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Health & Fitness

Fall Into Ocean Swimming! A Most Spectacular Time to Develop a Practice in Coastal Swimming

Fall into Ocean Swimming!

No coincidence many Vineyarders and seasonal residents love swimming in the fall. Or IS it?! You don't have to fight anyone to get a remote enough spot to have personal towel space. The beaches are no longer festooned with carnival-colored umbrellas. Not that we don't love festive colorations to alleviate the pounding heat of summer at the beach. But wait: that's just the point! No longer does one endure scorching white hot sand on one's feet before getting in, nor risk the kind of sun exposure of which so many are afraid. 

Ocean water in September and October is as much a relieving balm as in the summer, less necessary for heat relief than for the stresses of a new job, starting school, or simply the ennui that comes with unknown life changes lurking on the horizon. The water is still warm. The Ocean is, after all, a VERY big place to heat up in the early summer, taking a very long time to cool off as the days shorten. 

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So perhaps think on relinquishing your self-imposed beach ban-- "I'm too busy to go to the beach!" -- "It's far too crowded!" -- or "It's fall, it's too cold!" 

Folks: hello? Those are about as good excuses as: "I can't go swimming because it's raining; I'll get wet!" Sure the air temperature's dipping slightly, there's some wind here and there, and occasionally you'll see clouds in the sky. But you will still feel as good when you get in, and even better when you complete a sustained, rewarding swim!

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The most vital thing to remember is that the ocean temperature is virtually the same and it's easy as pie to get into any beach in the fall! Also important: the healing qualities of sustained ocean immersion swimming are restorative and inspiring as ever. Anywhere from 20, 40, to 60 minutes, you'll be getting a decent workout, and an excellent mood elevator! If you need any help, guidance in-water, or ocean swim training, please call an experienced personal ocean swim trainer who has been meeting individuals where they are in their process and helping them move forward since 1997. 

Oh gee, that would be this ocean swim trainer! I happen to be a guy who took his Divemaster study- the precepts of careful, skilled diving-- and adapted them to careful, skilled ocean swimming. After all, ¾ of your activity in swimming is underwater, especially in the ocean, as it’s a whole lot more interesting terrain than the bottom of a pool! 

The key idea is to increase your immersion time, and enliven the experience of connection to life you get from ocean swims!

With increased immersion time, you feel a lot better from exposure to great ocean air; you get more of a workout with swims of 40-50-60 minutes, and you get the chance of seeing a whole lot more fascinating local marine wildlife underwater! The fall is an excellent time for ocean swimming!

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