(Photographer: Laura Minns, Graphics: Lucy Williams)
Last week we sat down over zoom with the brilliant Rachel Ashe, founder of Mental Health Swims. It's an incredible peer support community initiative which has cold water swimming groups all over the UK.
Their main aim is to provide a community for those struggling with their mental health through cold water swimming. In this first of two blog posts about the initiative, we chatted to Rachel about festive swims and why you should be brave and take the plunge this Christmas.
Tell me about the tradition of boxing day swims..
They’re all over the country and lots of them are for charity. In the perspective of mental health I would say these events can be a bit overwhelming as there’s so many people!
It’s okay to choose a different time of day to swim; it doesn’t have to be when everyone else is doing the new years day dip; it's important to mention though NEVER SWIM ON YOUR OWN!
Mental Health Swims run their own special Christmassy dips and on new year, to avoid crowds they may not be on the actual days to make it less scary. So, they’ll be there to welcome new and old swimmers in their Santa hats and with our Mental Health Swims Pink Pirate Flag.
Have you got any experience of festive cold water swims?
Yes! I really love a Christmas morning dip. In the past we’ve done a christmas morning dip and it was really lovely. Afterwards we would have pigs in blankets on the beach. There’s something really wonderful about doing a christmas day dip, it’s like a reset and great way to see in the new year.
What is the atmosphere like in a festive swim?
Really buzzing! There’s a lovely feeling of together-ness and just celebration!
Are there any charities you would like to give a shout out participating in the swim?
Mind, they’ve been brilliant and supportive of us! Rethink mental illness.
What is the appeal of taking part in the boxing day swim?
I think for a lot of people, it’s a challenge isn’t it. It gets you out of the house and engaged with your local community. There’s a silliness to it as well. I think the swims are getting so much bigger because there's been such an increase in the popularity of cold-water swims. A big part of these swims is dressing up and people love dressing up don’t they.
If you could design a gift box for an aspiring cold water swimmer, what would be in it?
Neoprene gloves and boots – these make all the difference.
A nice warm bobble hat
A selection of tea bags – hot drinks are important after a dip!
A tasty snack- could be a bar of chocolate
Hand warmers
Small hot water bottle
The little Wild Swimming Book.
A big thank you to Rachel for taking part in this interview. Keep an eye out for our second blog post discussing how Mental Health Swims came to be and learn more about the benefits of a cold water dip!
For water safety guidance click here.
See our anxiety care packages and self-care gift boxes.
By Christina @ Brown Paper Packages
Comments