Winter bathing

Winter bathing - is it healthy? Yes it most definitely is! But you have to take your precautions of course, but with the right gear and accessories for winter bathing, the most difficult thing will be simply having the courage to jump into the cold water.

Get started right - start up slowly

Ireland has the perfect climate for a proper winter bather, and more and more people are picking up this trend. And with great reason, because it has been scientifically proven that it both reduces stress and depression.

Other people might get into winter bathing, because it can aid weight loss. The reason for this is because of the stress and chock you put your body under, when you jump into the cold water, and the heating your body starts to produce when you get out. This effect helps burn calories, which also helps to answer the question: "Is it healthy?".

This happens because the cold water makes the blood vessels constrict, and your body releases different hormones and endorphins.

All this helps create the kind of comfort you feel, when you get out from the water again. But precisely because you expose the body for this type of cold shock, it's important to start out gently. Winter bathing is far from the same as swimming during the summer!

The low temperature of the water, can create some dangerous situations. Because of this there are some different types of advice you should follow, when you begin winter bathing. And particularly when it comes to the time you spend in the water:

1. Never swim alone
2. Follow the same swimming advice as in the summer
3. Avoid getting your head under water
4. A beginner should be in the water for no more than 10 seconds at the time. Experienced swimmers can handle up to 40 seconds in the water.
5. Breathe calmly, and avoid hyperventilating when you get into the water.

With the right gear, winter bathing is a walk in the park

As with a lot of other activities, winter bathing gets easier for a true winter bather, when the gear is in order. It's a great idea, for instance, to use a pair of swim shoes for winter bathing, since there can be ice on the pier and steps during the winter time. This makes these surfaces very slippery (especially with wet feet), and you can avoid accidents with the proper footwear.

When you're done with winter bathing, perhaps after more than one trip to the water, it's important to slip into something warm and dry off quickly. As such a bathrobe or a poncho is perfect for winter bathing, for when you get out from the water, and need to get warm quickly. You just throw this around your body, and you still have both hands open.

Others might have difficulties heating up their hands and feet after a swim. This can be painful and uncomfortable, and ruin the grat experience winter bathing is supposed to be. This problem can be fixed with the right socks and gloves, which are obviously made to go in the water, as many times as needed.

Find everything you need for winter bathing at Watery.ie

With the Irish geography, there are many options for winter bathing. This can be from clubs to communities, where winter bathing is at the top of the list when it comes to social gatherings. So get started with your own winter bathing adventure at Watery.ie.

We have everything you need for winter bathing, and if you have any questions, or need guidance or good advice, our great customer service is ready to help you.

Apart from this we also have:

• Free shipping on orders over €79
• 3-5 days delivery
• Our customer service is ready all weekdays from 8 AM to 10 PM.

So hurry up and start winter bathing - it's healthy for your body and mind, and if you shop with us, all you need to worry about, is where to winter bathe next time.