Plunging the Icy Depths With Houhai's Fearless Winter Swimmers

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Beijing Olympian is an ongoing column in which we explore the newest, the funnest, and the downright whackiest in Beijing’s fitness scene.

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Is it true that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? In fields as diverse as physical fitness, pharmacology, and psychology, the answer is yes. In this world of science, this phenomenon is known as hormesis: we get stronger through repeated doses of muscular stress, we develop our immune system through repeated exposure to toxins, and even traumatic experiences can help us become hardier individuals. But what about freezing one’s ass off? As it turns out, this too has its benefits.

Let’s start with the most visible – staying lean. How does Michael Phelps’ consume 12,000 calories a day and still have a six-pack? The answer has got far less to do with swimming three hours per day, which consumes at most 3,000 calories, than the simple fact of spending three hours a day in cold water. When we are exposed to extreme cold, we start to engage the body’s internal heating system – a special type of fat cell called brown adipose tissue (BAT). People who practice cold exposure not only have the ability to produce prodigious amounts of body heat, but do so with great effectiveness from a fat loss perspective – unlike exercise, which may burn protein, carbohydrate, or fat as fuel, heat production by BAT can only use fat as its fuel.  

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It helps to position yourself near to the ladder for easy escape

But arguably the most important benefit of winter swimming and other types of cold exposure is a stronger immune system. Every time we expose ourselves to the cold, we give our immune system a workout, encouraging the body to produce greater quantities of infection-fighting white blood cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines. When practiced regularly, this can have a dramatic impact on our ability to resist infections – a phenomenon which has been demonstrated by the legendary Dutch trainer Wim Hof, AKA the Ice Man. In 2013, Hof trained a group of volunteers in his breathing techniques whilst giving them progressively stronger doses of exposure to the cold, after which they were injected with E-coli bacteria, which was also given to a control group. While members of the control group predictably developed raging fevers and headaches which developed into full-blown flu, the test group showed almost no reaction – their body temperatures hardly changed and their blood values showed almost no inflammation.

Weathering the cold has been proven to boost your immune system

Let’s be honest though, go for a dip with Beijing’s local winter swimming community and you’re unlikely to hear much discussion of brown adipose tissue or cytokines. These swimmers, mostly in their 50s and 60s and ever ready to give encouragement to newcomers, actually seem to be enjoying themselves. After the initial shock of submerging yourself in zero-degree water subsides, there is something profoundly euphoric about the winter swimming experience – a rush of endorphins that athletes would recognize as a "runners’ high."

Positive effects of beer in extreme cold remain unfounded

Before you go ripping off your clothes and jumping into the nearest lake though, a word on safety. Beijing is not known for the cleanliness of its lakes and canals and whilst a short dip is unlikely to have any harmful impact, you are advised to shower properly after and avoid ingesting any water. Saying that, by far your biggest threat though is not from water-borne germs but from the temperature itself. Short doses of cold exposure are known to be healthful but don’t overdo it, especially on your first time. Always warm up properly, keep breathing deeply before and after entering the water, and never go alone.

Never go it alone: find some equally nutty friends to jump in with you

Whether you’re a thrillseeker, a health freak, or just looking to lose a few kilos without having to buy a gym membership, winter swimming could be just the sport for you.

Where to go winter swimming in Beijing

By far the most iconic and practical location for winter swimming in Beijing is Houhai. The section on the north bank (Houhai Beiyan 后海北沿) not only has the benefit of having a ladder (useful if you would prefer to step, rather than dive in), a local hardcore community (who will offer you tips and do handy things like break the ice when it gets frozen over), and an outdoor calisthenics gym where you can do some warm-up exercises.

BJ winter swimming contacts

To fix up your first "swim date" and get invited to one of the several laowai-friendly WeChat groups, feel free to reach out to the following winter swimming regulars:

-    Angel (ID: angeleugenio0793)
-    Chad (ID: ckresser)
-    Harold (ID: wxid_jspf1ff470ka22)
-    Richard (ID: rammerman)

Lululemon Ambassador and Tatler magazine columnist, Victor Rowse, is a fitness researcher and personal trainer based in Beijing, China. Do you have a niche fitness hobby that needs recognition? Write to us [e-mail] to arrange an interview!

Photos: Anna Pellegrin Hartley, Angel, Harold

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