I am a retired RN living in the bush here on the Bruce Peninsula for the past 17 years and loving every minute. What I would like to talk about is Cold Water Swimming . You are never too old to learn something new about yourself, always remember that!
When I was about 68 I learned by accident (but that’s another story) that I like distance swimming, and better yet, open water swimming. There is a lake (Berford Lake) 10 minutes away that I started to go to just about every day for a 45 minute swim. Well, as fall came on last year and it started to get cooler I started to research how I could carry on and stumbled on a Cold Water Swimming site. Through my research I was able to continue.
The first item I added was neoprene socks – the feet are quite vulnerable. The second item was neoprene gloves. Through consultation with the local dive shop and outdoor equipment shop I came up with adding merino wool long underwear. A wetsuit was suggested, but having tried one a few years ago that was out, as it made me too buoyant and I couldn’t swim!
So thus outfitted I continued until the shore ice took too long to get through and my feet asked me what the heck are you doing! I thought I was finished November 23 and tried to continue the great feeling you get from this activity by cold showers but that wasn’t working. I happened to be driving by Colpoy’s Bay Dock on Georgian Bay and there was open water so it was on again! I was so very happy and it was only a 10 minute further drive for me.
As I write this the water is 3C, air is -10. My body is so conditioned that it is no problem. In fact I’ve had to ditch the long underwear as it froze as I was coming out, so now it’s in the skinny! (I did check with the OPP and topless is ok with them) I’m sure the local fishermen, who are regularly on the dock will be ok, they look pretty tough!
With my research it is suggested you stay in only in minutes what the water temp is, so today I was in for 3 minutes. I keep my car running so it is warm and I have a sauna at home that I turn on before I leave.
The health benefits are great … boosts the immune system, anti inflammatory, boosts endorphins which boosts libido and you feel high all the time, *no drugs involved! In my 76 years I have never ever felt this good! In my humble opinion this is a very under-used therapy that could be so helpful for so many people.
** Now to the caution – and this is very important:
•Firstly, you need to check with your health care professional before embarking on this.
• Secondly, you can NOT start now. It’s a gradual conditioning of your body that is necessary and it takes time… so will I see you next summer?
Joan Murray Barton
