From Dream to Reality
As an adult, a quick look on daft.ie was enough to quash any lofty aspirations of buying a palatial home in Malahide or anywhere remotely close to a beach. If the Irish property market has taught me anything, it’s that there’s always a trade-off. I may not be able to afford Howth, but I can afford a beach two counties away. I relocated to Co. Louth where beautiful sandy beaches stretch out for miles, and on rare sunny days, you’d almost forget that you’re in Ireland. My childhood dream finally became a reality. I had entered my mermaid era!
Hesitant to Sea Swim
Despite lots of barefoot walks on the beach, I was hesitant to take the plunge and try sea swimming. The long list of health benefits from cold water swimming was outweighed by an undercurrent of concerns—namely jellyfish and the Irish Sea having a temperature akin to the North Pole.
Joining Seapoint Soles
Enter Seapoint Soles. I stumbled across two founding members of a local sea swimming group one fortunate Sunday morning. I assured myself that all good friendships start in a random seaside car park. Ruth and Katie seemed like my kind of people. They were warm and inviting. We shared a love of dogs, baking, and swimming. I joined the WhatsApp group and I was committed!
The following Sunday, I left my clothes and my troubles on the beach and waded into the ice-cold Irish Sea. I was struck by the importance of deep breathing during a dip in the sea. It’s so cold that your mind empties, and your only concern is deep and slow breathing. All of my stress drifted away like a lone piece of seaweed floating in the swell.
Health Benefits of Sea Swimming
Research reinforces the benefits of sea swimming, such as changes in our blood and hormones, fewer upper respiratory tract infections, improvement of mood disorders, and general well-being. In particular, people living with MS benefit from the increased buoyancy in cold water and an opportunity to exercise in a cooling environment, especially during summer months.
The Power of Community
The community aspect of sea swimming almost surpasses the mental and physical benefits of being in cold water. Seapoint Soles have become a part of my Sunday morning routine. Some of us call it The Weekly Reset. It’s a chance to catch up, wash away the troubles of the week, and emerge from the sea renewed and revived for the week ahead.
The chats in the sea with the other ladies are the highlight of the ice-cold dip. It’s like an oceanic circle of trust. Anything that’s said in the sea stays out there amongst the jellyfish—like a confession box amidst the crustaceans. We’ve had Christmas and New Year swims. We’ve even had two pregnancies amongst the group and many jokes about water births along the way. We take turns baking treats and bringing tea for the post-swim chats and selfies on the beach. The group chat is constantly filled with recipe sharing and the obligatory pictures when any of our members are visiting far-flung beaches around the globe. We look at them enviously while our teeth are chattering from the Irish Sea and gale-force winds.
Lessons in Sea Swimming
As the weeks passed by, my love of sea swimming grew as my collection of dry robes increased. I learned that neoprene gloves and socks are essential. I learned that the temperature of the water in degrees Celsius is the maximum number of minutes that you should spend submerged without risking hypothermia. Above all, I learned the importance of community when you want to dip your toes in the waters of a new hobby.
A Shoal of Support
The vibrant memories of my early beach outings have been rekindled and enriched by my shoal of Seapoint Soles. Each dip in the frosty water not only brings a rush of exhilaration but also serves as a reminder of the profound benefits for both mind and body, especially for those of us navigating the challenges of MS.
A New Sunday Routine
This community has become my anchor, a place where laughter, support, and shared experiences flow as freely as the tides. In a relatively short period of time, my love of sea swimming has stuck to me like a barnacle. It’s hard to remember what my Sunday mornings looked like before maritime mindfulness, sandy toes, and warming cups of tea entered my life. Here’s to the sea, the deep friendships forged within it, and the vast possibilities that lie ahead!
Add new comment