why I swim in winter
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ม.ค. 2022
- Come with me for a cold water dip as I explain why I swim in winter. I am drawn to being near or in the water, it feeds my mental health and wellbeing. I always look at bodies of water with half a mind to getting in.
Filmed at Lepe Beach, Hampshire on GoPro Hero 7 and a Hero 9, using Xclear hydrophobic pro repel lens protector: getxclear.com/collections/hyd... and edited in Lumafusion app on iPad Pro.
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Outdoor swimming is a fantastic activity to get involved in, browse my playlists to find out more:
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winter swimming • winter swimming
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That sums it all up for me. Especially the aspect of taking your time is really important: watching wildlife around you, listening to the sounds of water and wind and then staying on after the swim to eat and drink something by the shore. I also love the sensation of melting into nature which only seems to be possible swimming. And yes , the sensation of very cold and very hot water on your skin are definitely similar. Thank you for this video.
It can sometime be difficult to describe the attraction to someone who hasn't tried outdoor swimming and all they can think about is whether it is cold, when in actual fact it is so much more. When you know, you know 😉🏊😃
So grateful to have found this video today 😊 made me feel warm and hopeful !
Wow! Thanks for letting me know. Longer days are coming 😀
What you said about being Held by the water Rachel, was what started me off swimming in the cold, being in the water is like completely blending into nature. everything else dissolves away and you become aware only of the sounds, smells, sensations and sights of nature all in close proximity
That's a great way of describing the feeling Tracy :)
Thank you for such a lovely calming video! I haven’t braved winter swimming yet but started sea swimming last spring through to autumn and loved it! It gets very busy where I am though, even now.
I saw you on Sunday walking your dog but didn’t want to disturb. But spotting you reminded me to look back at your videos to get me into swimming!
Hi Nico you should have come over to say hi! I’d have loved a chat. Less crowded getting in by the bluebird beach hut cafe. Always wear something on your feet to make getting out and to your clothes easier.
Really enjoyed the video. This is my second winter. Yes I always feel reset. I enjoy seeing birds. Amazed I swim with winter migrants. Winter swimming really helps with muscle aches. I have a bad neck and one outdoor swim takes away stiffness for a couple of days
That’s great to hear. I also find the water is soothing of aches. The birds are amazing. I like that when I’m in the water I have nothing more to do but watch them. I’m surprised how loud their wings can be and how much they chatter!
Love this; winter swimming isn't solitary for me; I go with a couple of close friends, but that's part of the resetting and relaxing. Currently have some health issues and managing to maintain a weekly dip over the winter is keeping me going!
Hi Sharon! I do swim with a friend or two sometimes, but quite often I'm alone. I'm pleased to hear you're managing a weekly swim to keep you topped up and hope the health issues improve with time. 🏊🌾❄☕😃
Loved this so much 🥰 You really capture the quiet joys of it all so beautifully!
Shauna thank you so much, it's such a calm and peaceful time, even in waves. We don't get decent waves in the Solent though, I have to travel a little way for those!
Perfect video! I was in the sea at Southbourne yesterday and although it was freezing it was absolutely glorious! Getting in the sea is such a big part of my life and I’m proper grumpy if I can’t get in for a few days and my family really notice it!!I love the feeling of being supported by the water, listening to the sounds as I swim and all my worries being washed away. I especially love winter swimming for the quietness, as you will know Bournemouth coast gets pretty busy in the summer but come the winter I often get my little swim spot all to myself- I know it’s selfish but I really like it that way! I also love to sit with a hot cuppa afterwards when I’m all wrapped up and just sit for a while in a moment of quiet contemplation! Aren’t we lucky?!!
No one needs a grumpy Gwen! Keep on getting in. It must have been glorious over the last few days. I can't wait for my next glassy swim and beachy breakfast! I hope we can dip together soon 🏊🌾❄☕😃
Same, ive not been since boxing day due to tide times and work (tides are always high in the dark at the mo.. cant go at low tide, the cove i use is way too slippy on the rocks at low tide, boo ) its making me really angsty..
@@EverydayAthleteRach I intend to keep getting in forever! Hope you make it to Southbourne one day!
Thanks for this video, really emphasises what you get out of winter sea swimming. I started winter swimming last February, mainly from seeing other people going in and being really jealous that they could use the beach and sea in the winter. I’ve now moved house to be closer to the beach and love seeing the sea every day and going in regularly. I love been in the water any time of year, but in Winter it feels so much more peaceful and doesn’t limit your use of the sea to a few months of the year
Cor Susie moving near to the beach is a cracking move. Like you say it's super to be able to be on the beach or in the water year round! 🏊😃
I often rewatch your videos, particularly when entering a new season such as now as the water starts to cool. Catching those quick tips of advice are a great reminder so thank you. However, I do envy your Solent swims, so calm and tranquil, unlike my Norfolk coastline. Beautiful & rugged it may be but the North Sea can swirl around you with high waves on the calmest of days. Sometimes I'll just go in knee deep and sit on those rough sea days for safety to experience the benefits, it's still cold, wet & exhilarating! Thank you again.
