The “Women’s Dipping Club” & other enriching social connections

9 July

It’s just after sunrise on December 30th 2022 & I’m wandering along Kingston Beach, Hobart. Whilst it’s the middle of summer, you’d hardly know it. Not only does the air have a distinct chill to it, as I look out towards Storm Bay, I knew the water would too. I was absolutely certain of this because, on every morning & afternoon of our 12-day visit to Tasmania, I’d made a point of having a cold water plunge. As you’d expect in the deep south, the water was somewhat colder than bracing!

Cold water immersion is quite trendy right now. Thanks to the popularity of the Wim Hof Method, Chris Hemsworth’s docuseries Limitless & the passionate advocacy of many wellness ‘gurus’, a regular icy plunge has become quite the thing to do. And you don’t have to visit the Arctic to do it. For as little as $99, or as much as $10,000, you can buy an inflatable plunge tub, or a stylish cedar ice bath. Whatever you opt for, the objective is the same…shock yourself cold, deal with the reactions & let the health benefits flow.

Of course, the wellness industry is no stranger to fads. They come & go almost as regularly as trains leave a busy railway station. But this one seems a bit different, more substantial & valid. This simple practice has been a longevity ‘secret’ for eons & as recently as the 18th & 19th centuries, cold water sea-bathing was believed to cure all sorts of physical & mental dysfunctions.

Like all wellness trends, I immediately wonder about two things: (i) is there any basis for believing it is beneficial? Then, if there is, (ii) is the practice something that can be easily sustained?

For this blog, I’m going to blow right pass the first question & simply note that a growing body of research is confirming that open-water swimming & dipping is a type of ‘blue space’ contact that elevates mood, relieves pain & invigorates the mind.

As far as the sustainability question is concerned, I need to return to my story…

The Women’s Dipping Club

Whilst I was on Kingston Beach to take another cold plunge, I’d gone there to find an old friend of mine, Jen. Why? Because I knew she’d be there. She’s always there, most days at least, along with a cherished group of friends who call themselves the Women’s Dipping Club.

The WDC are a group of local women who gather on the beach, all year round, to partake in a daily cold water swim. Having chatted about it in some detail the night before, I was keen to drop by & say hello.

Unfortunately, finding them proved a little difficult. Having arrived 10 minutes late, I was having trouble identifying Jen amongst the dozen or so swimming caps that were bobbing about in the ocean. However, I did notice a cluster of bags & towels at one end of the beach, which were about to be seized upon by 3 or 4 women who had just left the water. So, I went up to them & asked:

Me: “Morning! Would I be right in thinking you belong to the Women’s Dipping Club?”

Them: “No, sorry, they might be further down the beach. We’re the Sea Hags”.

The Sea Hags!! After chuckling with them for a few moments about the name, I thanked them & wandered off…still chuckling. Clearly, Kingston Beach is home to at least two cold water swimming groups, & possibly more. I did start to wonder.

The power of a simple ritual

Thankfully, not long after that, I stumbled across Jen & a friend sitting on a bench seat overlooking the beach. Having taken so long to find them, several members of the WDC had already had their swim & left for home. Nonetheless, I was pleased to have found them.

We sat & chatted for a bit &, as we did, Jen cradled a thermos of tea. As it turns out, tea drinking is an essential part of their daily ritual…they chat, they dip, they chat whilst dipping & then drink tea afterwards to get warm, whilst continuing to chat. And why wouldn’t they drink tea? It is Tasmania after all & a dry towel can only get you so far!

To state the bleeding obvious, it is the social aspects of the WDC that most positively influence its members. The camaraderie of women who share a desire to live well by challenging themselves to do what most other people choose not to do…swimming for 5, 10 or 15-minutes in cold sea water.

As Jen explained it to me, this simple commitment has greatly enriched her life, creating bonds of friendship that cannot be understated. Sure the dipping is physically & psychologically invigorating, but each member of the WDC could easily get that for $99 by buying an inflatable plunge tub!

So, there’s a bigger agenda here. A bigger hope. A desire to grow through challenge & to connect through shared interests. And from what Jen told me, it’s a powerful glue, responsible for creating incredibly honest, genuine & trusting relationships. As such, the WDC has become a critical part of her life & something she intends to keep doing for a very long time!

Back to the sustainability question…

In 26 Ways to Keep Moving, Riley & I reflected on the 26 + 1 interviews that make up that book & noted how social connectivity was central to the deep satisfaction EVERY one of those 27 people derives from their chosen physical pursuit.

One of the things that also shone through in these stories was the power of collective encouragement, the way that being engaged actively with others scaffolded ongoing effort. We heard it in:

Kristen’s story - when she told us that open-water swimmers will NOT leave the beach until the last swimmer comes in.
Pete’s story - when he told us that his table tennis mates spent months helping him learn to play left-handed (after recovering from a stroke).
Vinnie’s story - when he told us how his mountain-biking added an extra dimension to the relationship he has with his two sons.

I’m very firmly of the opinion that health promoters should stop relying so heavily on scare tactics as a way of getting people active. Referring to the health risk factors that stem from physical inactivity is an approach that reflects the goals of the medical community & all levels of government. It is far less compelling for members of the public! Surely if the goal is to help people to Get Moving & Keep Moving, then isn’t it better to help them see how physical activity can be enjoyable, interesting & enlivening.

For this, I can think of no better examples than the Women’s Dipping Club, the Sea Hags, the Floating Flamingos & the myriad of other open water bathing groups that exist in Australia & around the world. It’s a beautiful thing! A simple process delivering the sort of effects that support successful living. As Jen told me:

“It’s like we leave our troubles in the ocean. The water gives us the space to dump them, reset ourselves, and then make an energetic return to our lives”

Amen to that!

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