Three Health Benefits Of Cold Water Swimming

Having recently celebrated my 1st Swim-Aversary – 365 whole days since my first Wim Hof experience ... I am thrilled to have been cold water swimming (although dipping would be more accurate) at least once a week, every week since then (bar 1 week at Christmas due to illness). 

My new passion has helped me overcome the fear of falling into water (especially whilst working on it!), and the fear of cold. It has helped me manage anxiety, panic attacks, and menopausal hot flushes all whilst helping to increasing my core body temperature (I naturally run quite cold). 

My ‘I can do anything’ attitude (which was previously quite good) has rocketed too! It’s taken me to geographical, physical and emotional places I didn’t know existed. I’ve meet lots of amazing people along the way too. 

Thank you to everyone I have met, chatted to, and swam with – We are all Awesome!

This month I am pleased to collaborate with Jennifer Neal, who discusses some of the benefits of cold water swimming in the article below. Please read on to find out more about cold water swimming and Jennifer’s interests.

For the natural wellness enthusiast, cold water swimming offers a unique opportunity to simultaneously treat the mind, body and soul. Whether you prefer a pool plunge or a wild swim, this activity is one that will soothe and rejuvenate. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the top three health benefits of cold water swimming.

Supports mental wellbeing

Taking a cool dip or swim each morning has been shown to not only increase preparedness for the day ahead, but to potentially decrease feelings of stress and anxiety, too. This is largely due to the fact that our bodies react to cold temperatures by releasing endorphins, as well as noradrenaline and dopamine – three hormones that are known to improve mood. It’s suggested that exposure to this sudden, extreme change in temperature momentarily triggers our physiological stress response, which in turn, helps us to become more resilient to it in other areas of our lives. For these reasons, cold water swimming can be hugely beneficial for people who struggle with mental health difficulties such as depression and PTSD, as well as various anxiety disorders. In fact, as reported in this guide to cold water swimming in the UK, more than 98% of people who partook in the activity noticed their feelings of anxiety became less severe.

Taking your daily swim outdoors in a lake or the sea may be a great way to boost the mood even further, due to the added benefit of being immersed in the calming sights and sounds of nature.

Improves circulation

When your body is immersed in cold water, it has to work harder than usual to maintain your core body temperature. To do this, it increases the blood flow to your internal organs, which in turn, helps to get more oxygen and nutrients moving around your body. So, when you take a swim in a cold body of water, your circulatory system begins to work even more efficiently than usual – and your organs and tissues get an increased dose of everything that they need to thrive. Likewise, the exercise that you get from a simple front crawl is enough to boost your cardio fitness and heart health, which consequently supports the circulatory system.

Soothes aches and pains

For those of us with an active lifestyle, aches and soreness are often to be expected as we challenge our bodies physically. The physical exertion of a workout often results in small tears in our muscles, which then repair themselves – the process by which our muscles increase in strength. While these tears aren’t dangerous, they can be uncomfortable, due to our body’s inflammatory response to them – a response which can actually be decreased by bathing in cold temperatures. In this way, cold water swimming can be helpful for those who suffer from joint and mobility issues such as arthritis, as these conditions often result in inflamed and painful joints.

To get the most out of your swim

In order to fully reap the benefits of cold water swimming, it’s important to follow relevant health and safety advice. If you’re swimming in wild or open water, you should always make sure that you choose a spot with already-established safety measures in place, such as a lifeguard on duty – and never swim in an area that has not been signposted as safe to do so. For some people, swimming in cold water can pose more risks than benefits, and for this reason, you should always seek advice from a medical professional before taking the plunge. This is especially true for people who are pregnant, or have any sort of heart condition or high blood pressure, as for these groups this activity may be particularly dangerous.

Overall

Ultimately, cold water swimming is a wonderfully invigorating activity that offers plenty of health benefits for many people. As long as you educate yourself on important health and safety measures, you are free to swim, splash or bathe to your heart’s content.

Author bio: Jennifer Neal

Jennifer has a keen interest in holistic medicine and wellness, and uses her acquired knowledge to aid in her struggle with arthritis. She hopes to share her cold water swimming tips and tricks with others who may benefit from the soothing experience.

This month’s guest blog has been kindly submitted by Jennifer Neal – and shared by Simply Soulful Yoga, with many thanks. For more advice, tips and interesting facts visit Jennifer’s Cold Water Swimming Beginner’s Guide