Somedays, it's a swimmy day, somedays it's jumping wavelets, othertime just watching the movement of the water can give you a lift. I do enjoy bobbng about in waves outside the confines of the Solent, but it's a bit more of a drive for me. I used to love visiting Mundsley and West Runton beaches as a child. Enjoy the water, Rach
Loved the video! My first winter swim was new years day and I'm a complete convert. Six more swims since 😁
That’s brilliant Butch. Well done. It’s great to find a new thing we live doing, isn’t it!
I am a Newbie at swimming in the sea. Also swim on the South Coast and loving it. Thank you for the video.
Thank you for watching and welcome to the gang! 🏊😃
Great video. Loved it. My friend and I are doing 31 days of cold water dipping and have had the most magical experiences. It really does start your day off the right way. Love it xx
Daily dips are a lovely target and I bet you feel amazing for it! I reckon you'll keep them up. Apparently it takes 3 weeks to make a habit! 🏊😃
Lovely mindful video Rach, thank you for sharing, I loved watching and hearing the sound of the water. I’ve had many a BBQ on that beach when I was a youngster. That’s some 60 years ago now so things have changed a bit. I swam in the lido in the snow the other day and that was exhilarating. I’m wearing a wetsuit though as I’m still quite new to outdoor winter swimming, although I do remove it in the water a do a couple of lengths and love the feel of the cold water on my body. 😀
I love cooking a snack on the beach, it does make my changing robe a bit whiffy though! Your technique with the wetsuit and then swimming without it is a great move it allows you to experience it both ways. I use a wetsuit to get a longer time in the water, and skins to really connect with the water. So you really have the best of both worlds! 🏊🌾❄☕😃
great description. Thank you. Watching this in the heatwave, so it is even more beautiful and cooling me down. Looking forward to my winter swims 🥰😍
Glad you enjoyed it! A bit of vistual cooling, eh? Stay cool and enjoy the water x
You are my inspiration and I started swimming because of you. I always looks forward to your weekly video.
That is awesome! Thanks for making contact Hannelore. Keep enjoying the water 🏊🌾❄☕😃
What a strong, beautiful woman! I love your channel's name! Thank you for the inspiration and the calm!
Well thank you so much Jennie. I think we can all be everyday athletes and that's what I try to make my channel be about. I can't wait for my next dip! Enjoy the water 🏊😃
Rach… I giggled at the end when you said “I’d love to hear your story.”… cuz, as you know, mine is a story of ice, snow, and frozen lakes for a few more months. (Yes… I’m dreaming of April.) But putting all that aside, I can totally relate to everything you shared with us in this video. To me, water is rebirth, refresh, relax, reset, and rejuvenate… no matter if I’m in it, on it, or near it. Also… I loved the lone wind whipped tree in the background when you turned around during your swim to head back (at 5:50). Like you, I never like to rush when I am going for a swim. Time spent in or at the water is special and every moment needs to be soaked up (yes, the pun is intended). Wild swimming is me-time and I can get a bit selfish when it comes to time spent at the water. Aren’t we lucky to be a some of the fortunate few who know the hidden secrets of swimming in cold water. It is one of life’s greatest pleasures!! 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary🇨🇦☃️
Mary, yours is a story of icey beauty, I think. Do you get the sae reset when you're outdoors in the snow for fun (if you ever get to do that?)? When you know, you know! 🏊😃
It’s lovely and generous of you to share such intimate thoughts and beautiful to think we jointly express the same sensations and emotions during our winter swims, despite our individualities.
I love how many people are experiencing similar sensations as we swim together apart. It's great having so many virtual swim buddies 🏊😃
Perfect! Good luck!
Loving the calm of this video!
Brilliant. Spot on Rachel. The source of well-being.😁👍
I'm pleased you enjoyed it Andrew, summer's coming! 🏊😃
How beautiful. The best part of winter swim is the feeling of nature at the extreme. It is really a reset button.
this perfectly captured a feeling I haven't been able to put into words.
Agree with you all the way, love the winter solitude.
Having the place to yourself feels so indulgent and delicious doesn't it. I feel like the richest person on earth on an empty beach 🏊🌾❄☕😃
I really love the energy and passion you convey. ♥️
Thank you so much!!
Love this video Rachael - you've really captured the amazing feelings that I too get from swimming outdoors. 🥰
So glad that it struck a cord 🏊😃
Awesome video Rachel, I feel exactly the same and love it so much 🥰 It has helped me through some tricky times and completely changed my perspective on life.
Hi Heather, I don't think the restorative effects of water can be under-estimated, whether we're in, on or beside the water. It really gives us space and time to watch the reflections, waveshapes, sealife and almost rest our active mind. I find it totally absorbing. 🏊🌾❄☕😃
Great video Rachael your an inspiration
Thank you so much! Are you going to manage some water time in the cooler months?
