotchy.’) 


Wild swimming also helps to boost your heart rate and flushes capillaries, veins, and arteries, helping to force blood to the surface, which adds to that amazing healthy pink (or blotchy red?) hue when you get out.


All this clever stuff increases oxygen transportation and ironically, actually helps warm the extremities!

3. Cold-water swimming increases metabolism

Bonus number 3: cold-water swimming can actually increase your metabolism and thereby assist with weight loss to a certain degree. We are clearly not advocating putting your body under ‘cold water stress’ as a means to lose weight, but it is certainly nice to know that a little cold water dip can at least tip the scales in the right direction a teeny bit.


Just think, while you are flopping about in the cold water taking your Instagram photo, your body has to work harder to regulate your temperature. In order to raise your core body temperature, it needs to burn calories. To do that your metabolism must speed up. The faster your metabolism runs the more calories you will burn and the more energy you will generate as a result. We are also pretty sure that all the post swim shivering must burn a few calories as well!


Regardless of the science, the whole experience is totally invigorating and refreshing; it’s like nothing else. Your skin feels alive, your body feels energised, your mind feels clear, you feel immensely proud and you can’t wait to get back for more.


We offer wild swimming for beginners on every Yoga Field & Sea retreat with professional wild swimming coaches from Coast to Coast Water Safety – check our retreat line up here.

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