In this episode of Skin and Within, host Claire Gray welcomes the vibrant Julie Wilson Nimmo, known for her role as Miss Hooley in Ballymory. Together, they dive into the invigorating world of cold water therapy and its transformative effects on well-being. Discover who should take the plunge, the unexpected benefits of wild swimming, and get practical tips on how to embrace this immersive ritual. Whether you're battling menopause or seeking a new adventure, this episode is packed with insights that might just inspire you to join the cold water craze!

Watch Jules and Greg's Wild Swim on BBC iplayer

Transcript:

>> Claire Gray: The Big Light presents. Welcome to Skin and Within, where I help you find your inner glow with insights from wellness experts. I'm Claire Gray, founder of Ermana Natural skincare and passionate wellness warrior. In this series, I'm exploring how to find radiance that's not just skin deep, but leads to a healthier, happier you from the inside out. In today's episode, we're going to explore the invigorating world of cold water therapy and its profound impact on well being. I had the most amazing conversation with the gorgeous Julie Wilson Nimmo. You may remember her as Miss Hooley in Ballymory, but these days she's back on the screen to bring us the joys of wild swimming. In Jules and Greg's wild Swim, you can find it on the BBC iPlayer. We talked about who should be getting in the water, how and why. The answers aren't quite what you would expect from mental health to menopause. The benefits are extensive and contagious. So be warned because our chap might just give you the bug too. Listen out for her releasing her inner animal and tips on how to get the most out of this immersive ritual.

 

 

Julie says swimming relaxes her and sets her up for

 

Let's go.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Okay.

 

>> Claire Gray: Thank you so much for coming along today, Julie. It's really nice to meet you and meet you in the flesh rather than just looking at you on social media.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: It's so weird, isn't it, when we met down at the. You feel like you know the person from Instagram. I actually really like Instagram for that. Cause you follow each other's videos and stuff like that. It's lovely. Yeah, yeah.

 

>> Claire Gray: You feel you get an insight and getting to know somebody. Normally when I'm looking at you, you are in a cold water tub. Have you had a dip this morning? No.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: And I can say on here I had a hot flush because of that. I'd either normally been in the sea or my tub in the back garden. Um, so it's weird because you might have been staring at me because I've got makeup on. Cause everybody's like, why is she not in a swimming suit? Like, this is nice to have actual clothes over clothes. Ah, I forgot what that. That's like, nobody recognizes you. It's quite nice. And your hat and stuff. But no. So I'll do that when I. When I go back today. So. Okay.

 

>> Claire Gray: So you can feel a difference today because you haven't had a dip?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah, I mean I had a shower. Like I'm not clatty or anything. It's like, it's When I can't do that, I'll do that. But I've got it into my routine now. Um, we're two seconds in. I'm going to say the word menopause, because I'm menopausal. That's the thing that's saving me, really. And I'll shove it down everyone's throats. It's terrible. But I just go, even if I've got a really busy day, if I can get into that tub for three minutes, something just sets me up for the day. I'm not like, floating about like Julie Andrews, like, loving everybody, but it makes me go, right. And it sort of settles me for the rest of the day for whatever I've got. So that's my thing.

 

>> Claire Gray: That's your thing. And when did you start? How long ago?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: So the tub I didn't get. I got that as a present from my 50th. My husband and my pals were thinking, what can we get her a tub? I think they're thinking, my witch gonna drown me in it. That I've had that for a wee while. But when I started, the very, very first time I went for a dip was just like before. Like kind of COVID time. Just before or just after? Actually, I think, yeah, just after. And it was an actress friend of mine called Gail Telfer Stevens, and she lives down in Ballock. And she said, I'm, um, going by in the car and seeing all these women going into the water and stuff like that. And so I said, come on, we'll go down one night for a nosy. So we literally had nothing. We didn't have the wee shoes or anything that we've got now. We just went down with our swimming suits and a towel and we sort of stared at them, waited till they left and then went in and sort of copied. And I was like, they weren't in very long doing all this kind of stuff. So since then, me and her got the absolute bug for it. And any chance I would get. Cause I was staying in the West End at that time, drive down to Barlock, 25 minutes in the car, meet her, and we would go and we would just build it up and build up. And then we started researching it. And then I don't just hang about actresses, but another actress friend of mine called Dawn Steele, she lives down in Whitstable, and she was sending me wee videos going, I keep thinking about you. Cause we were lucky enough to have a place at the coast. The why don't. When you go up to the coast, go in the sea. It's all very well, you get into the lock, but why don't you try it in the sea? It's a different thing.

 

>> Claire Gray: Okay.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: So I would be like, send me the dummy's guide to doing this. I don't know what I'm doing. Like, I'm dipping my heart, but I don't know what I'm doing. So she's like, I'll call her my swimming guru. She's my swimming guru. Because she went, you need to do this. And they do that. Like, not by the. I would say, don't buy the karate suit till you've done a few lessons. Right? It's the same with swimming. Don't buy all the stuff till you try it. You know, you can go in wool trainers on. But now it's like, I've got, like, proper swimming boots and my gloves for going through the winter. And the hat and, you know, people going up, the dry robe, whatever it is, to keep you warm for coming out. I've got all of that, but you build up to that. So she basically did we videos for me and went, try this and blah, blah. And I've always done yoga my whole life. She was like, why don't you tie it in with that? So I've got those two girlfriends of mine to thank for feeling better. Well, that's. That's amazing.

