Swim Outdoors & Feel Great
Helping everyone swim outdoors at the historic Jesus Green Lido Cambridge.
To lift mood and strengthen resilience.
Read the inspiration below.
Wishing you a moment for you today. You are important.
What is a Serotonin Swim?
You swim 1 length or more between 9am - 11am on a Sunday and earn a mini reward.
Cold Water swimming is one of the most effective ways to lift your spirts, recharge the mind and prepare you for the week ahead.
Fully funded for members, pool entry cost for non members. You only pay to enter the pool! Just register above.
Serotonin Swim is a community to help everyone benefit from swimming outdoors. Share tips, enjoy the camaraderie but most of all experience the wonderful benefits for body and mind in just one length. (The sauna and lovely community help too!).
Why are we running Sunday Swims?
1. Many people struggle to get the recognition and appreciation they deserve. Maybe you work tirelessly at home with no acknowledgement of your efforts. Maybe you diligently beaver away at work but it never seems like enough for your manager or organisation.
The beauty of a swim is that you can control it. It’s just down to you and the water. We want to help everyone (weather you do 1 length or 1km) to get some simple recognition for their efforts.
2. We want to help those who might be summer only swimmers test out 1 autumnal length. The body is amazing at adjusting if we take things gradually.
3. Neuroscience studies show cool water swimming helps lift our serotonin levels, which can improve our mood, memory and immune system. Please help one friend sign up and experience these benefits. Do you know someone who is stressed, overwhelmed or feeling a bit low? Help them test out the magnificent benefits of short bursts of cool water.
What are the aims of the Serotonin Swim community? -see below
What is Serotonin Swim?
A unique outdoor swimming community to help everyone;
experience the significant benefits of cool water swimming proven by neuroscience - see below
feel closer to like minded people - strengthen relationships
share tips, techniques and ideas on how to swim through the autumn and winter - with a little guidance everyone can do it!
Who is it aimed for?
Everyone.
You might be new to outdoor swimming. Excellent.
You might be a once a week gentle swimmer. Wonderful.
You might be a triathlete. Superb.
You might be someone looking to significantly improve their mental wellbeing in a lovely inclusive way. We are on the same page as you.
You might be someone who loves swimming in the summer but less sure about the autumn, we are here to help you make the transition.
You might be (like a lot of the Jesus Green Lido goers are) someone who just loves swimming.
How will I benefit?
The scientifically proven benefits of cold water swimming are immense.
One cold water swim can lift your mood for up to 5 hours after. Serotonin and dopamine increases in the brain.
One cold water swim can reduce inflammation which helps reduce pain and strengthens the immune system.
Regular cold water swimming helps develop physical and mental resilience. You ‘prove’ to your body that you can survive discomfort.
If you swim for longer than 15 mins 3 times a week (raising your heart rate) you improve cognitive function. Memory improves and ability to focus is enhanced. New cells in hippocampus, more agility in prefrontal cortex.
The most important benefits are the ones you experience. Science is a useful guide but personal experience is better. Test it and learn what works for you.
The idea behind Serotonin Swim is simple. My mind feels lighter after a swim and I want to help others experience the significant benefits for body and mind.
Swimming helped me when my mum had cancer and a long term relationship broke down. And so many more occasions.
In my day job I help support peoples mental wellbeing. From surgeons, nurses, teachers, administrators, scientists, leaders and many more. You can read about my work here.
What does everyone I meet have in common?
Everyone is looking to find simple ways to help them manage difficult thoughts and focus more effectively. Which is why I use a methodology called MED - Minimum Effective Dose. What’s the smallest amount of action a person can take to improve how they feel?
Swimming is the single most effective technique I know to bring these benefits in the quickest time;
Bring our attention back to the present moment - as effective as any meditation or mindfulness practice I’ve experienced
Improvement in mood - increase in feel good hormone serotonin
Improve our response to stress - physical movement helps strengthen our resilience
A swim can be a quick jump in and out . It can be 1 length. It can be 1km or longer.
The most important benefits are the ones you experience. Science is a useful guide but personal experience is better. Join our Sunday Swim club and experience something that might just help your life in the way it helped mine.
All the best,
Sam x