Lovely calming video 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it 🏊😃
Always love your videos, been outdoor swimming all year round skins for about 4 years now.
Thanks for watching Camille. Enjoy the water 🏊♀️😀
Thanks for your video, loved watching and have learnt a lot. Just started open water swimming in a lake and absolutely love it x
Hey Daisy, it’s great that you’ve found a spot to swim. It’s just so wonderful being in, on or by water, isn’t it!
Amazing video thanks ❤
You're welcome 😊 Glad you enjoyed it
Beautiful video, Rachel! This is my second winter swimming in the North Sea. The first winter was all about the challenge of being able to get into the water year round. It was so much colder than it is this year and I felt enjoyment and such a sense of achievement. This year is slightly different as I know better what to expect and after a minute of floating (thanks for that tip!) I enjoy the feel of the water around me. It's calming and exhilarating at the same time and like you I don't want to leave this wonderful place. The water is still around 6 - 6.5°C so I can stay in quite a bit longer than last year, though my boobs feel completely frozen. Our beach is never deserted but it's great to see other swimmers. I know it's such a cliché but being in open water has truly become my happy place, any time of year. Rebekka x
Oh, and I forgot to say that swimming in cold open water, let's face it, it's never warm in Scotland, has brought such a relief for my psoriatic arthritis. I'm completely pain free without medication.
That your happy place has brought you complete freedom from your psoriatic arthritis is such a win, I'm really happy for you Rebekka. Love the North Sea, it can be a bt cheeky, but so much energy. Enjoy! 🏊😃
well done, i get how you feel and prolonging your time by litter picking ! brilliant description of how and what you feel, ive dabbled 2 weeks ago in 12 deg water. Its being in nature and adding a zing to it,, Im a kayaker so know a bit about cold water but when i went topless the other day and with my bald head up to the neck and then total immersion, what a buzz and then the sun came out and warmed my baldy ! I felt like the old boy off the guiness advert. done 20 mins , bloomin lovely, theres something spiritual about this, dunno if i can do the totally cold thing like you. I need an audience so i can get out like a gladiator or Daniel Craig , although im better looking.A lot more women do this than men , i admire them, it is really getting out of your comfort zone but boy oh boy, what an acheivement. I totally understand you and why you do this , this is so inspirational , best wishes Don xxx😘
Thanks Don. Well done for getting in. I don't aim for a particular temperature, I just keep getting in, for less and less time over the cooler months, extending time in the water again from about March. 30 secs in the water is enough to reap the benefits though, so there are no targets to aim for. Just enjoy the experience. I love being outdoors and floating about in the water, I don't challenge myself over time in the water or temperature. I just get in, enjoy it, get out, have a warm drink and maybe a snack and hang out by the water for as long as I can get away with! Enjoy it!
@@EverydayAthleteRach yes no pressure, just accomplishment , even if only for oneself , its definately spiritual when your out in nature on your own and then you challenge your mindset for a minute or 2, i think its empowering along with everything else. Its like theres nothing going on but then theres alot cos there is if you take notice, i loved your video, i feel your soul its a precious soul, keep nurturing it and Thank you for the response , im feeling your vibe sister ! xxx😘😍🥰😇
I enjoy your videos and the more I swim in the ocean the better I relate. My friends and I understand the lobster tan! Thanks for taking the time to post these.
Thanks for watching Mark, the lobster tan is a thing of beauty. It's also surprisingly painless compared to similar from sun exposure! Enjoy the water 🏊🌾❄☕😃
Great video, Rachel. I actually did my first ever one yesterday and I loved it, can t wait to go again at the weekend!
Wonderful! I love to hear when people try it and love it right off the bat. Welcome to the club Suzy! 🏊🌾❄☕😃
Your videos should be on prescription. Tonight was yoga night then I watched 2 of your videos and felt the continued calm and relaxation. Tomorrow is my swimming day and I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you🙏💚😁👍
Wow, thank you Jane, what a lovely comment! I hope you sleep well with all that relaxation. Enjoy tomorrow's swim 🏊😃
This is my first winter and I'm amazed that I've done it! I'm always cold but somehow winter swims are different. I even swam through ice yesterday which was amazing
Really well done to be still getting in. Just taking it one dip at a time, we eek our way through the coldest time. The you look up and trees are starting to bud an snopdrops are coming up. How did you find the ice Lynn? 🏊😃
You make me really want to go for a swim. I stopped swimming in November and really miss it. I love you videos x
Hi Maisie, you can restart at any time, just do a dunk to your shoulders on the first one and build up gradually to a minute or two. I tend to stay in for less than 10 mins in winter, but I never regret a swim. If you don't fancy getting in, how about just sitting by the water with a hot drink and a biscuit and just being present? x
lovely "just being" video, presented and spoken with calmness , confidence , with no high expectations/ rewards or negativity , just balance from the experiences of this practise which gets us to be closer and immersed in nature , as you say held by the water ..... We are one x thank you
Thanks Darren it’s nice to hear you enjoyed it. It’s such a special feeling being ‘in’ nature. 🏊♀️😀
Fabulous thank you for this I'm a beginner
Great! Welcome to the clan Rachel! I hope you’re enjoy the water 🏊♀️😀
Thanks for the video ❤❤❤
massive respect for your sort who get in the sea in freezing temperatures. I struggle to get in a heated pool.
