The Significance of Water on Wellbeing - Marianne Norrgrann

During 2022 Helgabad will introduce a few KAFTAN(EN) users who are sharing their thoughts on water and wellbeing. I hope their thoughts will inspire you.

Our third KAFTAN(EN) profile is Marianne Norrgrann. Today Marianne works as a business coach, after many years working in the corporate world. Marianne is also the co-founder of Friday Lab. Friday Lab is a community female network and platform for sustainable life design, inspiration and fun, for creating a life where a rainy Tuesday feels like a Friday afternoon. Marianne lives in Stockholm, Sweden.

Having moved around a lot the last 20 years I know that distance to water is important for my life quality. It’s as much enjoying the view of a lake or an ocean as actually being able to swim in them. Only the notion that I can easily get down to the shore and just sit there makes me calm. 

I had my first cold bath when I was about 12 years old. It was a classic ‘watch me I can do this’ kind of situation. The feeling was shocking but wonderful. During my student years in Helsinki, I frequently used the cold pool at the local indoor swimming pool. This was a great way to get the blood circulating during the cold Helsinki winter.

During my years living in Brussels, I missed the ocean and the proximity to bathable water a lot, hence I started cold water swimming when travelling. When visiting my old home towns Gimo, Helsinki and Geneva I made sure my bathing suit came along and that I had time for a dip in the water. 

Today, living in central Stockholm it takes me a couple of minutes to get down to the Baltic Sea or Mälaren and I am constantly looking for new places to get into the water, as well as googling water quality and regulations. For me cold water swimming is a feel good addiction. 

I am always looking for opportunities to swim and travel with my KAFTAN(EN) and swimsuits everywhere.

Thank you Marianne for sharing your thoughts on cold water swimming with us. I hope it inspires the reader to always travel with their swim gear and KAFTAN(EN).

Pia

CEO & Founder of Helgabad

Marianne in Helsinki, wearing KAFTAN(EN) Together (coincidentally on the very same bench I had my first online coaching session with Marianne).