 

 

Your main motivation for doing cold water therapy was because of menopause

 

>> Claire Gray: So your main motivation for doing it was because of menopause and somebody told you that would help then?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah, because I'd research stuff. It's like, anything quite fatty. So if something's going right or wrong, I'll just like. I'll say, book the hell out of it. Like, I'll just look everything up. Go, uh. And I'd read about this and, you know, cold water therapy. A few years ago I did. It was like. I think it was in the. The. The capital. I said, I don't even know what that is. It sounded like a CT scan or something. Was like, what is this? Uh, I didn't think that was a thing. I didn't know that's what me and Gil were really doing. We were calling it dipping or duken, Right?

 

>> Claire Gray: Yeah.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: And then suddenly it's like, well, actually, when you go into the science of it, it's called cold water therapy. So I was like, oh, look, we're doing therapy and it's this kind of stuff. But me and her and dawn, what we would do at least once a week would check in and say, are you feeling better? Or, uh, how long are you staying? In for. And then learning ourselves that you have to get. I always do this. My two fingers. Your two fingers at the back of your neck, that's your vagus nerve. So when you go into the water, so many people that things like getting your shoulders in, I'm going to say it on here, getting your bits in first for the girls, you've got two of them. Obviously, that's hellish. That's hellish. Then the main thing is your shoulders in, even if you're only doing it for three minutes. Your shoulders in, into the water. So see, that's the water, your chin and then your two fingers. Check, your vagus nerve's in. So once that vagus nerve's in, that's the equivalent, if you like, of cold water swimming, cold water dipping. That has to be in.

 

>> Claire Gray: So the vagus nerve has to be in. That doesn't mean that you necessarily have to put your full head underneath the water, just the top of your neck.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: And I love that you've said that, uh, Claire, because people go, well, my head, ma, I can't do that. No, no, no, no, you don't have to. And that's why as well, you see loads of the dippers or the dookers with the woolly hats on, especially through the winter, because you should keep your head warm because that's, you know, it's freezing coming out and getting changed, but you don't have to. But I do love that being said, putting my head in. Like I'm, um, building up to heat season now it's coming into. Because I've not had it in for ages. But, um, and my husband, he'll put his head in and I'll get annoyed at him because then I'll be like, you don't need to put your head in. You don't need to. Scientifically. If you look up, there's a brilliant book called winter swimming by Dr. Susanna. I hope I've said that right, Sohlberg. And she's on Instagram as well. And I read it one day and I was like, look, she says, you don't have to. So I think that's a really good thing to bring up because I think people get the fear of that. They go, oh, my God, I've got to go into the lock and put my head in. You don't. And actually you can build up to that. And then eventually you might build up to swimming. You don't have to be a swimmer to cold water therapy yourself. You can just do. And when I'm teaching it as well, which I'll tell you about. I always say to them, you're safe because your feet are on the ground. I won't take you any deeper than your feet are on your ground. So it's really nice to come on something like this because people think it's only for people that are strong swimmers or only people that are really confident in the water. That's our job when we're teaching you or taking you out. If it was me and you to make you comfortable. But your feet are always on the ground. I talked too much. That was the wrong answer.

 

>> Claire Gray: You do.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: No, no, no.

 

>> Claire Gray: You're giving me all the information and.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: That'S what we need.

 

 

Can you remember the feeling of your very first dip? Yes. And the awful thing is there's a video of it

 

>> Claire Gray: Can you remember the feeling of your very first dip?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yes. And the awful thing is there's a video of it. Ah. Because I, um, married a comedian. He knew there was going to comedy gold in this. So I did it off. I did it with Gail. That wasn't as funny because we were like holding hands together. But when I did it solo, which she kind of have to do and always get someone to spot you is on video. And I seen it the other week and I was like, oh, my God. And I'm an actress and I'm prone to the dramatic, but there's just no way that this is ridiculous. And I'm going down the steps. I can't. I can't. But actually, once I shut up and quiet myself. I know you won't believe this or meet m me. I am quiet when I come in the water. See, when I actually stopped all the shenanigans and got in, it was amazing. It was like falling in love. I just went in the water and I actually made this noise and I'll do it. I went, oh. That's all I can remember. And I've kept it. I kept it. Like when people say, like I'm glad it's meekly. That's what I remember. Just that everything going on. Everything going on. Oh. I was like, this is animalistic. Yeah. It's kind of like, I hate to say it, like the giving birth memories of that. Good luck to anyone that's pregnant. But it's that kind of noises that come out. You didn't know come out. It was a bit like that for me to get into the water. But I'm not just saying this. I was absolutely. Is that the right word? Euphoric. When I came out and the buzz, I was like, I can't get it from cider. And Nelson told it has to be. This is what it Was. And I'm not joking. I must have stayed in for a minute. The video is hysterical. If I'm brave enough, I'll send you. But then something happened. Something switched in my brain and I was like, honestly, like, getting dragged, going, aha. And all this kind of stuff. And then I was like, when am I going to do it again? And I'd read about this and I thought, that won't happen to me. And it did.