I remember having a quick swim in Cornwall on a sunny October's day, I couldn't stop shaking for around 2 hours.
I think the shivering could be down to you having perhaps stayed in a little too long in October. If I over-cook it I shiver for ages, that's why I go short and sweet!
Such a beautiful location and video, love that you are so brave to swim alone. I totally get your reasons for doing this, not everyone I know understands why we enjoy the cold swim. I will show them your video.
Thanks for watching Jacqui. I like swimming in company and alone, but I only swim alone when the conditions are benign. Keep on getting in, Spring’s on the way! 🏊♀️😀
Thanks for another great video, you’ve inspired me to swim in the sea as much as possible, at least twice a week ,(and to even try my own TH-cam video, not nearly as professional as yours!)
Before, I would normally swim in the pool, but now enjoy the sea so much, the experience is totally different ,especially here on the west coast of Ireland where the Atlantic can be so wild, your tips have made it safer and more enjoyable , thank you
I just watched your video and loved it. The scenery was gorgeous. New subscriber here! 🏊😃
Loved this video Rachel, recognized your words on mine, cause i live the experience exactly as you do.
Hey Vanessa it's nice to know the video struck a cord with you. Enjoy the water and stay warm afterwards 🏊🌾❄☕😃
Hi Rachel. Another great video. I loved the sound of the waves and the sunrise 🌅 I don’t live near the sea 🌊 but have the river Avon and Vobster Quay near me. This is my first time swimming 🏊♀️ in January as last year we were in lockdown. It is a great start to the day or a reset after a day’s work. I know what you mean by little needles and that fine line between hot 🥵 and cold 🥶 I was feeling overwhelmed yesterday having started a new job and after 5mins in the river, there was a complete sense of calm and well-being. Loved 🥰 your bobble hat btw.
Congratulations on the new job Natalie, I hope today went a little easier and you felt a little more comfortable in the role. The start of a new job can make you feel a bit uncertain and nervous, but a cheeky swimmy reset can bring you back to the present moment where you acknowledge that you are fantastic, being in the water is amazing and can help you feel more positive about the next challenge. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping things are going well. I'm planning to head for a pre-work dip tomorrow, maybe we can swim together apart? 🏊😃
@@EverydayAthleteRach Thank you for the lovely 😊 response Rachel. I love ❤️ the idea of a cheeky swimmy reset. I think 🤔 it will set me up for the day. Looking forward to swimming 🏊♀️ together apart 🥶
Beautifully summed up! Our local river gets really busy in Summer, so Winter is when we usually get it all to ourselves. I love how the lobster tan stops dead where the swim gloves and socks have been 😂
Hi Rach, you're absolutely bang on about the lobster tan. My hands and feet look like they belong to a ghost! Enjoy the water 🏊😃
Just come across your winter swim brilliant, in Stornoway at the moment working and started to sea swim 2months ago amazing experience
Wow! That must be chilly. Enjoy!
Hi Rachel - I thank you for this latest video on why you swim in the winter. People around here think I'm nuts but I can tell you I'd be a much more worse for wear, without my weekly swims. We are swimming in the local lakes and although it's a terrible thing to complain about, I'd really prefer the ocean. You've inspired me to get my butt out of bed and drive into town to take this in. Thanks so much.xo
Hi Claire I hope you got your watery fix, even if it was inland! 🏊😃
Thank you Rachel for an Amazing video. My twin sister and I can relate to your video. We swim every Sunday in Newton Porthcawl , last week there was a seal swimming with us . We walk out of the sea and we both have lobster tans. When we watch your video we can't wait to get back in the water. I always feel so happy when I'm in the water, can't explain why!!! Thank you for being so inspirational to us.🏊♂️🏊♀️
Hi Jill and twister, how exciting to have the company of a seal. I'm always stunned at how big they are, majestic and dig-like all at once! They are the epitome of happiness in the water!
