Georgia Taylor

With many recent articles and news reports on the benefits of outdoor swimming, we wanted to find out how these spaces can become more open and accessible to everyone. Mental Health Swims (MHS) is an organisation made up of groups all over the country ran by swim hosts, who go outdoor swimming throughout the entire year.

We interviewed Georgia, the swim host for Falmouth and spoke about the incredible organisation, as well as the power and positive impacts outdoor swimming can have on both mental and physical health.

EC-Hi Georgia, could you introduce what it is you do within the group?

GT-Hello! I'm Georgia! I'm from Somerset but moved to Cornwall a few years ago to study at Falmouth University. Since moving here I've fallen in love with sea swimming and the community that's built around it. At the start of this year I found out about Mental Health Swims, a wonderful organisation that was founded by the amazing Rachel Ashe. I was immediately drawn to MHS and saw they were looking for swim hosts, so I applied straight away!! I now host monthly swims at Swanpool beach. My role is simply to be a friendly and supportive face for people who want to join the swims!

EC-What are some of the benefits of wild swimming?

GT- Oh wow! Where do I even begin!!! Swimming in the wild, cold water forces you to be present! You have to focus solely on controlling your breathing and staying afloat, there is no room for your worries or that endless brain chatter.

Swimming in a group like MHS is a wonderfully supportive feeling, I've swum with people at the meet ups that I've never met before and you're laughing and smiling with each other before you know it!

The cold water also has a remarkable effect on you physically too. Immersing yourself in cold water causes a stress response within the body, causing your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing to all increase, it also causes the release of stress hormones. However, if you swim in cold water regularly this stress response is reduced! Recent studies have shown that this can then help you cope better with everyday stressors too! Research has also shown that cold water immersion can boost your immune system, burn fat and help you sleep better! See! I could go on and on and on and on!!

Sometimes there will be days when I just can't switch my brain off or shake that shadow, there is a knot in my tummy and I just feel generally a bit useless. But, by just getting out there and in the water, it all kind of just melts away. It's definitely become an integral part of my mental health. Swimming in the sea, it forces me to be present, it helps give me perspective and just being immersed in nature, honestly, I don't think I can find the words! It is just such a wonderful feeling and I would encourage everyone to give it a go!

EC-Why is it important that it is wild and not in an indoor pool?

GT-Wild swimming immerses you in Mother Nature herself and SHE IS POWERFUL! I have nothing against indoor pools, I love them, use them and think they are a vital facility, But, I'd say, they are too sterile? I think that's the right word haha. Being outside, whether that's a lake, river or the ocean, you are on the same level as nature. It's humbling and powerful. It is magic. I think it taps into an ancient part of our being that is key to our happiness, something that only nature can reveal. I think Roger Deakin (author of Waterlog) put it best,

“Swimming is a rite of passage, a crossing of boundaries: the line of the shore, the bank of the river, the edge of the pool, the surface itself. When you enter the water, something like metamorphosis happens. Leaving behind the land, you go through the looking-glass surface and enter a new world, in which survival, not ambition or desire, is the dominant aim.”

EC- Following on from that question, how does wild swimming connect you to nature and how could this perhaps make people want to protect it?

GT: I think just by being immersed in the water and on that same level as nature you notice so much more, you connect with the environment and the wildlife that live there in your own special and unique way. When you spend time in the ocean or any other natural environment you get to know it, connect with it and ultimately care for it. People want to protect what they love.

EC-For people who may be nervous about sea swimming and getting in the water in general, what advice would you give?

GT-

-Finding your local Mental Health Swims meetup is a great place to start! Check out their website or social media to find your local group!

-Don't be worried about the way you look. I know that is a lot easier said than done, but, the ocean is for everyone, and you are absolutely worthy of experiencing all she has to offer! I can promise you that no one else at the beach will be thinking anything other than, "WOW! They are so brave. I wish I could do that!".

-Go with friends and know the beach you're at.

- Make sure you are happy with safe entry and exit points and if you can, I'd choose a beach where other people go/where there are lifeguards. Safety is the most important thing to consider. Especially if you are starting your swimming journey as we head into the colder months. There is no such thing as being too prepared.

-Number one is know your limits and do NOT get too cold. A good rule of thumb is no longer than a minute per degree, so for example, if the water is 10.c don't stay in any longer than ten minutes.

-You'll see a lot of people swimming in trunks or costumes (otherwise known as "skins"), but there is absolutely no shame in going in in a wetsuit! Don't feel pressured to go in without a suit if you need one or feel more comfortable wearing one. We are all different and it's important to know and trust your body and your limits.

-Make sure you have warm, dry clothes for after and a flask of tea or hot chocolate. It's also important to warm up properly, warming up too quickly or not enough can lead to problems. I would recommend doing your research first, We Swim Wild on Instagram have some really helpful posts about how to stay safe.

- And ultimately, listen to your body, you'll feel different on different days so don't push it just because you managed to stay in longer last time, if you're cold or feel uncomfortable for any reason, get out, or don't get in in the first place. Just sitting by the water and breathing can be just as grounding and powerful.

EC-Are swims still going ahead due to Covid19? And for anyone in the local area, when is the next one you are hosting?

GT-As MHS are a mental health support group, we have been exempt from the Covid "rule of 6", although of course, we are strict about maintaining social distancing. During lockdown we haven't been able to meet up, but MHS are hosting zoom, cold-water baths and showers!

Just check out their Instagram for more information. As soon as we are allowed to meet back up we will be racing to the sea!! The swims at Swanpool are usually the last Sunday of every month, but I'll confirm times and dates on my Instagram! @georgiagt93 If you have any questions or want to join a mental health swims please feel free to message me.

Stay safe and happy swimming!

Lifestyle & CultureViridis Magazine28 November 2020Swimming, Ocean, Sea, Sea swimming