Winter Swimming AKA Lapland baptism

The ‘Lapland baptism’ is the not the usual kind which is referred to in a religious context, although it is somewhat done religiously in Lapland. Also known as Winter swimming involves submerging oneself in ice cold water for a small amount of time before exiting and usually entering the sauna.  

While in Finland I had the honour of being baptised in an unused freezing-cold Jacuzzi, a Lappi lake, the Baltic sea of Helsinki harbour and finally a plunge pool at a local spa. After submerging oneself in the water, you will experience the cold shock response, this will trigger rapid breathing. When you exit the water the body, there is a feeling of warmth due to the body attempting to adapt and warm the body in the cold-water temperatures.

Some scientific studies have demonstrated beneficial effects for winter swimming, these include:

One study compared to a control group on the profile of mood states rating scale, winter swimmers demonstrated that they experience less stress and fatigue as well as more vigour. They reported a better memory function, mood and more energy, active and brisk. Swimmers who suffer from pathologies such as: rheumatism, fibromyalgia, asthma reported that winter swimming relieves pain.

Winter swimmers have demonstrated that they do not contract diseases as often as the general population. The incidence of infectious diseases affecting the upper respiratory tract is 40% lower among winter swimmers when compared to a control group. Short term exposure of the whole body to cold water produces oxidative stress, which makes winter swimmers develop improved anti-oxidative protection.

Sources:

Huttunen, Pirkko; Kokko, Leena; Ylijukuri, Virpi (2004). "Winter swimming improves general well-being". International Journal of Circumpolar Health. 63 (2): 140–144. doi:10.3402/ijch.v63i2.17700. PMID 15253480.

Siems, W. G.; Brenke, R.; Sommerburg, O.; Grune, T. (1999). "Improved antioxidative protection in winter swimmers". QJM: An International Journal of Medicine. 92(4): 193–198. doi:10.1093/qjmed/92.4.193.