Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside!
Sea-swimming has gained in popularity enormously over the past year. Whether you're a summer dipper or year-long swimmer, Aoife Godsave says it will do you good
With lockdown number three causing the nation to be on house arrest, many people are trying to get involved in new things to keep their spirits up. For many, they are missing the pools and leisure centres, but with new scientific research being done on the health benefits of sea-swimming some people are braving a dive into the chilly, choppy waters of our coast.
Using the sea for healing is nothing new. The term thalassotherapy was coined in 1865 by the Frenchman Jacques de la Bonnardière. It means sea therapy and derived from the Greek words ‘thalassa’ meaning the sea and ‘therapia’ meaning therapy. It involved using heated seaweed to help with skin care. However, using the sea for its healing properties dates back even further to the Greeks who used it to help with eczema, arthritis and asthma. These historical figures definitely beat the likes of L’Oreal and Clinique to using the minerals from the sea such as magnesium, sodium, calcium, chloride and sulphate to work as natural cosmetics for the skin. So, why don’t you ditch the expensive labels and revitalise your skin with the sea too?
Sea-swimming can be an excellent outing for you and your friends to go on. Ms Savage - who is an English teacher at Heathfield - says that summer is a great time to take a dip with your friends and family. 'It’s great fun,' she says. ‘I’ve been sea-swimming ever since I was tiny. We used to go as a family every sunny Saturday or Sunday from April all the way through to October.’
There is an increase of sea-swimming clubs popping up all over the nation with perhaps the most famous local club being the wittily named ‘Bluetits’ who aim to inspire and create a confident, bubbly and friendly atmosphere with their club. They meet down in Bexhill and they are recognisable with their blue colours. Swimming with others can be a good way to start out as it ensures you are safe and other keen swimmers can encourage you along the way. However, if a club isn’t your thing that is cool… take an experienced family member or friend instead!
Mental health worker, Pam, a bubbly and friendly lady, has been swimming since she was a child. ‘My earliest memories were sitting with my mum on Hyde beach,' she says. 'I can just never remember not going’. Pam started sea swimming again when the stress of her old job was getting to her. 'And it was free I guess,' she adds laughing.
Pam works as the Recovery Practice Lead in a secondary mental health trust in Kent and her profession is an occupational therapist. She leads the recovery and wellbeing college in Kent and Medway. Pam loves her job and is very enthusiastic about what she does. In the college there is a lot of work around mindfulness and she explains, ‘Mindfulness is much wider than just pure meditation sat on a yoga mat… sea swimming is a great way to be mindful and is perfect for people who like to engage their senses or have to engage their senses to feel in the moment. I like to make my sea-swimming outings mindful trips where I also take a mindful bike ride’. A mindful bike ride may sound like a bit of a whacky thing, but it makes sense when it is broken down. You get time to reflect by yourself and be present in the moment as well as having happy chemicals surge around your body because of the exercise.
According to Sea England there are many healthy side effects to sea-swimming, one of them being better sleep because the cold water stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for healing the body. Also by stimulating this, there is a feeling of relaxation that the body gains. As well as this, people experience increased happiness. The pain and stinging from the cold water causes our bodies to release endorphins (which is the body's natural pain killer). This means when we are back on dry land we feel happy as they are still within our bodies.
Ms Savage says, ‘When I come out of the water I feel energised, restored - even euphoric’; Pam also talks of these benefits and expresses that she feels ‘completely rejuvenated’. This is very common for people who sea swim. They are happy and joyous because of the happy chemicals which race around their bodies.
'Happy chemicals are real you know!' says Pam. 'And sea-swimming really helps the body produce them’. In 2018 the British Medical Journal published an article written by Dr Mark Harper. He theorized that sea-swimming helps to reduce stress because as the body becomes more accustomed to being put under stress we are able to control our stress responses better.
Ms Walter, in the Maths department, is another big fan of sea-swimming: 'Sea swimming is an amazing experience,' she says. 'There is nothing else quite like it. Swimming in open water is very relaxing – it’s a fantastic way to de-stress. I also hadn't expected it to be so sociable - people really look out for each other, especially in the winter with the risk of hypothermia and this leads to really strong friendships.’
