Understanding the Benefits of Wild Swimming
Wild swimming, or swimming in natural bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and the sea, offers a variety of physical, mental, and emotional benefits.
These benefits make wild swimming a holistic activity that can significantly enhance both physical health and overall quality of life.
Here are the top 10 benefits:
1. Physical Fitness
Although this is not the main objective for many of us that engage in wild swimming, it does provide a no impact, full-body workout that improves cardiovascular health, builds muscle strength, and increases flexibility.
Let’s face it, it is also much more fun than lengths of a pool or the endless pounding on a treadmill.
2. Enhanced Mental Health
The act of swimming in natural settings has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. (Link to clinical studies for cold water exposure taken from the Wim Hof website)
The long, slow outbreaths that we advocate on entry into cold water, help to bring our nervous system into the parasympathetic state (rest and digest).
Sitting quietly with shoulders below the surface, taking in your surroundings, checking in with all your senses and observing nature enables you to be fully present, deeply connecting you with the natural environment around you.
This feeling can be encapsulated as a profoundly meditative experience, where the combination of water and nature induces a state of inner peace, heightened awareness, and deep connection with the environment. It’s a moment of pure presence and harmony, where the simplicity of just being becomes profoundly enriching.
3. Boosted Immune System
Regular exposure to cooler water can enhance the immune system.
Cold water immersion is known to increase the number of white blood cells and improve the body’s resistance to illness.
It can also reduce inflammation, resulting in pain modulation for chronic conditions.
It is this benefit of wild swimming that I believe saved my life – if you are interested in reading my story please click here and see the clinical studies here.
4. Improved Circulation
Swimming in cold water improves blood circulation.
The cold water causes the vascular system to constrict (vasoconstriction), especially in the extremities and when you come out of the water they dilate again (vasodilation).
The vascular system is like a muscle and working it like this will help it to become stronger and more adaptive to changing temperatures.
5. Better Sleep
The physical exertion and the cooling effect of wild swimming can lead to improved sleep patterns and better quality of sleep.
Your body naturally drops its core temperature a little right before sleep, helping you to fall asleep more easily and to remain in deep sleep for longer.
Exposing your body to cooler temperatures by wild swimming or a cold shower will help with this temperature regulation.
6. Natural Mood Enhancer
Being in nature and engaging in physical activity releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good hormones, which can improve mood and overall sense of well-being.
Did you know that cold water exposure releases more dopamine than cocaine or sex?
At a temperature of 14C or below we get a dopamine boost of around 240% – that’s incredible right. Even more amazing is that each time we do this we don’t deplete our baseline so we get the same boost every single time.
Although as you enter the cool, flowing water it might not feel like it immediately – give it a minute 🙂
7. Connection With Nature
Wild swimming allows individuals to connect with the natural environment, fostering a sense of peace and mindfulness, and a greater appreciation for the beauty of nature.
If you have ever spotted a deer coming down to drink at your dipping spot, or had a close fly-by by a kingfisher or watched damsel flies collecting nectar from riverside flowers – then you’ll understand just how magical this activity can be.
8. Social Interaction
Wild swimming gives you the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, helping even the normally introverted come out of their shell.
A shared experience, the laughter, the strange direction conversations can take, the friendships that grow from this adventure are unique.
9. Personal Empowerment
Wild swimming is an adventure and an achievement in itself.
Sometimes the water is cold, sometimes it is a fair walk to find the perfect spot. Getting out of your comfort zone in the company of others is so empowering.
Controlled, small amounts of stress are so beneficial to your nervous system, allowing it to adapt and bring that power of control into your everyday life.
Suddenly the guy cutting you up on your way to work no longer phases you. You are now in control of how you respond to normal daily stresses. The transformation can be incredible.
10. Adventure & Fun
Wild swimming offers a sense of adventure and exploration, providing a break from routine and adding an element of excitement to life.
Don’t forget to have fun, keep it safe and take small steps to improving your health.
The great thing about wild swimming is that you don’t get to pick and choose which benefits you get when you take the plunge, you get them whether you want them or not.
Simple! So dive in, download our app, find your next swim spot, join others and start the journey.