 

>> Claire Gray: You got the bug?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah, I got the bug. And then the next day I came down and Greg did film some of them as well. But then something must. I must have been given something off because then he was like, I might come in with you. Never in a million years would I'd have said that he would have done that.

 

>> Claire Gray: So he saw a difference in you. Do you think that then made him interested in it?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yes. And I think. I mean, I don't mind saying that at all on here. Like, uh, I can be a massive warrior, um, and I'm quite erratic and it's just the energy that I've got. And then something in that water just calmed me. Do you know what I mean? I didn't come out and I was like a completely different person. But I'd say like a month into it, even my two sons have got two boys. They were like, mum, you look different. And I was like, do I? And I was like, do you? But I could feel it, so I couldn't deny it. Do you know what I mean? It's, uh, like when you get your hair done and nobody notices. The water's like. You know that film Cocoon? The old people? Yes, that's us.

 

>> Claire Gray: Well, do you know, I can totally relate. And funnily enough, my first dip my sister took me on was an Ely, which I know is close to your heart. Yes.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: No way.

 

>> Claire Gray: And euphoric was how I described. And I said it was the biggest high of my life. I haven't had children, which I would imagine would give you a high, but there's a lot of pain related to that too. But my first cold water dip in Ely was just one of the best experience in the sea.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: And had you wanted to do that before or did you?

 

>> Claire Gray: Yeah, I mean, I always. I used to swim a lot when I was younger.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Right.

 

>> Claire Gray: And when, you know, when you're a kid, you go to Loch Lomond and you go into the water. We just called it swimming back in the day, of course, but you didn't realize the health benefits. So we talked about doing it. My sister lives on the coast.

 

 

Were you nervous before doing wild swimming with your sister

 

So she's in and out the sea quite a bit down in the air.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yes.

 

>> Claire Gray: And we went away for the weekend to Ely and that's where we decided to do it. And I had none of the gear, like you said.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: That's okay.

 

>> Claire Gray: I had nothing at all. A swimsuit and a pair of cycling shorts and a woolly hat.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: And did you feel like. Were you nervous? I love asking people. Were you nervous before it? Were you?

 

>> Claire Gray: No, because it was my sister. It was more of a competitive thing.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: I thought you were going to say you felt safe because it was just. I'll be showing her.

 

>> Claire Gray: I'll show her.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah, yeah, whatever. And had she been doing it for a while at this point?

 

>> Claire Gray: Yeah, she had. She'd done it again, like through lockdown. She'd been doing it because she was able to. Cause she was by the sea. And that's the thing, when you live in a city, you kind of think, oh, there's no, where'd I go? Where'd I go?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Well, we just did a swimming show, plugging it, and we just found out we're doing series two of it. It's called Jules and Greg's Wild Swim. And we did an urban episode for exactly that reason. Because I am not having it right, that everyone thinks that wild swimming's, like, for posh folk. I am clearly not posh. My husband can be a wee about posh sometimes. Kidding on. But he. But I was like, we need to dispel this right now. Because, see, the people that I've met swimming, I think I've met one posh person. Everybody else is, like, down there. Lovely. So we did an episode of that. So look it up, it's on the iplayer. And you can swim in cities. So actually, I became a bit fascinated about it. So there's a place called Pinkston by stv. The old STV used to be in town. It's not there anymore. What's it called? Cow Caddons. God, I've left Glasgow. Don't know it's called anymore. Yeah, Cow Caddons. And you can go. And you look up the timetable and you can go swimming in there. They do like, kayaking and all these other places. I didn't even know it was there till I met a woman one night at the theater and she was like, you're always swimming all these other places. Why don't you swim in the city? And I was like, actually, she's right. So you can go there. And it's like you pay something like five pound and you can go in and have a swim there and then basically put your clothes on, then go across the bridge and go to John Lewis, do your shop.

 

>> Claire Gray: That's amazing. Two birds, one stone.

 

 

Pete says tubs are great for doing DIY jobs at home

 

And you mentioned you've got a tub, haven't you, at home?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yes, I'm obsessed with my tub. I think I'm in love with my tub. So I'd only ever been in tubs on retreats, like the blow up ones and stuff, which are amazing. Um, I'd never been in a, ah, proper like wooden one like this before. And it sort of wraps around, it's got a seat in it. Okay. I know I'm not in it that long, like a bit a drinks holder, but it was a present for my 50th birthday because we're like, what we're going to get her. And that was for exactly that. So if you are living in the city and you can't get in your car, I always go to mugdook, which 20 minutes away or ballach or whatever. If you can't do that, what do you do? So you get these wee tubs. I mean literally some of them start from like 70 pound, that blow up ones and then you go right through. If you Google them, you can get wooden ones and stuff. Um, and you can have that in your back garden. Access to it, you just. Basically all you need is a hose. Get your water in there and then you've got it and you just, you know, you can, you can leave it for a few days, obviously clean out and then take the lid off and you're in it and that's you.

