I absolutely love cold water swimming and have just celebrated my 3rd year anniversary of year-round swimming at Bray Lake.

This weekly habit is the way I reset my nervous system after a busy week of work, plus I love being outside in nature especially when swimming into the rising sun.

There are so many other benefits too.

A recent study found that menopausal women experienced a significant improvement in anxiety (46.9%), mood swings and low mood (34.5%) and hot flushes (30.3%).

Other studies have also shown it can lead to a gradual reduction in symptoms of depression.

Cold water exposure can also reduce white adipose tissue (white fat) by stimulating brown adipose tissue (brown fat) - a type of fat that helps generate heat and burns energy to keep you warm. Activating brown fat can improve metabolism, energy balance, and even weight management, helping prevent conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

By calming the nervous system you can improve your sleep quality and build resilience and confidence - both physical and mental. It’s not just about the swim though, it’s about proving to yourself that you’re strong, adaptable, and very much still in your power.

Cold water immersion may increase white blood cell count and improve immune surveillance. Over time, enhancing your body’s ability to fight off infections and reduce inflammation.

Last and by no means least it’s also about community and connection. I've discovered a wonderful supportive community of like-minded people and have made some lovely friends as well as strengthened existing friendships over the past 3 years. And believe me initially you may really need that support to get out of bed on a Saturday morning at 7am in winter to swim through ice when it’s -5 outside (see the pics!)

If you fancy joining me Spring is the perfect time of year to start – the water temperature yesterday was 14c. This is 10c higher than it was 3 months ago.

Just get in touch if you'd like to join me one Saturday.