Women open water swimming

Monday 8^th March, 8pm: Women open water swimming. Free online event as part of the Institute for Women’s Health, International Women’s Day events. A growing number of women are turning to open water swimming to enjoy a vibrant community, getting back to nature and the health benefits. We will talk to some inspiring women who can tell us all about it.  On the panel are Dr Sasha Roseneil, University College London, Pro-Vice-Provost (Equity and Inclusion), Dean of the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences and Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Jessica Hepburn, fertility advocate, founder of Fertility Fest, channel swimmer and author of 21 Miles, Dr Heather Massey, University of Portsmouth, a channel swimmer and ice 1km swimmer and currently researching the physiology of cold water swimming and its impacts on physical and mental health, Dr Ruth Williamson, Radiologist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer at University Hospitals Dorset, a channel relay and winter swimmer with research interests in the health benefits and risk management of cold water swimming and Rachel Ashe, founder of Mental Health Swims, a community that empowers people of all body shapes, age, colour, background, gender, sexuality and ability. The event will be chaired by Professor Joyce Harper, Institute for Women’s Health at University College London, author of Your Fertile Years and a novice open water swimmer.

Places will be limited – book at:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-open-water-swimming-tickets-139459243351. The event will be recorded and on YouTube after the event.

Image is Heather Massey

A wonderful group of women open water swimmers are the Bluetits. The Bluetit mission is to create a confident, capable community through cold water swimming and adventures. No club fees, registration, rules, requirements, expectations. We are an informal group of mixed gender people who just like to swim together.

Open water films

HYDROTHERAPY. Overcoming a life changing illness through wild swimming, 6 mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oe5Qnip9Bs

Sea birds – 9 mins
https://vimeo.com/456402188?fbclid=IwAR37rXhDyu3uHyJDbJzS8cbQtQIH1PhvsjA4NLoOpel8FHIZ_2XqgCaAqXY

Irish ladies can’t skip a day without swimming in cold sea water // The most liberating thing to do, 6 mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFb7_axctU4&list=PLkCsw5BTliAZsPkuEoQl4BOVxoMOv8tGA&index=5

Tonic of the Sea – Wild Swimming mini documentary, 8 mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvViuv0vIKU&list=PLkCsw5BTliAZsPkuEoQl4BOVxoMOv8tGA&index=3

Chasing the sublime, 6 mins 40 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB3THSHPLuQ&list=PLkCsw5BTliAZsPkuEoQl4BOVxoMOv8tGA&index=4

Wild swim, 3 mins – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW3lclU5j24&list=PLkCsw5BTliAZsPkuEoQl4BOVxoMOv8tGA&index=8

Cold Water Swimming Webinar with Prof Mike Tipton & Dr Heather Massey (Jan 2021), 1 hour 10 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1axP_prHezY&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3wGefIQV6HjuhyY2y6RkemAenfXqMtMeG9Y4PVHDAQTggoCcnW2P8S1qQ

ShAFF Online – Rachel Ashe – founder of Mental Health Swims
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yejDfcU7BtM

Swimming in Reservoirs and Rivers, Suzie Wheway & Lance Sagar – ShAFF Online, 1.5 hours
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaIhkwV9GB0

Body of water trailer, 2 mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUfhg8iw1BA