Lovely video ,
Thank you 🏊♀️😀
This will be my third winter swimming in the North Sea in Scotland. I have a severe mental health condition and sea swimming has helped me a lot. It is the highlight of my week, swimming with a MH group. When the waves are big we don't swim but lark about in the shallows, so much fun! I am frightened of many things but not of the sea (though I am careful and never reckless). Like you I love the feeling of being held and supported, and being surrounded by the vastness of the sea. And the water is so silky, gentle and soothing. I feel wonder and gratitude at being able to enjoy swimming in the winter, it seems magical somehow. And no jellies too:) The first winter I wore a wetsuit but the next I felt confident enough to wear a swimsuit. Thanks for doing these videos, you seem very natural and authentic which is lovely :)
Hi Birdie, I'm so pleased to hear that you are reaping the mental health benefits of getting into the sea. Your shallows larking sounds like a good laugh, cough and drag too I shoud think!. I just love being outdoors, but mostly by water. Stay safe and enjoy the wonders of the water x
Never thought I had the right to go in the water…. You have to be perfect, don’t you? No. Thank you for your videos they are amazingly inspirational. I’m hooked.
Heather it is so lovely to hear from you. None of us are perfect, but the water buoys us all and supports us letting us feel weightless and free. Come on in and enjoy the water, everyone's welcome 🏊😀 xx
@@EverydayAthleteRach yesterday morning at 7am I did a doggy paddle and floated on my back at Caswell Bay, Gower. Very proud….who knows I might even swear a cozie one day, but for now it’s leggings and a T-shirt. Lived by the sea for 20 years and it’s only now I can smell it. Life changing. Thanks you for the inspiration x
@@whichypoohs wahoooo! Well done. Doggy paddling and gawping about is a really uplifting experience. The salt on your skin, seeing the world from the water, such an experience. You should be so chuffed, I'm really proud of you. I bet you're thinking about your next dip...
@@EverydayAthleteRach yep I’m watching you and have my tow float….want to swim the channel now lol
Preaching to the converted here Rach and you are so welcome to as it is a message that can't be said too many times. Don't hibernate to beat the winter. Confront and embrace instead and you will feel splendid 👍 that looks like Dorset coast to me but it doesn't matter. Just being outdoors in nature is awesome 👌
Hi Dave, nice to hear from you. It’s actually the Hampshire coast - Lepe Beach at the mouth of the River Beaulieu, one of my favourite spots.
@@EverydayAthleteRach looks lush. New Forest coast. I know Lymington Barton Milford places like that so I may have walked past that beach but not sure.
I knew it wasn't Bournemouth you were at - too quiet and no sign of the Redknapps 😅
Could I request a video of swimming in the morning V swimming in the evening? The beauty and challenges of each :)
Lepe is on the New Forest coast of the Solent, to the east of Lymington.
I'll see what I can do on the topic of sunrise vs sunset swims. Good suggestion, thanks.
Just found your channel while looking for reviews on dry robes, and glad I did! I moved near Brighton in September and have been toying with the idea of winter swimming for a while. I'm always down the beach, but took me until this week to brave swimming in the winter 😁.
I ended up going two days in a row as I enjoyed it so much. I quite quickly realised I needed a changing robe though, as I got incredibly cold after leaving the water. I made sure to take lots of warm layers but wrangling with them with just a towel was a bit of a challenge! Still loved the experience though, and now I think I'm hooked.
It's like you say, once you get over that shock, you just sort of feel the water on your skin, and it makes you feel incredibly connected to the surroundings and water around you.
I feel like my mood has been lifted all week since swimming, and I'll be jumping back in this weekend I hope. Have ordered a snugmud now and think that will make the experience a whole lot more enjoyable!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on swimming, it's definitely something that resonates with lots of us 🏊♂️
Well done on taking the first dip! Welcome to the club! I hope the buoyed mood continues and you find the snugmud a great addition to the kit, it's a lovely changing robe! 🏊😃
What a wonderful vlog, it absolutely is a huge reset, this is my first winter swimming started in aug, the colder it’s getting the more I seem to be enjoying it, the coldness , the light at this time of year, being in nature, it’s more raw, and more of an amazing experience very hard to put into words, almost spiritual, I also love the lobster tan 😂and the feeling of your skin afterwards, wish I lived by the sea, instead I have to put up with the Yorkshire dales 😁😁😁💙 it’s also an amazing community, I have met some amazing friends in the last few months, we have signed up for the great north swim in June, a vlog on maybe training or tips how to aim for this would be great, I think someone has mentioned this in comments, thank you so much xx😊😊
The Dales Dippers are a fab group of people, I absolutley loved the couple of swims I had up there in the week before the first lockdown. Such a waterbaby's paradise! I will look into a video about training for an event. Just need to have a little think about that. Enjoy your time in and by the water 🏊😃
great video Rachel. Me and my wife try to go once a week to Stoney Cove. Linda (My wife) is very brave we both start in wetsuits but Linda goes back in, in just her swimming cossy for the extra kick and buzz she gets. we have bought a pool for home where she can sit in in the garden for that buzz. its lovely to feel at one with the water and your thoughts.
That is awesome! Super nice that it's an experience you can share. The garden dips seem like such a nice way to get a fix, I hope she has some birdfeeders close by so she can get a good look at the feathery visitors during her dip! 🏊😃
I swear this delightful lady sounds just like Billy Connolly!!!
I know this lady is not from Glasgow !
