I have been Cold Water swimming and coaching for 4 years now and in this time “cold water swimming”, “cold water dips”, “ cold water therapy”, “cold water immersion” whichever type you have chosen or are thinking of choosing has become and continues to grow in popularity.
Why??
For me I love the cold water and the exhilarating feeling I get afterwards, I love the community that is cold water swimming. I have recently got a cold water tub at home for cold water daily dips. This helps me with muscle recovery, it helps with maintaining a positive mindset and my fight or flight responses are stronger.
What happens to your body when it enters cold water:
Vasoconstriction: Blood vessels in the skin constrict to reduce blood flow to the extremities, conserving heat for vital organs. This is when your skin goes red and tingly.
It is important to keep your breathing slow and controlled to help blood circulate around your body fully. Cold Water Shock is your body’s involuntary response to being in cold water. You are at risk of hyperthermia. It’s important to take your time not staying in too long and not letting your core body temperature drop too much. Find the balance between feeling the benefits and not staying in too long.
Benefits can be:
Improved Circulation: Cold water can stimulate blood flow and enhance circulation, which may have positive effects on cardiovascular health.
Enhanced Mental Resilience: Facing the discomfort of cold water can help build mental toughness, improve stress resilience, and boost mood.
Reduced Inflammation: Some studies suggest that cold exposure may reduce inflammation in the body, potentially aiding recovery from exercise and injury.
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