The Wellbeing Power of Cold Water Swimming

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I am sure you would agree that in some way or another, we are all seeking balance in our lives.

Balance is also a very important component of our wellbeing. Achieving a balance between our mental health, emotional health and physical health will undoubtedly have a profound positive influence on the quality of each of our lives in all ways.

Finding activities that can combine and enhance these aspects together can be life-changing and this has been my experience through breathwork and cold water.

My attention was first drawn to breathwork around six years ago when one of my daughters returned from a night shift training as a midwife and expressed to me how much she was in awe of the strength and ability of a woman to give birth through conscious breathing and then how privileged she was and how amazing she felt to watch a baby take its first breath in life.

This sparked an interest in the power of our breath which has taken me on a journey, discovering and practising various breathwork techniques that remain a very important part of my weekly self-care routines.

Through my breathwork investigations, I stumbled across a guy you may have heard of called Wim Hof and his practices which include breathwork and cold water. Having always erred away from getting in any water less than 28 degrees without squealing, his suggestions including immersing in icy cold water, sounded crazy.

However, with the ‘don’t knock it until you’ve tried it’ attitude, I started trying cold showers around 4 years ago. After a while, I was able to sustain a minute in a cold-water shower and I was actually beginning to feel the benefits (through gritted teeth and shivers!). This happened when my daily routine was massively impacted as my attention was focused towards the responsibility and provision of care for both my parents, as I supported them simultaneously at home through their respective end-of-life pathways.

My father passed away in December 2021 and my mother in October 2022.

In the summer of 2022, I was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. My levels of stress were sky-high having lived in constant fight/flight mode for 2 years. The impact this was having on my body had already resulted in six serious health concerns that were being investigated.

Out of the blue, a generous invitation came my way for a short stay in a friend’s home in the beautiful small town of Aberaeron in Wales.

Listening to my story one evening, Jen (my friend) asked if I had ever tried cold water therapy. I explained about the cold showers, but she was referring to cold water swimming. I said this was something I couldn’t consider due to body dysmorphia (I have a fat disease called Lipoedema), doggy paddle-level swimming skills and the fact that cold showers were challenging enough, so who on earth is crazy enough to swim in cold water – not me?!

Suffice to say, the following morning I walked into the sea with Jen and her friend beside me. It proved to be one of the most empowering, energising, and memorable experiences of my life.

Sadly, four days later my darling mum died, but even this brief cold water experience gave me a little boost to deal with this.

Through Jen (@breathe.2.bee) I recognised my healing journey had begun and has continued through various practices, but all grounded and balanced through my dedicated commitment to cold water and breathwork.

In January 2021 I attended a Wim Hof Workshop with the amazing Sarah Huntley (@sarah_huntley_) to learn more about Wim’s practice and the proven scientific benefits this gifts us.

This led me to experience 1-degree ice baths, purchase my own cold tub in our garden and do something completely out of my comfort zone (again!). I attended a Winter Retreat in the Isle of Skye in December 2023 facilitated by Sarah and a team of inspiring Wim Hof Coaches including Dan Hughes, Andy Mackenzie and Hayley Browning. While there, I hiked, experienced various breathwork sessions as well as swimming in the North Sea!

My outcomes to date:

  • Medical tests in the last six months have concluded I have the lung capacity of a 33-year-old athlete and reduced inflammatory markers in my body.
  • A recent colonoscopy has confirmed that the ulcerative colitis I have endured for 30 years is currently in remission.
  • My energy levels are increasing.
  • Brain fog is being replaced with increasing clarity.
  • Every day my mental, emotional, and physical health is improving, and by no coincidence subsequently my self-esteem, self-confidence and positive feelings like ‘happiness’ are rising.

Acknowledgments to: Jen Bailey-Hobbs breathe.2.bee and seedlingsholidays_by_jen / Sarah Huntley sarah_huntley/Andy Mackenzie dare.2.become/ Dan Hughes vitaeviofficial/ Hayley Browning hayleyexplores

Cold Water Swimming

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1 Comment

  1. Claire catliff

    Truly inspiring Sandra!

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