Wild Swimming & why it’s good for the soul
Maybe it’s because all life came from the ocean and it calls us home, maybe it’s because we are 60% water or because it makes us feel alive… Whatever the reason, for many the draw of the sea is undeniable, and the feeling of diving beneath the surface is unlike any other. There’s not only beauty in the swimming, in the ripples cast from our bodies, but the very moment in which your toes touch the tideline, and we consciously choose to take the plunge.
Wild swimming has become increasingly popular with water-women across the world, uniting us in a pleasure that differs from person to person, be it for serenity and escape, or motivating and awakening, filling our bodies with an energy that can only be found from diving into the depths. There’s also no other way to feel more connected by being disconnected. Phones, notifications, work and commitments, they can’t reach you when you’re at sea! With nothing but skin and salt, we can escape from plans and workloads, deadlines and phone calls, and simply be. Whilst you can revel in the isolation, it’s also a great way to meet likeminded merbabes; women from all walks of life strip off their clothes and dive into the deep, and you’re sure to meet kind hearted souls on even the remotest beaches and bays. Salty sisterhoods that are formed in the shallows, and those who swim together, stay together.
For some, just walking in the woods is enough to feel encapsulated by nature, but for us sisters of the sea, there is an unmistakeable attraction that comes from the ocean. We start the morning in our swimsuits, alone or with friends, and our first steps left on the day are that of our footprints on the sand. Other times, it’s the best way to wash away the long, busy hours of summer, letting the salt crystallise on our skin, in our hair, at the tips of our eyelashes. We float peacefully on the surface, letting the ocean take away the weight of our worries, leaving us aligned and revived.
The sea is also a constant source of inspiration. The changing tides, moods and colours set our imaginations in motion, awakening ideas and projects from the deepest sleeps, bringing them to life in the form of words, music and jewellery. Consequently, Found Treasure was born of the sea, created for the sea lovers, eco warriors and modern mermaids. The seaglass used in each piece of jewellery is unique, found amongst the shells and sand and swirling currents, hiding in rock pools and in the tide line, before being set in high quality silver and gold, meaning you’re Found Treasure trinket can accompany you back in the waters from whence it came.
If the simple pleasures of the sea weren’t enough, it’s also scientifically proven to heal you. Cold dips boost your immune system and make you feel happier, plus the salty air helps you to drift off more easily in the evenings. Cold water also improves your circulation as it encourages blood flow, reduces stress levels and pushes you into taking deeper breaths, leaving you calm, in control and focused. In terms of mental wellbeing, wild swimming is also something to feel proud of! It takes a serious amount of willpower to peel off your knitwear and cosy boots and push yourself out of your comfort zone and into the icy waters; you’re amazing!
Often, half of the fun is the journey to the waters edge. Whether you choose to paddle into the winding rivers that run through the woodlands, send ripples across the calm surface of great lakes or brave the depths and dive into the salty, sandy oceans, arriving at the point where your feet first feel the lapping waves can be just as good as the jump itself. Bare feet on damp, dewy morning grass, trainers crunching through autumn leaves, warm toes leaving footprints in cold sand… We couldn’t recommend anything more than packing your rucksack with a swimsuit, towel and flask of tea, and heading out in search of water.
Written by Lottie
Photography by Katy
