Winter Swimming

Winter swimming is an old Nordic tradition. Some say there are health benefits, and the feeling of boosted energy you get after getting up of the cold water surely implies that!  Our concept of winter swimming is created together with the ice swimming association in Luleå. We believe that the ceremony of ice bath is best carried out by attentending some procedures  and precautions.

GET WARM BEFOREHAND 

It’s nice to feel warm before taking your ice bath, so we start by sitting in the sauna for a while, which at your arrival at the facility will already be heated. In the sauna you will get to conversate with the other winter swimmers, but also get advice from our instructor. This he will tell you:

It’s not nice to hang around and wait in windy weather below zero and get cold, so when getting out of the sauna be decisive and get into the water as soon as possible.

When you stand on the bottom of the pool, or on the ladder, lower yourself until the water reaches your neck, but keep your hands above the water.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR BREATH

As a first reaction to the cold water, you might breath heavily and possibly also hyperventilate . Try to take control of your breathing by this method:

• Begin by slowly exhaling all of your air out.
• Then, gently inhale through your nose to a slow count of 4.
• Hold at the top of the breath for a count of 4.
• Then gently exhale through your mouth for a count of 4.
• At the bottom of the breath, pause and hold for the count of 4.

Most people feel a sense of control after about 30 seconds. Try to stay into the water for at least half a minute, then the big reward will be given to you afterwards. Do not stay more than 60 s the first time (don’t worry, we will look after you and measure the time you are in the water).

When you get out of the water, standing outside in your swimming suit in -10 degrees Celsius feels like no big deal. Your body’s survival mechanism is working full time, and you will soon begin to feel sensations you’ve never experienced before, with blood rushing through your veins, the skin turning red (if you are a pale skinned person). Relax and enjoy this moment of triumph for a while, this feeling that anything is possible and that life has just begun. 

DON’T GET BACK INTO THE SAUNA

Go get dressed again, but try not to go in the sauna after your winter swim! Heating up your body too fast will reduce the marvelous feeling of unlimited energy that is one of the rewards the winter swimmer gets. Just relax in the dressing room or in the tent for a while before you get dressed. You don’t need the sauna to survive 😉

Once you get the clothes back on, you will continue to get colder even though you are dressed and haven’t been in the water for 15 minutes. You might also shiver a bit. This is because the cooled flesh under your skin will travel inwards your body (this is the reason you shouldn’t stay in the water too long the first time, it’s difficult to tell how you will react).

But, you will most probably have a great feeling of energy and relaxation at the same time, and you will soon start thinking about how it would be possible to arrange this kind of experience when you get back home.