This week we've been to try out the new Wild Swim & Sauna experience at Wasing Park, to experience first-hand the calming benefits of cold water immersion, before or after your wedding day. It left us feeling fabulous, even on a rainy February morning, so if you'd like to know more about wild swimming, read on to hear Alison's thoughts.
"I've been to Wasing Park as a wedding guest and on media visits, and I have always considered it to be one of the region's top wedding venues. It is based on a 4000-acre private estate south of Reading in Berkshire, with space to seat 160 wedding guests in an atmospheric Castle Barn and enough quirky but luxurious overnight accommodation for over 50 guests, plus a gorgeous little 13th Century Parish Church on site. The estate boasts some beautiful woodland lakes and it's on the edge of one of those lakes that a natural clearing in the woods has been used to create their Wild Swim & Scandinavian Sauna offering."
Wasing Park's Wild Swim & Sauna
It's an easy 15-minute walk from the venue, along a woodland path, to reach the lake. Those with mobility restrictions can drive in through a private entrance and access the lake directly, then follow a flat, woodchip-covered track to the clearing. We arrived soon after 7 am and were greeted by Jimi, one of the members of the Wellbeing team based at the Wild Swim Lake and qualified in cold water immersion. He'd arrived before dawn to get the sauna hot, the fire pit burning and a kettle boiling on a camp stove.
There's a warm, dry changing cabin within the sauna building, so Sasha changed into her swimwear and popped on some neoprene boots (they also supply neoprene gloves). The lake is waist to chest deep, depending on the time of year, with a firm bottom. The swimming area is completely clear of weeds and debris, the water isn't exactly mediterranean blue, but is surprisingly clear.
The Cold-Water Immersion Experience
The water was 8 degrees and the air temperature 11 degrees, which reduces the shock from a change of temperature when you first enter the water. It's a great temperature for cold water immersion; earlier in the year the lake was frozen so they broke the ice for the ultimate ice water experience. You can safely be in the water for up to a minute per degree of temperature but Jimi recommended 2 minutes per dip as it was Sasha's first time, with up to 15 minutes in the sauna between each dip in the lake.
Before getting into the lake, Sasha was taught some simple breathing techniques to counteract the shock of the cold water as she gradually lowered herself down the steps. Jimi talked her through the process and times 2 minutes, then showed her some breath work exercises to gently rewarm her body on the swim jetty before going into the sauna. The sauna has space for up to 12 people and a glass window to look out over the lake while you listen to the gently crackling fire, and is a heavenly spot to relax.
However, for Sasha, the lake was beckoning, and she had a second dip. This time she found it much easier to acclimatise to the water and it was a really calming and pleasant experience, so much so that she decided against the sauna and rinsed off with a cold-water bucket drench; there's a shower for anyone wanting a gentler experience. We rounded off the experience around the firepit with herbal tea, coffee and a deliciously hot breakfast burrito, delivered by the Wasing Park chefs.
The Verdict
The verdict? It wasn't just a fun experience, it left Sasha feeling calm and relaxed. "I'd want to feel like this on my wedding morning, although perhaps the compromise is to come down the evening before. I feel like I'd sleep really well as it's so incredibly calming."
It costs around £385 for private hire of the Wild Swim Lake & Sauna for 3 hours and up to 12 guests, including a member of staff to look after everything and everyone. In addition to the sauna, shower and firepit there is a seating area covered with a stretch tent and a compost toilet and you are welcome to bring a picnic or the Wasing staff can lend a helping hand to arrange catering.
For weddings, it is proving popular for wedding couples to use too, with the most common format being the groom and his party on the morning of the wedding and the bride and her entourage the evening before, especially if they are staying at Kitts Cottage on the estate. It's also a good add-on to refresh bodies and minds after the wedding; you can wander down straight after check out to extend your Wasing Park experience. However, it's worth booking early as availability for exclusive hire is limited. If you get hooked on the experience, they offer a gym style membership, just without the sweat!