Or I could be loosing my mind…
That winter swim is what I have wanted to do and yet have not!
I am gaining inspiration from others who do this thank you
I'm pleased you're enjoying the videos, I'm from the East Coast of England, so not really Billy Connolly country! Good luck with getting prepared to swim in the winter months. It's mostly just a question of keeping on getting in and shortening up the time you spend in the water. 🏊😀
Amazing channel and very inspiring! Subscribed 👏
Welcome aboard! Thank you for the lovely comment and for subscribing 🏊😃
@@EverydayAthleteRach love your passion about Nature and swimming.
I loved this video, thank you Rach. I swim most days here off the coast of Vancouver in a beautiful cove usually with a neighbour or two and sometimes solo. I especially love the seal's eye view of the horizon, the fresh salty smell, and how there is always more light in the winter sky than I thought looking out the window at home. I am so taken with the changing cloud patterns and the way the birds don't seem to identify me as a threat. They sometimes land quite near or pop up close by. We have many resident seals that also pop up very close; near enough to see their huge eyes and whiskers. Some days there are kingfishers fishing the shoreline, herons, eagles and the occasional otter. I am amazed at the actual colour of the water, always changing from teal to emerald to inky green/black and more. The immediacy of the cold water; the gasps and slightly painfully tingling skin, is inescapable. My arms and armpits sting. These days I get an ice-cream headache because my neck is so cold. (Of course I am not ducking as I have a bathing cap and wool toque on).There is nothing to do but take it all in and be present and I like that in our distraction addicted world. My province of B.C. has had ongoing extreme weather issues since the heat dome last June and we have recently had sub zero temperatures and snow so I am finding it much colder this year than last. Some days I feel pretty nuts going in but I never regret it. Definitely good for my mental health and a tonic for my soul.
Sue I love the way you have transported me to your swim spot in your description. It sounds like it is teaming with life and natural distractions. I absolutely agree about the colour of the water, it's never the same. A casual glance from the car window would describe it as grey and desolate, but up close with your 'seal's eye view' it is glistening, swirling and always shifting combinations of so many colurs. It's easily as beautiful as autumnal leaves. It gives me such a winter lift! Hang on in there with the crazy weather. Mary from PNW has spekne about the terrible road damage around Vancouver and hinted at the infrastructure inconvenience which meant that a family member could not make it back home. Keep on dipping and enjoying the water, I swim with you together apart 🏊😃
@@EverydayAthleteRach Yes, my daughter and grandson had to fly down for Christmas from Kamloops in the interior which is only 350 km away because roads were impassable for non-essential (truckers moving goods and emergency vehicles) traffic. Very slow detours still. It was unbelievable being literally cut off and the massive loss of farms and animal life due to flooding. Here's to swimming together apart. Thanks so much Rach.
This is my first winter and I’ve been nearly every other day. I know I’ll keep going now because I’ve been in 6.0c so I don’t think it will get much colder? I felt a tingling almost burning feeling where the waterline is around my neck, as if it’s been scalded. Not unpleasant, just strange. I like going alone, the odd jogger going past, but just the sounds of the birds and the water. All my aches & pains and stiffness go away & I feel so alive. Thanks for all your tips.
Hi Lucy it’s great to hear about your swim experience. It will likely get a degree or two colder (Feb is the coldest time for the water) but you’ll manage it. Enjoy!
After watching the Wim Hof, brave the freeze show in BBC, have now been doing cold showers and baths (Twice a day) for about 3 months and am now really hooked, have just jumped in the sea for new year and am surprised how long i was able to handle the cold, in and out of the water, before putting warm colds on. Never thought i would ever say this, but i love the cold water this time of year (Winter)
Have loved watching this video, feel that i might have to do this a couple of times in the week.
Thank you
Sounds like your familiarisation using cold showers has worked a treat to take the initial sting out of it. Good luck with future dips!
Since I started swimming in the winter (4 years ago) I haven't caught a single cold...amazing!
Oh wow! I have had fewer colds too. Amazing isn't it!
@@EverydayAthleteRach absolutely amazing, I started having fewer colds after doing away with sugar and other foods that make us prone to catching diseases but when I added cold plunges and showers on top of healthy eating colds became history
First proper season of outdoor swimming for myself. I stopped in late autumn... then restarted a couple of weeks ago as something I wanted to continue as close to nature as possible. Its all your fault :-) I'm not in very long at moment, under a minute, but taking things slowly. Fortunate to be 5 mins drive from my working from home to a river and quick access so a great midday reset for me.
