TAKE THE PLUNGE
YOU South Africa|15 September 2022
It may sound crazy, but those who do it swear by it- and research shows that cold-water swimming indeed has plenty of health benefits
LINDSAY DE FREITAS
TAKE THE PLUNGE

THOSE who do it say it’s life-changing. Once you push through the discomfort, they say, the reward is more than worth it.

That was certainly the case for Dr Leila Sadien, who decided to brave the cold ocean waters at Bakoven beach in Cape Town towards the end of 2020. “There was just an incredible sense of euphoria after the pain of the cold wore off,” she says.

The exhilaration of the experience made her go back and do it again the very next day. And every day after that for the next two weeks.

“After about a week I noticed that my skin was firmer and I felt lighter. I felt happier and had a more consistent energy through the day. The time it took to settle into the cold had dramatically reduced – I could get all the way in much faster and would no longer feel muscle spasms in response to the cold.”

Leila’s partner is a surfer and he’d regularly go for a quick surf before work or even at night. “I’d sit on the beach and watch him from the safety and warmth of a blanket. Then one day I decided I didn’t want to limit my joy because I was afraid of the cold.

“I made a commitment to go into the sea for a few seconds every day and slowly increase my tolerance to reach 10 minutes.

“Over time I noticed I had a massively increased tolerance to cold. In winter I no longer slept with an extra blanket, I wore fewer layers and in summer I would need to sleep with a window open.”

For journalist Pieter van Zyl, swimming in the cold Atlantic Ocean was a way to deal with the effects of the dark days of SA’s hard lockdown. During the early months of the pandemic he’d stare at the ocean from his apartment opposite Sea Point promenade in Cape Town.

Denne historien er fra 15 September 2022-utgaven av YOU South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra 15 September 2022-utgaven av YOU South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA YOU SOUTH AFRICASe alt
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
YOU South Africa

PUSHED TO THE LIMIT

The unusual relationship between an heiress and her husband has taken a sinister twist

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY
YOU South Africa

HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY

Noor Siddiqui says her company can test embryos for hundreds of conditions from diabetes to Alzheimer's. Critics call it social engineering but she insists she's just giving prospective parents the means to avoid a lot of future heartache

time-read
10+ mins  |
5 September 2024
THE GROWN-UP BRAIN
YOU South Africa

THE GROWN-UP BRAIN

If you think your brain deteriorates as you age, think again!

time-read
3 mins  |
5 September 2024
THE eyes HAVE IT
YOU South Africa

THE eyes HAVE IT

They're the windows to our soul - and the first place to show the stresses of everyday life. Juliette Winter reveals expert tips to de-puff, brighten and smooth this delicate area

time-read
1 min  |
5 September 2024
WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER
YOU South Africa

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER

It hasn't been an easy road but now this bodybuilding couple are making waves in the industry

time-read
4 mins  |
5 September 2024
I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!
YOU South Africa

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!

Annetjie's about to get effective treatment for the skin condition that has blighted her life and she's looking forward to hitting the shops and facing the world

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'
YOU South Africa

'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'

When SA boxer Chris van Heerden's Russian girlfriend went to visit her parents she was thrown in jail and accused of treasonnow he's in a fight to free her

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!
YOU South Africa

SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!

A sun-drenched holiday turned into a living nightmare for those aboard this luxury vessel

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
READY TO SMILE AGAIN
YOU South Africa

READY TO SMILE AGAIN

A groundbreaking surgical procedure will restore this Limpopo teen's badly damaged jaw and teeth

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
HARRY AT A CROSSROADS
YOU South Africa

HARRY AT A CROSSROADS

As the prince turns 40, royal experts paint a picture of a troubled soul- isolated, homesick and struggling to find a purpose in life

time-read
8 mins  |
5 September 2024