 

>> Claire Gray: So that's. You got a daily fix.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah.

 

>> Claire Gray: So for you, you feel you need a daily fix?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: 100%. Yeah. Actually it's so funny now because people send me videos of themselves going in them and I was like a guy the other week sent a video and he cleaned a bin out and I was like, oh no. And actually look, magic.

 

>> Claire Gray: You've heard of people doing the wheelie bin?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah. So. But I totally was like, what? But my thing is like, how's he going? And he showed me this chair and all that. I was like, I'm, um, worried he's going to slip and fall. But he just shows you if Pete. He's just like, I'm not getting one of those tubs yet. I'm doing this. And I think it just shows you that there's a real thing going on about it. It's almost like people going, I'm going to try that. And my pal's dad bought him a whiskey barrel. An old whiskey barrel. Oh my God. Louise will not mind me telling you this, but I'm going to tell it. So he was like that. Julie's keep one of the big fancy terms. I've got a whiskey barrel. I'll clean it for you. It's stinking. Right. It's utterly like wreaking the place. Me and Herman are back gardening. I was like, you can't go in the school run if you've been in there. But I mean, it's just there is ways of doing that. Look it up. There is ways of getting one of those old cat barrels and cleaning out this. I think this is just like poured the rest of it out. Uh, and this was this thing. So she's abandoned that now and got a blow up tub.

 

>> Claire Gray: So that's. So tubs are great for doing it at home.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yes.

 

>> Claire Gray: What would you say is the difference as well between going in a tub and going to like the sea or going to a loch or a river? A different experience with everyone.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yes. I would always shove the nature down your throat because if you've got time. And also like, the tub's great. The tub's like a quick fix if you like. Whereas going out in your car and putting all your stuff in your boot and going, right, I'm going to stay down. Especially coming into like summertime, they go down to Lot Loam and you get one of those wee fold away fires. Everyone's like, oh, here's something else to buy. But like a wee fold away fire. Oh my, my God, I'm going to change your life. So go on Amazon or whatever your choice is and go on. And it's basically bits of metal like that and it ends up looking like this. Um, and then you put your firelighters in it and your m. Whatever is your kindling and then your bricks and then basically burns down and obviously dispose of it. And then at the end, the embers and then you just fold it up, it cools down. You just put it back in your bag.

 

>> Claire Gray: Wow.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: I think mine's is like 20 quid.

 

>> Claire Gray: Um, I've never seen them right now.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: So this is a new thing. So they don't like, you know when you're outside, like, I have to be such a square. Like you have to leave. It's your find it. So if you went down to the beach and did that, they don't really like you doing a finish. So this is why these things are so okay. And you sit around there, see the chats you'll have around that. And the whole thing for me about being outside and just shutting up, you can take a wee speaker if you want your music and just being outside. I mean, a lot of this time is in the rain. Some of the best steps I've done has been in the pouring rain or the snow.

 

>> Claire Gray: Really?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah. And it's really like. I don't like saying hippie, but it is the hippie experience of you're outside anyway, you're going to get wet anyway, and if you can somehow sort of embrace it, I mean, put your bag under a tree, you don't need to put wet clothes back on. But it's the whole nature and connecting back in and all that kind of stuff, it's just great. And you lose your inhibitions. I mean, you don't need to be running about starkers, but, you know, you don't put your underwear back on.

 

 

Callie says going to Soulful Sunday on a Sunday is liberating

 

Just put a big jumper on and then your big jacket on and it's just free. And there's just something so lovely about it. And then you forget. And then the way home, you go, max dispenser. Godot brow.

 

>> Claire Gray: Liberating.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Uh, but I say. And if you start reading about it as well, the outside in the nature, things hand in hand. So if you could do like, say, a couple of dips in your garden during the week and then build up to go, right, Saturday morning, you know, and that's how I got into Soulful Sunday. Going down to Soulful Sunday, because it's 8:00 in the morning, right? And people go, oh, you're doing 8:00 in the morning. But then you're done by half nine, you're driving home and you've got the rest of your day in front of you. And you've done that and you. By waking home a bit like, like, I've been out, ah. And I've done my dip and I've done my yoga. And you're like a smug, but at the same time you are. And then I go, now I can cope with all the crazy madness of whatever's going on on that Sunday. And it's not a religious thing. It just happens to be on a Sunday. And Natalie Valenti set, um up because that was the day that she could do it. And everyone was like, all right, okay. And it stuck. But there's something lovely about a Sunday, sure. And then it feeds into, well, I'm not gonna get into the wine on the Saturday night, because don't worry, I have done it hungover. It's not the same. So you go Saturday night. Oh, I'm gonna pack my bag. And you get excited and you're putting all your wee kit in and you've got that to look forward to. Go, right, I need to stop talking and watching garbage now. I'm gonna set my alarm and I'm up in the morning and I'm going there. And then it all thing me. I'm doing this.

