Ice Swimming In Finland
I recently went on a short break to Helsinki, Finland. It was a brilliant trip and I loved exploring the snowy capital in winter. While I was there, I got to enjoy the wonders of ice swimming. This really was the perfect way for me to challenge myself and leave my comfort zone. And yes, it was as cold as it looks.
This was brutally cold! Thankfully, a sauna was close by for the recovery.
There is a beautiful national park just outside of Helsinki called Kuusijärvi that has a spectacular lake in the middle of it. There’s a small cafe and sauna next to the lake so you can warm yourself up after being in the cold (absolutely essential after this icy dip). Surrounded by a birch forest and cross-country ski trails, this place really was a winter wonderland and a beautiful location to spend the morning.
After getting changed into my swimming trunks, I marched out into the freezing air. What a shock! It was a short walk (more like a strange hobble due to the cold) across snow to the first icy pool. When I arrived at the lakeside I witnessed an older Finnish lady descending the steps into the icy water as if it were a hot bath. She made no fuss whatsoever and waded straight into the water. Unbelievable! I was extremely impressed by her attitude and ability to get in without so much as a flinch. Very impressive indeed. Considering how much of a song and dance I had made just getting to the lake, I knew that I needed to change my attitude and embrace the discomfort. Inspired by the Finnish lady’s confidence, I took the plunge and forced myself into the icy water. It was brutally cold and took my breath away (no surprises there). It was a sharp and numbing cold but made slightly (only just) bearable by the thought of a future sauna.
I settled into the cold and swam around a bit. My body slowly started to adjust to the temperature but it was still a challenge to stay in the water. When I couldn’t feel my hands and feet any more, I knew it was time to get out. I headed straight to the sauna and was amazed by how my body reacted to the extreme change in temperature. As I sat in the sauna, my body started to convulse. It was an uncontrollable shaking that lasted a few minutes. I tried to just observe the experience and be very “mindful” of what was happening to me. Eventually the shaking stopped and my body temperature returned to normal.
I then proceeded to repeat the process and headed back outside to face the ice. The steam coming off my body was noticeable as I walked out into the cold air (a very bizarre sensation). It was great fun getting in and out of the ice pool/sauna and the whole experience left me with a real endorphin rush.
Ice swimming was a real challenge but I genuinely enjoyed pushing myself out of my comfort zone in this way. I loved how many people were getting in the icy water and I was really impressed by their mindsets. It seems like this is a wonderful part of Finnish culture and something that a lot of people enjoy doing. I can see how this could be an addictive activity and I really do look forward to the next time I can go for an icy swim. Ice baths and cold showers will have to do until I can find my next icy lake.
It’s these experiences of unfamiliarity and adventure that stay with us and I know that I will never forget the first time I went ice swimming. So, have I convinced you to give it a try?
“There is still every reason for healthy people to take cold showers, or swim outside in cold water. It gives you the feeling that you are alive. ”
Wow, it’s cold! Fancy giving this a try?