Swim in cold water two to three times a week early in the morning. It has become a permanent fixture for Jasper Harten and Marjolie Zwaga. These avid cold water swimmers explain the magic of a splash in the fresh water.
On the edge of the recreational lake ‘t Nije Hemelriek near Gasselte, Harten and Zwaga are preparing for a new session. But before they enter the water, they first perform some exercises to completely relax.
“Because when you go into the cold water, you experience an ultimate stress moment. Especially if you have not been doing this for very long,” says Harten. “You’re going to hold your breath, but you have to get through that. And you can do that through breathing exercises.”
Swimming in cold water, preferably in nature, has gained popularity in recent years. According to Harten, that is not surprising. “Because physically you feel everything happening. You train your vascular system, so your blood vessels contract. It’s good for your heart and they even say you could cleanse your organs.”
“But it especially makes me very happy mentally. You naturally produce all kinds of substances, such as endorphins and dopamine,” says Harten. “It enriches your life. If you train this regularly, you will notice that you also become much more relaxed in your daily life. If I don’t do this, I feel slightly depressed and my energy level drops.”
Zwaga is also completely addicted to cold water swimming. “You can’t start your day in a better way. In peace and quiet in nature. This is priceless. It gives you so much energy and strength. That feeling makes it very addictive.”