Sorry not sorry for getting you into this! Brilliant to be only a few moments from your swim spot! Enjoy 🏊😃
This is my second year of outdoor winter swimming. How can something be so calming and at the same time so exhilarating. I am lucky enough to try all sorts of sports there is really nothing like like winter swimming
It’s something everyone says - I don’t know why I didn’t do this earlier - isn’t it! I like the winter experience but I prefer the warmer water of the, summer and autumn and being able to stay in longer and adventure farther afield. 🏊♀️😀
Hi Rachel, this is my first year winter swimming, I've only been in once in Jan so far. Swimming mostly alone I find the fear of the cold water is making me talk myself out of going although I always feel so good once I take the plunge. Its been a hectic start to the year, new job schedule making me miss my group swim on Mondays hoping to sort that out soon. Thanks for the video it does make me want to go back soon x
You can do it! Congratulations on the new job. Maybe contact your Monday group and see if there's anyone who fancies a before or after work dip with you? 🏊🌾❄☕😃
Just taken up river swimming in an attempt to heal my mental health issues. Been watching several of your videos and finding your calm down to earth approach really helpful in learning how to enjoy and be safer with my new hobby. I wonder whether I will make it to winter swimming too (I'm in Scotland!)
Just get in and enjoy the water, and keep on showing up. You'll be surprised how well you get on with it. I find that a pair of neoprene booties and neoprene gloves makes all the difference in winter, I use Lomo Tri-X kit. There are lots of welcoming groups dotted about Scotland for you to join. Enjoy!
I swim in winter because i am addicted, and need my peaceful fix that only the sea water can bring. Also because theres no tourists to spoil it , its often just me and the seagulls. Couldnt do it without my wetsuit though.
It doesn't matter what you wear in the water Lottie, I sometimes go skins, sometimes in a wetsuit. It's all swimming. It's about accessing the water to enjoy it, anyhow we like. I love my wettie! It's nice to share the water with the seabirds and have a few moments in their world, isn't it. 🏊🌾❄☕😃
@@EverydayAthleteRachits ace, anywhere there arent other humans is my happy place. Im so addicted to the sea swimming that just the sound of the water moving while you are filming makes me all fidgety and desperate to jump through the screen. Lol
I try to explain the cold/hot feeling to my husband but he doesn’t understand me. Il have to show him this. For me it’s the burning armpits! It’s my first year swimming though the seasons. I thought 12 was cold back in May, it was 3.3 in the lake on Sunday. It’s amazing what your body can do. And how different swimming in summer and winter on your mind and thoughts.
Thanks for the video x
I nearly mentioned the armpit burn, but didn't want to focus too much on the early discomfort! Well done for keeping going, you're past the half way point, the evenings are starting to be a little lighter. Spring's coming! 🏊🌾❄☕😃
Hi Rachel, I absolutely love all of your videos. I've been doing open water swimming since August last year and it is becoming an addiction.
I do wear a wetsuit and don't stay for two long. I live in Scarborough but my friend and I go to beautiful Filey to swim before the sunrise. Only last Sunday we both noticed that we were very cold for the rest of the day to be very hot the day after. The outside temperature was 1° C but the water didn't feel that cold. However, we swam for not more than 20 minutes overall. Then we did the usual, had a hot chocolate and cereal bar and enjoyed the sunrise before going back home.
Do you have any suggestions on how we could have been less cold after that swim? Thank you so much for your videos xx
Hi Rosana thanks for joining me for the videos, it's nice to have your virtual company. I often wear a wetsuit too, depends on what I'm up to, I love it. The water will likely have been around 6 or 7ºc if it was 1ºc outside. 20 mins s quite a long time to be in, it could be that you were enjoying it so much you accidentally lingered a little too long in the water. Were you quick to change and did you do so out of the wind. You'll continue to lose body heat for around 20 mins after you get out. Next time, maybe reduce the time in the water and see what effect that has. 🏊🌾❄☕😃
Hey, I'm not a swimmer... but soon I'll be challenging myself with a 2 mile open water swim in 10 Celsius water. Is a 3/2 mm wetsuit good enough for this? Love your channel, you've calmed my nerves a lot!
Hiya @EllieMarieTV you might find it a struggle if it is a Watersports wetsuit rather than a swim wetsuit. Swim wetsuits allow more movement. Is it an actual even as 10°c is cold for an organised event. One thing you will need to practice is sighting so that you swim in a straight line and don’t swim loads further. Good luck with it, where is the swim?
Thank you for this wonderful video! You've inspired me! Quick question - are you swimming in the morning? Did I catch that right?
Hi in this video it was a morning swim. I swim whenever I can so not always in the morning. Just getting in is important.
Swam today in the fog in my local tidal pool... couldn't see the beach from the far end, it was so peaceful, the fog deadening any sound ❄🌬🌫
Swimming in fog is special indeed, nice to be in a tidal pool, not so disorientating. So eerily quiet though. Love it!
Think you’re amazing Rachel! What watch are you using please. You have inspired me to take up sea swimming!
Thanks for watching Lisa. Summer's coming, the water will start warming up in a few week's time. Get in when you're read, the water will be waiting 🏊😃
Thanks so much for responding. Are you wearing Garmin swim 2? I want a watch like yours 😀
@UC-kWnAhZIxpj8M6rwZlNGPg it’s a Garmin Fenix 5s. I have’t tried the Garmin Swim watch.