Ms Savage’s favourite place to swim is Hawkers Cove in Cornwall with a ‘big stretch of sand and beautiful views’ and Pam’s is on the beaches of Koh Chang Island in Thailand. However, Pam’s normal spot for a chilly dip is at Hythe beach, while Ms Savage's is Seaford, and the sheer difference between these locations truly shows that anyone can give it a go.
Of course, it's essential to remember that the sea is a huge force of nature and can be incredibly dangerous if the conditions are wrong. Never swim alone and never swim out of your depth on a strange beach. If the waves look rough - don't do it. You might get into the water without too much trouble, but getting out on a choppy day can be impossible. Go back when the sea is calm and safe. Another thing to remember is that sea-swimming out of season in cold water can produce a very strong gasp response which can get even an experienced swimmer into trouble if they're not prepared for it.
Much as they love swimming, both Pam and Ms Savage have both had little disasters at sea. Pam’s was lots of jellyfish that ‘surrounded [her] completely’. Ms Savage however, was a very foolish 17 year old (once upon a time), who swam too far out on an unfamiliar beach and had to fight to get back to shore after being swept into a current.
Young people are missing out if they are not getting involved in sea-swimming. ‘Just do it!’ says Pam. Sea-swimming is a wonderful form of free exercise and requires minimal equipment. You can even go straight in with a swimming costume because as Ms Savage teases 'wetsuits are for wimps!’ Of course they do help you stay in cool water for longer periods of time though.
'I love it,' says Ms Savage ‘And I hope I'll still be swimming in the sea in my 80s, just like my Grandad was.'
If you are going to give sea swimming a go, discuss it with your parents first and make sure to take a friend or family member to watch you from the beach to ensure you stay safe. Don't go out of your depth and do make sure you take a flask of hot drink and warm clothes to get into before you get too cold! Don’t forget to also follow the Covid restrictions in your area, which might just mean you have to hang on until the summer before you can actually take the plunge.
For more information, visit https://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/advice-and-information/open-water-swimming
Aoife Godsave, Y12
With lockdown number three causing the nation to be on house arrest, many people are trying to get involved in new things to keep their spirits up. For many, they are missing the pools and leisure centres, but with new scientific research being done on the health benefits of sea-swimming some people are braving a dive into the chilly, choppy waters of our coast.
Using the sea for healing is nothing new. The term thalassotherapy was coined in 1865 by the Frenchman Jacques de la Bonnardière. It means sea therapy and derived from the Greek words ‘thalassa’ meaning the sea and ‘therapia’ meaning therapy. It involved using heated seaweed to help with skin care. However, using the sea for its healing properties dates back even further to the Greeks who used it to help with eczema, arthritis and asthma. These historical figures definitely beat the likes of L’Oreal and Clinique to using the minerals from the sea such as magnesium, sodium, calcium, chloride and sulphate to work as natural cosmetics for the skin. So, why don’t you ditch the expensive labels and revitalise your skin with the sea too?
Sea-swimming can be an excellent outing for you and your friends to go on. Ms Savage - who is an English teacher at Heathfield - says that summer is a great time to take a dip with your friends and family. 'It’s great fun,' she says. ‘I’ve been sea-swimming ever since I was tiny. We used to go as a family every sunny Saturday or Sunday from April all the way through to October.’
There is an increase of sea-swimming clubs popping up all over the nation with perhaps the most famous local club being the wittily named ‘Bluetits’ who aim to inspire and create a confident, bubbly and friendly atmosphere with their club. They meet down in Bexhill and they are recognisable with their blue colours. Swimming with others can be a good way to start out as it ensures you are safe and other keen swimmers can encourage you along the way. However, if a club isn’t your thing that is cool… take an experienced family member or friend instead!
Mental health worker, Pam, a bubbly and friendly lady, has been swimming since she was a child. ‘My earliest memories were sitting with my mum on Hyde beach,' she says. 'I can just never remember not going’. Pam started sea swimming again when the stress of her old job was getting to her. 'And it was free I guess,' she adds laughing.