 

>> Claire Gray: It's a whole ritual. Ritual.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: It all chi gongs itself together. Because that's what you do. And you go, right. I'm, um, not. It's like. I mean, you could pay for your ticket. You could dog off and not go if you want. That's fine. But you'd be annoyed at yourself. Cause you know, it's the same old thing with nonsense. We were wee lassies. You'll feel better. It's like going to the gym. You'll feel better. I get that now at 51, I'm like, Ah, um. Yeah, I look better in my jeans when I'm not eating shite and working out. Ah, um. And I feel better.

 

>> Claire Gray: It's that just time to yourself rather than sabotaging it.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah. And you'll know and your sister will know that as well. And it's about, you can go to these things on your own. Sadly, I'm shoving it down your throats, but you can go to these things on your own, which I love because I now teach it. And I actually love when people turn guys or women turn up on their own because they'll leave talking to somebody. But also, I went there in like bad moods and stuff. And like, no, I'm not speaking to anyone this morning. And you can get left. It'll always be somebody smiling at you because then you just go into the water together. And that's the thing. I'm like obsessed with the water.

 

>> Claire Gray: You're giving me goosebumps.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Just to about it, please, Callie.

 

>> Claire Gray: You know, and see, so some people might, uh.

 

 

Joining a club and doing something like Soulful Sunday is a good way

 

Joining a club and doing something like Soulful Sunday is a good way. Because then, you know, you're going to a safe body of water. You're not going to get. It's not going to be polluted or whatever. But that is something that puts some people off when people say to me, oh, I might catch a chill. And the second thing is, well, how do I know that the water's safe? So you think that's the best way, then join a club?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Well, it's a great thing to bring up because nine times out of 10, people go I'm not feeling well. And then if I do that dip, I'm going to get pneumonia. And I'm like, are you. So it's a great thing to bring up. And I'm not saying, like, I'm snooting down my nose because I know, because I used to. To say that, like, oh, but exactly. Go to a group, research wherever you go. Like, I mean, being, you know, doing it for a few years now I can pull my car over and get in a bit of water. Like, I'm a psycho now. Go on my phone and find a bit of water and go in it. And then I'm like, hope I'm all right. Oh, well, do you know, that way. But when you're first starting out, you're completely right. Join a group. I mean, Facebook and Instagram, whatever you think about. And they're a brilliant body for stuff like that. Just even put that in. Google it, somebody will help you. Or go with a pal that is a swimmer, like me, and go, I'll just show you the ropes and do that. But you know, you know yourself. Like when you're teaching her, you know yourself, if you're not well, you're not going to take your clothes off and go into her lock. Do you know what I mean?

 

>> Claire Gray: It's like that's the last thing you want to do, sleeping your bed.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: You know what I mean? I mean, I probably shouldn't say it, but I will say it is great for a hangover. But again, never ever swim when you've had a drink. Just don't even mess about with that. It's just stupid. But you're not going to get a chill because you're going to not be a dough ball. You're going to have your stuff laid out when you come out, you're going to layer up. You're going to take more stuff in your bag than you had on. So you're going to take extra trousers, stuff that's loose. You're going to take big thick socks. It's so cozy. You're going to want to get cozy really quickly. And PS see, if you are Baltic and you're shaking, you get in your car or whoever's gave you a lift down there, or however you're going to get warm, or you're going to light that fire I've told you about, you're going to take a flask. You know, there's. So there's no need to get a chill. Do you know what I mean? If you're running about the place, I'M really strict about it when people come for dip me like, oh, calm down because I'll say to, to you, I'm not strict about anything else but I want your suit off and I want you worn right away, okay? Because you're not getting a chill on my watch, do you know what I mean? So then somebody doesn't care and go, I'm not. Well, I've not hunting. You're going. Do you know what I mean? You've got to be responsible for that. Do you know what I mean? But I would never let that put you off. Uh, I understand it though. I totally understand. People go, oh, I'm m going to get not well if I do that. Or somebody said the other week I've got a really big week ahead and I'm worried that if I do that then that will make me illness like breathe. I was like, right, well to put it that way actually I think this will make your week really much better. But I have to watch because I'm just totally do it. Do you know what I mean? But I remember that tends to feel. I remember what that feels like to just. It's just putting a wee barrier up to yourself. But you won't if you're doing it right. And there you go talking about dipping your head in. You'll definitely not get a chill if you don't put your head in. And you've got your hat on.

 

>> Claire Gray: Of course. Yeah, of course.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: And if you wear the gloves, if you're worried about that, or even up till like May June, I'll still have my gloves on. Your gloves on. And even a wee pair of trainers or your water shoes will help. Cause the extremities is the thing that people worry about, especially about getting a chill and stuff like that.

 

>> Claire Gray: Yeah, that's my thing is my fingers. Sometimes I've got that Reynolds. Of course my fingers will go white so I have to keep gloves on.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: But also you could keep your hands up here in the water if you were just dipping. Or you could put your hands behind your head like that. So you don't actually necessarily. Unless you're going to swim. Or some people put them under their roasters to keep them warm even with their gloves on. On.

