Plunging into the icy cold water of a lake in the middle of nowhere may not be appealing to everyone. However, wild swimming is currently enjoying something of a boom around the world. In the UK alone, more than 7.5 million people are recognizing the therapeutic benefits of taking to open water and outdoor pools. Never one to miss a trend, several celebrities are also enjoying the benefits of an icy dip. Some famous names, including fashion and beauty product designer Victoria Beckham, have gone to great lengths to boost their health and fitness regime by building their very own lake so they can take up wild swimming privately in their back yards.
Benefits Of Wild Swimming
Immersing yourself in cold water has some distinct health benefits, as a growing number of health influencers, celebrities, athletes and trainers will happily confirm. Some people choose to go wild swimming as a form of cold water therapy. Immersing your body in a large amount of very cold water increases the number of white blood cells in your body, helps to stimulate the lymphatic system, and boosts circulation. This makes it a popular form of therapy for people recovering from an injury. However, for many people, it simply helps them to clear their mind, lower their stress levels, and improve their mental health.
How To Swim Wild And Stay Safe
For wild swimmers who also like to travel, there are lots of great places for wild swimming around the world. However, even for the most experienced swimmer, wild swimming poses its own unique dangers. The risk of drowning is far greater with wild swimming, although it largely depends on where you take your dip. Before you dive in, it’s important that you check out the area first. Warm shallow lakes and river pools are similar to outdoor swimming pools as the water remains still. Moving water with strong currents and tides, however, is where the risk of wild swimming increases, especially if you aren’t a strong swimmer. Check for obstructions such as rocks and fallen trees that could trap you, and if there are weeds, do what you can to avoid them.
Famous Wild Swimmers
Famous names such as Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt are already known to be keen swimmers. In fact, before he became a Hollywood star, Brad Pitt was on his school’s competitive swim team. But a brave selection of celebrities has already taken the plunge and taken up wild swimming – in their own gardens. Victoria and David Beckham won a planning war with their neighbors to create a 3,000 square meter lake at their $8 million Cotswolds home in the UK for outdoor swimming. Meanwhile, singer Ed Sheeran installed a nature pond at his $5 million estate, along with a jetty for him to dive off.
Wild swimming is really starting to make waves as people look for new ways to keep their minds and body healthy. You need only look to celebrity culture to see its growing popularity.