Pam works as the Recovery Practice Lead in a secondary mental health trust in Kent and her profession is an occupational therapist. She leads the recovery and wellbeing college in Kent and Medway. Pam loves her job and is very enthusiastic about what she does. In the college there is a lot of work around mindfulness and she explains, ‘Mindfulness is much wider than just pure meditation sat on a yoga mat… sea swimming is a great way to be mindful and is perfect for people who like to engage their senses or have to engage their senses to feel in the moment. I like to make my sea-swimming outings mindful trips where I also take a mindful bike ride’. A mindful bike ride may sound like a bit of a whacky thing, but it makes sense when it is broken down. You get time to reflect by yourself and be present in the moment as well as having happy chemicals surge around your body because of the exercise.
According to Sea England there are many healthy side effects to sea-swimming, one of them being better sleep because the cold water stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for healing the body. Also by stimulating this, there is a feeling of relaxation that the body gains. As well as this, people experience increased happiness. The pain and stinging from the cold water causes our bodies to release endorphins (which is the body's natural pain killer). This means when we are back on dry land we feel happy as they are still within our bodies.
Ms Savage says, ‘When I come out of the water I feel energised, restored - even euphoric’; Pam also talks of these benefits and expresses that she feels ‘completely rejuvenated’. This is very common for people who sea swim. They are happy and joyous because of the happy chemicals which race around their bodies.
'Happy chemicals are real you know!' says Pam. 'And sea-swimming really helps the body produce them’. In 2018 the British Medical Journal published an article written by Dr Mark Harper. He theorized that sea-swimming helps to reduce stress because as the body becomes more accustomed to being put under stress we are able to control our stress responses better.
Ms Walter, in the Maths department, is another big fan of sea-swimming: 'Sea swimming is an amazing experience,' she says. 'There is nothing else quite like it. Swimming in open water is very relaxing – it’s a fantastic way to de-stress. I also hadn't expected it to be so sociable - people really look out for each other, especially in the winter with the risk of hypothermia and this leads to really strong friendships.’
Ms Savage’s favourite place to swim is Hawkers Cove in Cornwall with a ‘big stretch of sand and beautiful views’ and Pam’s is on the beaches of Koh Chang Island in Thailand. However, Pam’s normal spot for a chilly dip is at Hythe beach, while Ms Savage's is Seaford, and the sheer difference between these locations truly shows that anyone can give it a go.
Of course, it's essential to remember that the sea is a huge force of nature and can be incredibly dangerous if the conditions are wrong. Never swim alone and never swim out of your depth on a strange beach. If the waves look rough - don't do it. You might get into the water without too much trouble, but getting out on a choppy day can be impossible. Go back when the sea is calm and safe. Another thing to remember is that sea-swimming out of season in cold water can produce a very strong gasp response which can get even an experienced swimmer into trouble if they're not prepared for it.
Much as they love swimming, both Pam and Ms Savage have both had little disasters at sea. Pam’s was lots of jellyfish that ‘surrounded [her] completely’. Ms Savage however, was a very foolish 17 year old (once upon a time), who swam too far out on an unfamiliar beach and had to fight to get back to shore after being swept into a current.
Young people are missing out if they are not getting involved in sea-swimming. ‘Just do it!’ says Pam. Sea-swimming is a wonderful form of free exercise and requires minimal equipment. You can even go straight in with a swimming costume because as Ms Savage teases 'wetsuits are for wimps!’ Of course they do help you stay in cool water for longer periods of time though.
'I love it,' says Ms Savage ‘And I hope I'll still be swimming in the sea in my 80s, just like my Grandad was.'
If you are going to give sea swimming a go, discuss it with your parents first and make sure to take a friend or family member to watch you from the beach to ensure you stay safe. Don't go out of your depth and do make sure you take a flask of hot drink and warm clothes to get into before you get too cold! Don’t forget to also follow the Covid restrictions in your area, which might just mean you have to hang on until the summer before you can actually take the plunge.
For more information, visit https://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/advice-and-information/open-water-swimming
Aoife Godsave, Y12