Thanks rach
Down in Devon for Xmas, thinking about doing a dip here. How long should I stay in? Thanks
If you don't dip regularly, I'd say get into water and stay within your depth, sink your shoulders (not your head and face) and wait for your breathing to come back to normal (30 secs to a minute or so), then get out, or have a bob about for a couple of mins. Don't stay in longer than 10 mins. I got in the North Sea the other day for 3 or 4 mins and it was fantastic. Let me know how you get on.
Hey rach would you do a video on events. I’m doing my first event this year, a 1 mile swim in April. Feeling nervous and unprepared
Hi Jess I will think about what I can do. Which event are you taking part i?
@@EverydayAthleteRach the cool mile in Tal-Y-Llyn. Wales. I’ve not swim so far in this temp before and my breathing but I know I need to put some practice in.
daily open water swimmer in southern California.
lucky for me water temperature does not drop below 54f on coldest days..
I love to float and meditate while catching my breath before and after my swim.
the sensations are undiscriable...sometimes i hum , noticed the sound echo when does not escape the submerged ears the sound vibration ripples back in your skull like a water bowl ,one they meet in the center of the brain they cancel eachother yet vibrate your spine all the way to the last cell excited exiting your toes...
i bumped into dolphins seals birds sai jelly fish school sardines wave stingrays...water for me is every living mother and the matter form of air the female side of the creator.
What a wonderful description of your sea moments. I’ve not thought of humming but will give it a go next time. I like to float sky side up looking at the clouds or trees above if I’m a river, but also face into the water admiring the wildlife that I’m sharing it with. Enjoy the water 💦🏊♀️😀
Excellant , good description , do you hum while you strum 🤪😇
How do you swim and hold up camera at the same time without sinking?
My arm is submerged and outstretched which is a little like floating like a starfish I guess, plus I'm swimming with onw arm and both legs. In the sea we are more buoyant too, so it's easier in salty rather than fresh water :)
Rachel can I ask... when u use robe to dry yourself does it not hold water ? so when your dressed do your dry clothes get damp ? U use a towel to dry if windy or very cold I put robe over then slip towel out and dress... be handy not to have to being a towel as I've so many layers in these -4°c mornings in Ireland... TIA love the channel ❤
Hi there, I've found that the changing robe wicks maoisture away from me and is not enough to make my clothes damp afterwards. I stopped bothering with a towel as it was an extra bit of kit to carry and manage and not drop on the mud or sand! Give it a go. When you get home, hang your changing robe up inside out by the hood on an internal door, away from radiators and any dampness will be gone 🏊🌾❄☕😃
@@EverydayAthleteRach aww brilliant... I was a bit nervous to try it but will give it a go for sure... thanks for your reply 😊 happy swimming
I just feel a bit scared at the moment, at 74, that I might have a heart attack! Last time was beginning of December. Keep going down to the very public Brighton beach, swimsuit on, then turning back.
Hi Susan, how about just popping down with the intention of a paddle while you build up confidence? There are lots of groups around Brighton maybe join one and have some company? A crisp and still morning with glassy water would be idea for the paddling 😀
I have paddled. I will keep trying. Thanks. Your spot looks beautiful
Wouldn't you mind telling us on which beach(es) you are doing your winter swims? I'd love to look it up on a map.
Winter-, even ice swimming, is a longstanding tradition where I com from (Switzerland). Although always only practiced by the chosen view, it has never entirely disappeared and it seems to be picking up now, due to newspaper articles, word of mouth, foreign encouragements like yours, etc. - Now to your outfit and swimming style: don't you ever do freestyle, with a special cap on your head and possibly appropriate gloves and socks? I for instance couldn't do breaststroke, because of my knees... Yes, and I am only learning freestyle now, in my early seventies.
Hi Brigitt it was filmed at Lepe Beach at the entrance to the Beaulieu River where it flows into the Solent on the south coast of the UK. If the location isn't dodgy, I tend to name it in my youtube description. I do swim front crawl with a neoprene hat and a bright swim cap, but I can't film and talk doing that. In the winter it's more head up breast stroke to admire the view. When I'm training for a marathon event I swim crawl. Wel done picking up a new skill in your 70s! Brilliant! 🏊😃
I suffer with cold boobs n bottom!! They take forever to warm up too 🙈
I like layers and a heated car seat ( mine is an overlay bought from middle of Aldi for about £20. Makes a big difference.
@@EverydayAthleteRach I was also having a look at the family business that make your robe. Love the eco friendly side. I’m going to invest in a robe…..coat doesn’t do the job anymore 🤣xx
@@EverydayAthleteRach I was also having a look at the family business that make your robe. Love the eco friendly side. I’m going to invest in a robe…..coat doesn’t do the job anymore 🤣xx
@@PoTSdysautonomia it's a good thing to get some Christmas contributions for too! There are lots to choose from. Good luck!