Frequently asked questions?
What are the benefits of immersing yourself in nature?
Immersing yourself in nature offers a wide range of well‑documented physical, mental, and emotional benefits. The emotional and mental benefits include reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood and lower risk of depression and greater mindfulness. The physical benefits include impaired cardiovascular health, a stronger immune system and better sleep quality.
*Please see the bibliography below which offer the wider evidence for these documented benefits.
What are the benefits of cold water immersion?
Cold water therapy has been demonstrated to reduce stress, improve resilience and boost self-efficacy and confidence. The effect on the sympathetic nervous system increases alertness and energy levels. It is helpful post exercise to reduce muscle soreness and recovery. There is some evidence to support improvements in overall quality of life.
*Please see the bibliography below which offers some wider evidence for these documented benefits.
Cold water therapy is generally safe for health adults. People with heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, history of stroke or circulation issues should consult a doctor first.
RISKS:
Cold shock on sudden immersion
heart rhythm and cardiac events
hypothermia
loss of muscle control
increased blood pressure and stroke risk
drowning.
What are the risks?
What medical conditions might this benefit?
Both nature and cold water therapies are useful as adjuncts to conventional medical care. Below is a list of medical conditions for which some benefit may be assumed. (Please note that this would NOT be a substitute for routine medical management of these conditions)
Mild to moderate depression
Anxiety disorders
Chronic stress and burnout
Attention related disorders
Fibromyalgia
Multiple sclerosis
Supportive cancer care
How do I get started?
Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or message via one of our social media channels —we’ll let you know your options, walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.
Do I need any special equipment?
Must haves - YOU! A swimming costume or something you are happy to get wet in - some people wear leggings and a long sleeved top. A wooly hat to keep your head warm. Footwear - old trainers, crocs, water shoes. A large towel to dry off and wrap up in afterwards. Some cosy clothes to put on afterwards.
Nice to haves - neoprene gloves and booties/socks (we have a limited number of these to loan out so let me know if you would like to borrow these and what size you are). A flask of something hot to help you warm up from the inside out. A small towel or mat to stand or sit on to change.
Non-essential - a dry robe! Lots of people have them but they are not essential and can actually be quite difficult to change under. Layers of loose cosy clothes and a large towel will be fine.
A swim float - we will not be going out of our depth so although these can be good for additional safety, they are not critical for these sessions. We have a variety of equipment to help keep you safe.
Bibliography
Blue health - Website
BlueHealth is a pan-European research initiative that investigated the links between urban blue spaces, climate and health. It combined interdisciplinary approaches to examine how wellbeing might be promoted through the development of blue infrastructure.
Britton E, Kindermann G, Domegan C, Carlin C, Blue care: a systematic review of blue space interventions for health and wellbeing, Health Promotion International, Volume 35, Issue 1, February 2020, Pages 50–69.
Overall, the studies in this systematic review, suggest that blue care can have direct benefit for health, especially mental health and psycho-social wellbeing.
Cain T, Brinsley J, Bennett H, Nelson M, Maher C, Singh B (2025) Effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE 20(1).
This systematic review suggests that CWI delivers time-dependent effects on inflammation, stress, immunity, sleep quality, and quality of life, offering potential practical applications for health practitioners considering CWI for stress management and wellbeing support.
Forsten, J. and Wetherell, M.A. (2025), An Exploratory Study Into the Effects of Regular Cold-Water Sea Swimming on Daily Indices of Mental Health. Lifestyle Med., 6.
This study demonstrated that cold-water swimming led to significant reductions in anxiety and increases in self-confidence on the day of a swim and improved self-reported sleep and lower levels of next-morning anxiety.
Gritzka S, MacIntyre TE, Dörfel D, Baker-Blanc JL and Calogiuri G (2020) The Effects of Workplace Nature-Based Interventions on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Employees: A Systematic Review. Front. Psychiatry 11:323.
This review demonstrates that there is widespread agreement about the favourable effects of nature exposure and consequently, nature-based interventions (NBI) in the workplace have been proposed as a cost-effective approach to promote good health among employees. Results of this study indicate consistently positive effects on mental health indices and cognitive ability.
Hjorth, P., Johansen, K., Jørgensen, N., Jørgensen, A. M., Moesgaard, C., & Rørtveit, K. (2026). Experience of cold-water bathing on depression: A qualitative study. Nordisk sygeplejeforskning, 16(3), 1–13.
The analysis in this qualitative study identified a main theme, describing cold water bathing as an ‘existential window of joy and quality of life’. There were five key interpretive themes: revitalising the self with energy and vitality, sensing nature as poetic, balancing through a palette of emotions, socializing through pleasure and challenges, and recovering from depression within a medication-free frame.
Lackey, N. Q., Tysor, D. A., McNay, G. D., Joyner, L., Baker, K. H., & Hodge, C. (2021). Mental health benefits of nature-based recreation: a systematic review. Annals of Leisure Research, 24(3), 379–393.
Most articles in this review (n = 46, 90%) observed at least one positive association between nature-based recreation and mental health, including improvements in affect, cognition, restoration, and well-being, and decreases in anxiety and depression symptoms.
Ono M, Wahl M, Mekonen R, Kemp-Smith, & Furness KJ (2025) Cold water immersion: Exploring the effects on well-being – scoping review. Int Journal of Wellbeing. Vol. 15, No. 1
This scoping review established four overarching themes related to the CWI experiences: 1) physical and psychological health benefits, 2) connection to nature, 3) sense of connectedness, 4) personal growth. They concluded that the experiences individuals gain from CWI are profound and can exert both direct and indirect influences on the promotion of well-being.
Silva, A., Matos, M., & Gonçalves, M. (2024). Nature and human well-being: a systematic review of empirical evidence from nature-based interventions. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 67(14), 3397–3454.
In this systematic review, studies strongly suggest that natural environments have significant positive impacts on human well-being. Data reported positive outcomes regarding psychological (e.g. mental health, mood states, perceived levels of stress), physiological (e.g. physiological stress, neurocognitive function) and nature-related outcomes (e.g. connection with nature, attitudes towards the natural environment).