 

>> Claire Gray: Yeah, that's a good idea.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Or between your legs. Just have your hands almost together like that. Just if you're in. Yeah, okay. And time it. I've got quite a few people that come that have got Renaults, so.

 

>> Claire Gray: Right, okay, that's good.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: And I'm always telling you to move them as well. And because I think the tendency be people going. And they turn into a manicure in the water.

 

 

Gilles has been taking swimming lessons because he's not the strongest

 

They're like that. And you're like, you can move.

 

>> Claire Gray: Yeah, yeah.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: You freeze up.

 

>> Claire Gray: You literally freeze up if you're in the spot.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Move your legs, move your butt. You know, you can move in the water and just. Do you know what I mean?

 

>> Claire Gray: And the shoes thing is great because sometimes it's that fear of what you're going to step on.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yes. And it isn't. And especially like I go to mug Duck to Abby's lock. A lock. And it's slimy. Right. I'm not gonna lie. I like it. I'm a bit of a tomboy. But you take people and you see them going, oh, what's that around my leg? And I'm like, it's a reed. And even if I tell you that I'll go. And it almost feels like putty when you've got your shoes on in there. It feels putty if there's a lot of rocks there. So I would hate you to not come. I get the fear at places like that. Whereas Ely, when you went in, is pure sand. Beautiful. Um, so you would be fine. But then you could stand on a fish and stuff. But I kind of wish I'd invented some water shoes because I would be a millionaire. Because I've told so many people to buy these shoes. They're called two Bare feet and they're the best ones I've found. And they're not even expensive. And they've got wee zips up the side and they've got like an extra layer for the squeamish because it's like at the bottom. It's not like a platform, but it's like almost like double thickness at the bottom. So you can't feel. Because that's a really good thing you've brought up. Because people go, oh, they see or they walk. What's in there? I don't know. Like, I've not touching me. I've not came against an eel yet. But I know I've swam with them and I'm like, oh my God, I will die. Um, but things like, I understand that that freaks people out. I totally do. Like the scene that, you know. But you, you kind of forget. Until I was swimming m in Loch Ness. Then on the way back I was like. And they were filming us and I was like. Suddenly I was like, the Loch Ness monster's in here like a 12 year old and he's coming for me. Then I. I Hadn't thought about it when the way out, the way back, I was really tired. And then I said to the crew, well, you think they will Loch Ness morning? And they all went, no, Gilles, just you. But that's the deepest body of water that I've ever swam in. And. But I loved it because it. You know, you're really buoyant in it and stuff like that. And I was swimming with, like, quite an older group, and they were all, like, attacking it. I was like. But then I got out my own head. I was like, well, that would be quite a good way to go, wouldn't it, if I got it on camp?

 

>> Claire Gray: I make your name in a Loch Ness monster. So you're saying as well, you don't even need to be a swimmer to nip. You can go and just not go out any further than your depth, so.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Your feet are on the ground. And I think it's like with tub, like m. Imagine saying you could only get a tub if you were a swimmer. But I think that's a really good thing to see. I think the joy does come from. The more you do it, you do want to swim. It just naturally happens. And I've been taking swimming lessons because I'm not the strongest of swimmers. I could swim when I was we. And, um, my. I've got. I'm the youngest of four sisters and my papa drowned, actually. Yeah, he had a heart attack in Whitley Bay. And I was only three at the time. And since then, my mum, bless her amazingly, was like, obviously getting over that as a family was like, you're all swimmers now. That's the end of it. And we all could swim. I mean, I was only three, but. But all my life I remember getting. I grew up in East Kilbride getting swimming lessons. I couldn't be bored. All of us, like, really to quite a good standard and stuff like that. And they made to learn to dive and all. She kind of took it a bit too far in Borns.

 

>> Claire Gray: But now that's a good thing.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: It's made me go, oh, I remember what that feels like when you're talking about swimming when you're a wee girl and the joy of it comes back to you. But I think it's really important to say that, like, safety first and all that. And we do say that in our swimming show and stuff, in all the books that you would get about this. Tell you that too, you know, be careful. In fact, another thing to buy, you can buy a wee tote. It's like a fashion belt.

 

 

You put your car keys in a bum bag and then it blows up

 

I Call it. And then it blows up. It's like a bum bag and you can put your stuff in it. So this is a good thing. So say you're down there and it's me, you and you go, oh, chose my car keys, I don't want it. So we have this thing before you blow up. Totally. You put your car keys in it, you roll it over and then you clip it onto that becomes your tote. So our stuff's in your bum bag. If you like. We're gonna swim. We don't need to worry about some bam coming and nicking your car. Do you know what I mean? It used to be like, remember, bum bags are in holiday Mallorca. Get that purse. Yeah, that's right. We are coins for the snooker table. But it's that. Except it's this now and again, again, there is expensive ones, there's ones that aren't that expensive. But I'm not supposed to say this, but I'm going to say it. I'll lean on it sometimes for a gap. I'll whip mine round. Ah, people are ways fit. And I'll go and I'll lean on it just to get my breath back. Because if I've maybe swam out a bit too far for my liking, I'll go, right, I'll take a little minute on my toe and then I'll just get my breath back and then swim back. So it's quite a social thing. The tote, they get good chats on their totes.

