In recent years, the popularity of swimming outdoors has increased massively with people of all ages and abilities highlighting the benefits of cold water swimming.

Cold water swimming – also known as winter swimming or ice swimming – is when a person chooses to swim outdoors in the sea, a lake, river, or swimming pool. The activity became more popular during the recent Covid-19 lockdowns as it was an activity that people could still partake in to keep fit and healthy.

If you’re unsure if it’s an activity for you to consider, take a look at these five benefits of cold water swimming – although there are many, many more!

1. Natural high – as with most other activities, when you’ve been cold water swimming, you feel a natural high from your achievement which will stay with you for the rest of the day;

2. Improves circulation – this is vital as proper circulation enables blood and oxygen to continuously flow through the body, keeps the heart healthy and keeps your brain switched on;

3. Burns calories – again, this is the same as other exercises, but what better way to burn those calories than making your way across a stunning lake or along one of the country’s picturesque rivers?

4. Reduces stress – with the impact recent years have had on the mental health of many of us and the worry of the cost of living crisis, having an activity such as cold water swimming to take part in and take your mind off everything but what you are doing is priceless.

5. Make new friends – taking part in an activity like cold water swimming is a brilliant opportunity to make like-minded friends while you’re improving your body and your mind.

These are just a few of the benefits of cold water swimming. Interested in giving it a go? Why not come along to one of our adult swim sessions – they take place on Wednesday evenings from 5pm – 8:30pm and Saturday mornings from 7:30am – 9:45. We do ask that all swimmers where a swimming hat when attending. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us and we would be more than happy to help.