Winter bathing with Caroline Lykkegaard
Like more and more Danes, Caroline Lykkegaard has become a frequent winter bather. For many, the cold shiver may seem like an activity that requires courage and a great degree of mental preparation. For others, winter bathing can be therapeutic and an almost blissful experience that gives a boost of energy.
Caroline belongs to the latter group, and finds great joy in winter bathing. We have asked her a number of questions about her winter bathing routine, and about which products she likes to use, in connection with a cold dip in the sea.
HOW WERE YOU INTRODUCED TO WINTER SWIMMING?
I have always been fascinated by winter bathing, as my parents live by the water and there is a lot of activity among people in that area of ​​Aarhus. A few years ago they joined the Skødshoved Winter Bathing Club, where we often went as a family and had a dip. It was an experience that really made an impression.
ARE YOU A MEMBER OF A WINTER SWIMMING CLUB? WHY?
I joined the Aarhus Ø winter swimming pool in the summer of 2020, and therefore it is my first season as an active member. I am a member because it gives a unique feeling of renewed energy, well-being and calm. It almost works as a therapeutic experience with three trips to the sea and two trips to the sauna.
WHAT IS YOUR NORMAL WINTER BATH ROUTINE?
My routine starts with a large bottle of water, which I drink half an hour before I take my first dip. I rinse off in the cold shower and then get in the water, try to avoid getting my hair wet and take a few swims. After this, I do a few stretches and feel my body shiver before entering the sauna. I usually sit here for ten minutes and take deep breaths and drink more water. It is often difficult to get the heat all the way to the toes and fingertips, so I often do some stretching exercises so that the heat can really take hold. After the last trip in the sea, I slip under the cold shower and jump into the comfort kit. I primarily use showers and the changing rooms outside, so that there is not too much of a difference in temperature before and after bathing.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT WINTER BATHING TO YOU?
For me, the best thing about winning baths is the opportunity it gives to forget time and place. I feel that time stands still and all thoughts disappear when I sit in the sauna. After a dip in the cold sea, you feel invincible, and your body feels stronger than ever. At the same time, there is also a social element to my winter bathing, because most of the time I am down there with my girlfriend. We joined the club together and we love participating in the club's events, such as saunagus on a weekly basis.
WHICH PRODUCTS DO YOU NORMALLY USE AFTER A TRIP IN THE SEA?
When I get home, I take a hot bath. The high temperature opens the skin pores, where toxins, oil and dirt can come out more easily, quickly and effectively. That's why I use LYKKEGAARD ​​ENERGIZING Natural Body Scrub to remove dead skin cells. Then I wash off the salt water with LYKKEGAARD ​​RELAXING Moisture Body Wash . Finally, I coat the body in LYKKEGAARD ​​BALACING Nuture Body Lotion and apply LYKKEGAARD ​​CALMING Hydration Facial Oil to the face, which can otherwise be very dry after a trip to the sea.
HOW CAN YOU NOTICE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW YOUR SKIN LOOKS BEFORE/AFTER A DIP IN THE SEA?
In line with the body's state of shock at the beginning of the first dip, the skin feels completely numb. It's a strange light feeling you get in your body, but most of all afterwards. You can immediately feel that the heart rate increases and the blood is pumped around the body faster. This means more oxygen and nutrients for the skin, and this is just as full of energy as going for a walk.
CAN YOU FEEL A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR MOOD AFTER?
I can feel that I sleep better if I bathe in the evening. It is almost exhausting and relaxing at the same time. I therefore fall completely into gear after a swim, and get tired faster. If you bathe in the morning, it's as if the battery has been given an extra boost for the rest of the day. Better than three cups of coffee!
CAN WINTER BATHING TO YOU BE CALLED SELF-CARE? OR HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT?
Winter bathing for me equals self-indulgence, and therefore I prioritize doing it as a treatment for myself. It is liberating and cozy to sit together with other winter bathers in a sauna, where you get close to each other without actually knowing each other. It gives rise to some good conversations and pleasant moments.