 

 

Safety first, Safety first. You've got to wear a life jacket when swimming

 

>> Claire Gray: So how long are you out there for then?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: So if I'm in Ely, like in summertime, I'll go out. I'll go out like about half an hour.

 

>> Claire Gray: Wow.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah, that's summertime. Cause it's still really cold. And the temperature thing we've not talked about yet, but the temperature thing. And I do time it and stuff. But if I'm going for a dip like today, I'll go in for three minutes. That's my fix, right?

 

>> Claire Gray: Okay.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: So if I'm going into the sea, if I'm lucky enough, if the sea's up near M, we can go down the steps to it. If it's up, I'll go in for three minutes. But if I was in my top, same. But if I'm going for a swim, that can be anything up to 20 minutes, half an hour.

 

>> Claire Gray: Oh, that's amazing. Right, okay. Yeah, that's longer than I would have thought.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: But if you're swimming somewhere like that, it's all the rules. But the tote, you have to have a tote in that harbor where I swim, you have to, because there's boats and surfers and all this stuff. So you have to have. So they can see you. And I learned that lesson because I was like, swimming. The guy's like, what are you doing? And I was like, swimming. He was like, no, no, no. Uh, speak to him. You came out and then told me one of the locals. Cool. But fair enough. That's the rules. Um, safety.

 

>> Claire Gray: So just so that they can spot you. So you can go into any body of water, but you've got to make sure.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah. If you know you're going for a swim. So say you were me and you were going down Ely for a dip. I wouldn't make you put a toe float on. Do you know what I mean? Like, calm down, Jules. But if I'm going to. Would you like to go for a swim? Then? I would have a spare one go. Like, let's just so you know, it's the same. It's like me hearing about people going paddleboarding and stuff. You've got to wear a life jacket. Just don't muck about with it. Do you know what I mean? Because if you go, actually, I want to go a bit further. And you go, I know this is deep now. Why would you not. Do you know what I mean?

 

>> Claire Gray: Yeah, don't risk it.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: And anybody that organises these things, they give you it for a reason. Do you know what I mean? It's something you don't need to worry about, then you know you're going to be safe. So that was the squareness coming out in me there.

 

>> Claire Gray: No, no, that's good.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yes.

 

>> Claire Gray: Safety first, Safety first. And you've said as well you never let the weather put you off, then.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: No, I'm an act or something like that.

 

 

Buzz has done cold water therapy in the rain and the ice

 

Yeah, it's great the snowing's up here, Buzz. Cause I have. I've swam in it. I've swam in the ice as well. When you thing we do with it, uh, we did it up in Inverness with Alice Goodrich and she was in her show and she was getting this hammer out and I was like, I want to run away right now. And I'm like, yes.

 

>> Claire Gray: It's like an ice hammer.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: To break up and see a woman with an ice hammer. There's something magical in that. It's like watching a woman playing the bass. It's bloody sexy. I was like, look at her go. And then I was like, well, she's going in, I'm doing it. And then. Thing is, the Ice. They all do it up there. Cause the locks freeze. Cause it's so cold. So if they want to keep their cold water therapy going through the winter, get no choice. They have to hammer it. Yeah, but that's extreme. But it's great. Again, you would learn all of that stuff. But the snow. Yeah. I mean, unless you're driving something, you have to be careful. But swimming, the snow is, oh, my God, it's gorgeous. And it's just dripping down in your face. And the rain. When we're learning, ah, to be teachers and going to a lot of these lessons, they tend to not cancel them because it's nature. And let's face it, we don't live in Ibiza, we live in Scotland.

 

>> Claire Gray: Well, that's it. You'd do nothing if you waited for good weather.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Have you ever done anything like that in the rain or the snow?

 

>> Claire Gray: I've done it in the rain before.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: But did you like it?

 

>> Claire Gray: I did. I. I like that feeling. As you say the raindrops on your face. I've always enjoyed running the rain.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: I was going to say runners love it, don't they? And I never understood that till, you know, you speak to them about it and they're like, well, I'm hot and sweaty anyway, so I might as well.

 

>> Claire Gray: Exactly. And I think that's the thing. You do feel properly connected with nature when you do that. When you do it in the extreme and you feel, you feel quite strong, you do, you know, you feel like, liberated. You feel strong. There's another word I'm looking for, but I can't think of it. But, yeah, it's just. It's a really nice feeling.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: But I think it's like maybe the word, uh, you do feel strong. I think the strength's a really nice thing to go hand in hand with it because it is about calming down and being quiet. But if you can get into a lock in Scotland any time of the year, then to me, you're a badass. Uh, to me, you're going, I'm pushing myself out of your comfort zone. Yeah. And it's a bit cheesy to say, but you can be really proud of yourself. I always say that. I always say that. It's like, am I talking too much?

