Wild Swimming. With the Sheep.

I have fallen in love with wild swimming and how it makes me feel. At one with nature, calm, invigorated, energised. There’s something about it that words don’t quite do justice, you have to feel it. It’s amazing and it helps my body feel great too.

Wild training

We’re training for Canicross season, cross country running with Tim. Tim and I compete in Canicross races. My training includes a combination of running, yoga and strength training. Training can be quite intense as I strive to be the best I can, for Tim, and I wanted to find out how wild swimming and cold water therapy would aid my recovery. After a run training session we headed to the Wild Lochan. My favourite place to wild swim. I love the feeling of connection and intimacy I have with the Wild Lochan. She always invites me in, and I feel protected by her wild nature.

Wild learning

Tom and I stood on the bank of the Wild Lochan, admiring the glisten of the sunlight on her waters, the changing colours of the silver birch trees, jewel like around her shores, the heathers on the moors displaying their autumn colours. A beautiful lone sheep stood at the other side of the Wild Lochan. Watching us. As I got ready to enter the water, Tom took some photos of the lone sheep. Tom’s connection with the wild and knowledge of nature inspires me to be open to learning more when I’m out in nature. I always feel there are lessons nature is offering us. If we are curious, keep an open mind, observe, feel and listen, we can learn so much from nature.

Wild self

As I entered the cold water of the Lochan, I watched the lone sheep and thought to myself it’s ok to stand alone, like the sheep. To be your true wild self. We all have our unique gifts, yet we often want to be like others, but we are best at being ourselves.

I splashed and swam in the Wild Lochan’s cold waters. This was the coldest water I had experienced so far. It was exhilarating. I felt an inner glow as I reflected on the connection I was feeling with the Wild Lochan, and with the lone sheep standing on the far bank, quietly watching.

Wildly unique

Tom’s beautiful wild photography and his incredible connection with nature is unique to Tom, my yoga practice and the way I teach yoga is unique to me, the way Tim and I connect and run together is unique to us. What you do and the way you do it is unique to you. We should embrace our uniqueness. Be authentic and only strive to be the best version of ourselves. You are the unique gift that you bring to the world. Nobody else can be you. Be wildly you. Stand out.

Wild gratitude

I started to feel cold, I had been swimming front crawl with my head submerged in the water, a rookie error perhaps as when I stopped swimming, my head was cold. A beautiful sunbeam shone across the Lochan, lighting up the water with a warm inviting glow. I headed over to the sunbeam and felt the warmth of the sun. Nature looking after me again. If we trust in Mother Nature and stay curious it’s amazing what we can learn and how she will guide us if we let her.

I felt gratitude for this beautiful wild moment in nature.

The sheep is called Shaun.

Live your life

Being wildly authentically you 🐑 ❤️ x

Cold water therapy did significantly speed up my recovery from intense exercise, combined with my daily yoga practice. My muscles felt great the next day, with no stiffness, which is normal the day after intense run training.

Be inspired by a collection of Tom’s Wild Yoga and Wild Swimming images in nature … beach, sea, forest, loch, lochan, mountain, landscape, moors. Create your own wild yoga, being wild and free in nature, and join the Wild Yoga movement.

🐑 🏊🏻‍♀️ 📸 🌟 ❤️ Thomas Salway at Studio 57 North