MHAW: the benefits of cold water immersion
Over the course of the past year, wild swimming and cold water immersion has become a popular way to not only control physical stresses on the body, but to improve overall mental wellbeing.
Made globally popular by Wim Hof, ‘The Iceman’, research into the benefits of cold exposure show ample findings. Using cold, hard nature as his teacher, Wim Hof’s extensive training enabled him to learn how to control his breathing, heart rate and blood circulation to not only withstand extreme temperatures and climates, but to tap into his nervous system and teach others to do the same.
But what does the science say?
Here are just some the benefits:
Boosts Immune Function
Significant evidence shows that cold water therapy can stimulate your body’s immune system and ability to fight illness. In one study, Dutch researchers tested whether people could voluntarily influence their own immune response by practicing meditation, deep breathing and cold water immersion techniques — and the results were pretty conclusive.
When exposed to a bacterial infection, the group that used these techniques had much fewer symptoms, with their bodies producing more anti-inflammatory chemicals in the process.
Stress Reduction
Studies have shown that cold open water swimming has helped alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety across participants. Over our evolutionary history, humans have evolved a range of automatic physiological responses to a perceived threat — the well-known “fight or flight response”.
Not surprisingly, cold water immersion strongly triggers this same system. So, how can this help when managing stress?
Scientists suggest that anything which reduces our tendency to see neutral situations as threatening allows us to get back to a calm baseline faster — in turn, reducing stress and anxiety on a daily basis. Cold hydrotherapy likewise activates endorphins and other feel-good hormones needed to boost mood.
Not quite ready to go for a dip in the Goyt? Simply turning the shower on cold for 20-30 seconds a day can trigger the same response.
Improved Circulation
When you immerse your body in cold water, the blood rushes to surround your vital organs — forcing your heart to pump more efficiently and pushing blood through all your vessels. That said, every part of your body is then supplied with the exact amount of oxygen and nutrients it needs.
Do this on a regular basis, and you’ll help promote healthy blood circulation, a healthy body, and a healthy heart and mind — win-win.
Fat Burning
Keeping your temperature stable requires energy; without even having to break a sweat, cold water immersion will burn calories. That’s definitely a workout we can get on board with — but the benefits don’t end there.
Studies have shown that cold water immersion speeds up your metabolic rate long after you’ve taken the icy plunge.
Eradicates muscle sorness
While researchers are still debating the exact findings, studies have found that athletes who soak in cold water for short periods at a time experience less muscle soreness. According to experts, the reason cold water helps with pain is because it causes your blood vessels to constrict. This reduces bloodflow to the area which helps reduce swelling and inflammation — in turn helping you wave goodbye to the aches after leg day.
Local workshops: The Breath Connection
Hof is a firm believer that this form of alternative healing is accessible to all — so you don’t have to be an extreme athlete to reap the benefits of cold exposure.
In fact, a team who understands how easy it is to benefit from cold water immersion lives on our very own doorstep.
The Breath Connection holds live Dynamic Breathwork and River Dipping sessions every Saturday and Sunday at 10am, and Wednesdays 12 noon at The Garden House in Marple Bridge — incorporating meditation, mindfulness, conscious breathwork and cold water immersion to help reduce anxiety and stress, lift mood and boost physical immunity.
Led by Sam Murray, a former Royal Marine Commando, and Miranda Bailey, The Breath Connection advocates using the power of now to help others rebalance their nervous sysems and reduce stress.
The workshops are available for all — from wild swimming pro, to complete beginner — and the team will be there to guide and support attendees every step of the way.
Sound like your ideal kind of weekend?
You can book your place on The Breath Connection’s website.