 

>> Claire Gray: No, you're not.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: I always say that. It's like, if you can do that, that hard thing, you know, then you can do anything. And it is, it is cheesy, but it's true. It's like you would never. People that come to it and you watch them Doing it. And that's one of my favorite things, Jules. I never thought I could do that. And I love that because I go, oh my God. And I'm so happy you did it with me.

 

 

Wim Hof gives three reasons why people should try cold water therapy

 

>> Claire Gray: So if there's somebody listening today and um, they're thinking about doing cold water therapy or going for a dip, can you tell me three reasons that you would give them why they should start doing it? Why should they get in that water?

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Okay, well that's quite hard. Okay, I like it though. I like it though, because. Well, there you go. We'll start with that one. Because you'll be proud of yourself, right? And don't think we give ourselves pats on the backs for anything, especially women. Sorry guys, but women especially. Right. So you're going to feel proud of yourself even if you go in for a minute, right? Mhm. Knocked it out of the park, proud of yourself. And you'll go back, right? So you've done it. Pack your bag and go and do it. And that whole seeing the thing through, that's a lovely thing. So one, you'll be proud of yourself. Two, you'll make this noise, right? So if that noise is missing in your life, you're going to get that back instantly. And three, you're opening yourself up to a whole new thing. And if you go to do cold water therapy in a lock or go to somebody's back garden and do a dip, you're going to open yourself up to something new. I love that at this age, like learning something new. Do you know what I mean? And actually the Ripple Effect, you said earlier, it's the name of a book by Anna Deacon and Vicki Allen. If you've not heard of it, they are cold water swimmers and they have a book about all these communities round Britain. They've got about five books now, but the ones my favorite's Around Britain and it's stories like this. People have never done it before and gone and they call it the ripple effect. Because if you go and do that today or whenever and try it, that will ripple into your pals, your best pals, your work colleagues, your family, because they'll notice that. They'll go, what are you doing? What is it you're doing? And you'll go, actually I've tried it. And then they'll go, huh, uh. And people that never thought you would want to come with you go, can I come here to do that? Can I?

 

>> Claire Gray: Curiosity.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah. So that was three things quite long. But you'll be proud of yourself.

 

>> Claire Gray: Yep.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: What was the other one?

 

>> Claire Gray: So you got pride yourself in a sense of achievement. That noise or the noise.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Yeah. Letting go and having that noise and the fact that the ripple effect into it just will. And it'll filter into everything else that you're doing. Your work, your relationship. It just does. Oh, it's addictive.

 

>> Claire Gray: Yep. You're a great advocate for it. So if somebody wants to come and learn with you, come to one of your classes.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: So that's Soulful Sunday. I teach that Soulful Sunday down at Ely Beach. That's my place, Ruby Bay, sometimes. But the seaweed's too bad. So just Ely Beach. Just go on the website. There's loads of other locations, but if they want to come with you, me, or. I'll say this and you'll be like, I've actually said, if you follow me on sync, just. Just DM me and I'll take you for a swim. I do it all the time.

 

>> Claire Gray: So you're. Namaste, Nemo.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Namaste.

 

>> Claire Gray: Namaste. On Instagram.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Instagram, yes. So that's me. And, and. And also, even if you don't come with me, I. I talk about it a lot and you can just look at some of the videos and stuff and. But just do your research as well. If you've got a week, go online. Don't you buy the books yet? Just go online and have a look. Look at. You know, we've not even talked about when Wim Hof, but Wim Hof, there's so many. Do you know what I mean? And even somebody you follow on Instagram might be doing it like Brad Pitt's doing it. Right? So there you go.

 

>> Claire Gray: I would go with him.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Absolutely right. So there you get.

 

 

Jules: Just do it. Like genuinely just do it and give it a try

 

You'd get double enjoyment. Right? So somebody like that or somebody go. I think that person. Well, swim, look them up and then follow me. Be there, John. And go. Do you know what I mean? So just do it. Like genuinely just do it and give it a try. And again, it might not be for you, but you might find something else within the water world. I like to say. You know what I mean with that? Uh, that. But I bet. I bet you won't regret it. I honestly guarantee you won't regret it. And you've got a story. It's always good to have a story.

 

>> Claire Gray: Yeah, definitely.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Definitely. Yeah.

 

>> Claire Gray: Thank you so much, Jules. That was amazing.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Not at all. I could talk to you all day. You're fantastic.

 

>> Claire Gray: Thank you for making not at all so enjoyable.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: And come for a swim with me.

 

>> Claire Gray: I absolutely will.

 

>> Julie Wilson Nimmo: Anytime. Oh, my God.

 

>> Claire Gray: Thanks so much for joining us on Skin and Within, where I help you find your inner glow. Stay tuned for more conversations and wellness wisdom for a healthier, happier you.

 

Skin and  Within is a Big Light Studio production hosted and produced by Clare Gray with recording and editing by Brian McAlpine. For more information on all our shows, go to the Big Light from the Big Light Studio.