Blue therapy: Part 1
Blue water therapy for employee wellness: Sea Swimming
Stress, anxiety and depression are some of the most common causes of absence in the UK workforce. These types of absences are often long, lonely and can frequently result in people leaving their jobs.
When I started reading abut the benefits of cold water exposure on reducing the symptoms of stress and anxiety and more latterly on how it can also help women in the perimenopause and menopause, I had to explore it’s potential.
After securing innovation funding I teamed up with Chill UK to offer a course to staff of the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Thanks in part to the growing popularity of sea swimming, particularly in Cornwall – the response to places on the first course was phenomenal and we could have filled the 80 places several times over.
The course also formed part of a research project run by Dr Heather Massey at Portsmouth University to evidence physiological and psychological outcomes from open water swimming.
80 People took part over 8 sessions that took them through breathing techniques to overcome the shock of the cold water, through to identifying tides, jellyfish and swimming techniques.
Peer support has worked brilliantly, we have helped to connect people working in all areas of the organisation that may not have otherwise ever met – and as a result new friendships have been formed with a high majority of participants continuing to swim in group swims that run several times a week. Photos of individual swimming experiences are widely shared helping to maintain momentum. The testimonials have been exceptionally positive and people feel valued by their employer.
When the results of Dr Massey’ study into participants are known, I will share these at a later point – but for now the smiles, increased activity, continual meet-ups and a second fully -funded and subscribed course ready to go in September are more than sufficient evidence that we may be onto to something very special as a workplace wellbeing intervention.
To discuss how I can help your organisation set up Blue Water therapy as part of your organisation’s wellbeing offer, just send me a message and we can have a chat.
