Cold water swimming/dipping is something that has become extremely popular over the last few years, especially during lockdown.
I started dipping back in December 2020 and haven’t looked back. After that first snowy dip, I was hooked. To start with, the cold water became a place where I could switch off from the busyness in my head. When water is that cold, it’s hard to think about anything else! But over time, it has become a much more calming and mindful experience. I’ve learnt to control my breathing more and those daily morning dips set me up well for the day ahead (you can read more about my daily dips and experience with cold water swimming here).
There has been a lot of research into the benefits of cold water swimming, which can include:
- An increased tolerance to stress
- Improvement to mental health
- Decreased inflammation
- Increased immunity
- A natural high
- Connecting and socialising
(You can check out this great blog post from the Swim Secure team or this one from Yobaba Lounge, for more information on the benefits)
Mental Health Swims was founded by Rachel Ashe, who after joining a new years day dip back in 2019, started a monthly swim meet up on her local beach. During lockdown 2020, 80 outdoor cold-water dips formed across the UK. Mental Health Swims now take place across the country, hosted by volunteers to make safe, welcoming spaces for anyone struggling with their mental health.
Before I had made the move down to Cornwall, I had been researching groups to swim with as I wanted to make it a more regular part of routine. I had come across mental health swims and had seen there was a group set up. I reached out and asked if I could get involved when I moved down. Unfortunately, by the time I had relocated, the group has disbanded. I managed to find other groups to swim with, but then I saw a post saying that hosting applications were open and I jumped on the chance to get a group set up again.
After a successful application, there is online training to complete before you can host an event. Most groups will have a pink pirate flag at the meeting point, I absolutely love this idea as I get really bad anxiety when meeting new people and worry I’ll go to the wrong group ot won’t recognise people. This is such a simple thing which completely eliminates that. Swims are are inclusive, friendly and have a focus on peer support. There are open to full dippers, toe dippers and none dippers! Most dips will be followed by chats, coffee and a litter pick of the nearby area.
I wanted to become a host, as I really want to spread the joy that cold water dipping has brought to my life. I have met so many amazing people through it and had so many incredible moments and want others to be able to experience that too. Mental Health Swims provides a safe space for people to try dipping for the first time, or to just meet new people to go with. The cold water community is just such a welcoming place.
Due to my irregular shifts, I can’t have a set time and day each month to host, however I feel that this means it’s open to more people who may only be available at certains times. Starting the day with the sun on your face and great company is hard to beat, especially as the mornings are getting warmer.
I would highly recommend checking out your local dip, even if you don’t fancy getting wet! Watching others yelp and shriek with the cold and joy can be just as infectious as being in the water yourself!
If you would like to join a dip near you, you can check the swim map to find your nearest location. If you would like to fundraise for, or donate to, mental health swims, you can find out more here.
If you have any questions about cold water swimming, or mental health swims, then please do get in touch! I’d be happy to help or point you in the right direction for more information.
Lisa Outdoors 