There’s something about swimming. The swoosh of the water, the rhythm of your breathing… taking a dip can be very calming.
In fact, a recent study by Swim England, revealed that swimming has a positive impact on mental health and has significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety or depression for 1.4 million adults in the UK. If you enjoy cold water swimming, even better. The shock of being immersed in cold water helps to normalise our response to stress.
Here at KBPT, we’re big fans of swimming, whether it’s in London Fields Lido or on a tropical beach during our travels. We strongly believe that being active – on dry land or in the water – gives you that all-important mental, as well as physical, boost.
Our client Rosie took her love of swimming one step further and set up her own swimwear brand, Deakin and Blue. Earlier this year, she asked 200 women about the benefits of swimming. 90% of them agreed that swimming is good for their mental health – from simply enjoying the headspace a swim can provide (including having to put down your digital devices for a while!) to helping manage symptoms of depression.
Commenting on the Swim England research, Hayley Jarvis of mental health charity Mind, said: “If you’re more active, there’s good evidence to suggest that at most ages, there’s a trend towards lower rates of depression. In fact, one study has found that by increasing your activity levels from doing nothing, to exercising at least three times a week, you can reduce your risk of depression by up to 30 per cent.”
Breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly… however you do it, you’ll feel so much better after a swim.
Have a chat with your KBPT trainer about how swimming can enhance your personal training plan. Check out the gorgeous swimwear by @deakinandblue on social media or on the D&B websitehttps://www.deakinandblue.com Use discount code KBPT for a 15% discount.
