GO WILD IN THE WATER
There is something slightly naughty, a little bit scary and wonderfully invigorating about entering open water with just your skin and the elements.
Go Wild in the Water - Go Wild Swimming.
Cold water immersion provides a sense of elation and relaxation, soothes muscle aches, relieves depression and boosts the immune system. It’s also a fantastically convenient way to explore the countryside and re connect with Nature.
The health and psychological benefits of dipping in natural waters have been long known. All wild-dippers know the natural endorphin high that raises mood, elates the senses and creates an addictive urge to dive back in and sets the day off to a fantastic start. The dilatation of blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure in the extremities plus pumps out toxin. The cold water starts a process of cold adaptation, which quickly builds your cold tolerance, make cold water feel more comfortable and your body more healthy.
Health benefits of wild swimming
The health and psychological benefits of dipping in natural waters have long been known, as our many spa towns are testament to. There are quite a few different physiological and health effects: First, a one off dunk creates intense vasodilation, pumping out muscle lactates and bringing fresh blood to the extremities. Second, a cold dip also provides a psychological kick start too. A powerful endorphin shot is released and this natural high bringing on intense feelings of well being. Third, after regular swimming, a process known as cold adaptation kicks in.
Jernej Graj
Seth Doyle
Not only does this reduce your body’s sensation of coldness (making even the coldest water quite pleasant), it is clinically proven to boost mode, libido and the immune system.Cold water swimming is also a sure-fire way to burn calories quickly and building muscle tone and graceful technique.Wild swimming is a very good way to de-stress and can be a form of mindfulness or meditation, bringing you into the moment, focusing your mind on the physical sensations and taking you away from your worries and concerns. It can also be the perfect digital detox.
Where to swim wild?
After a terrible time during the polluting and industrial decades of the 1950s and 1960s, our river and lakes are cleaner than they’ve been. Over 70 per cent of our rivers are now in good or excellent condition again. They are hidden havens for wildlife once more, secret corridors into forgotten corners of our countryside. Bobbing along with a frog-eye view these are place to commune with nature, seek inspiration and be humbled by the immensity and wonder of the natural world.
Any footpath, ford, footbridge or ‘open-access’ land bordering a river or lake is a good place to start looking for a place to wild swim. River bends often create shallow beaches on the inside and deeper pools on the outside. Small weirs and waterfalls create pools in rivers that would be otherwise too shallow.
Ordnance Survey maps provides much more information and can be viewed online. It is also worth asking locally where people swim in the summer or take at look at the map at www.wildswimming.co.uk
Your first dip
If it’s your first time in cold water, arrive feeling really warm. Plan a good active walk to get you there and put on lots of warm clothes before you arrive. Once you’re in the water it takes a few minutes before the cold feeling goes away, so persevere and you’ll feel great. In general, the more you swim in cold water the less you will feel the cold and the greater the health benefits. This called ‘cold adaptation’. Don’t stay in so long that you start to shiver, though and definitely get out and warm up after 20 minutes.
If you have footwear e.g. old trainers you can wear in the water, these are very useful for confidence and exploring. It is, of course, quite possible to swim even without any kit, wear your undies or go naked if it is secluded. Remember to take a small towel or sarong with you to dry yourself.
10 ways to be wild and safe
1. Never swim in canals, urban rivers, stagnant lakes or reedy shallows
2. Never swim in flood water and be cautious of water quality during droughts
3. Keep cuts and wounds covered with waterproof plasters if you are concerned
4. Avoid contact with blue–green algae
5. Never swim alone and keep a constant watch on weak swimmers
6. Never jump into water you have not thoroughly checked for depth and obstructions
7. Always make sure you know how you will get out before you get in
8. Don’t get too cold – warm up with exercise and warm clothes before and after a swim
9. Wear footwear if you can
10. Watch out for boats on any navigable river. Wear a coloured swim hat so you can be seen.
After all of this remember to relax, be in the moment and re-connect with the natural world. www.wildswimming.co.uk