Sunday Swim Open Water Swim Coaching

Mondays are a great start to the week as I get to teach an amazing group of women on the Learn to Swim programme. Encouraging more inclusivity and diversity in swimming and watersports. These women are amazing and achieving great things. Looking forward to them experiencing outdoor swimming soon!! 💙. More women only pool time needed Bristol.

Into the ……. unknown?

Clevedon this morning for the Open Minds social prescribing project.

We’ve been incredibly fortunate and blessed to be able to witness and hold space for our wonderful group that take part in our cold water dips! The positive effect the cold water has been clear to see.

The wonderful thing about it is that every time can feel like the first time. We came out of the water today with a renewed sense of self, refreshed, born again. Every time we do this we literally have the chance to start again - feel the love again, be happy again, laugh again - reset the clock - step into the unknown - again

Feeling it …..

Winter swimming gives me a proper reset, a real buzz and helps me distinguish what really matters in life!! 💙 Lately, I’ve been really enjoying, and feel very humbled to witness the incredible benefits of cold water swimming has through working with social prescribing cold water swim project. It has so many far reaching benefits that when prescribed in this way positively changes peoples health, well-being and dramatically impacts their day to day lives. It’s a complete game changer that should be available to all, through the NHS, and I have no doubt that it will be for future generations, given the positive impact I have witnessed. 🥶 I’ve also written a blog about winter swimming, it’s benefits and my personal journey to it. 💙 you can access this blog by visiting Orca.com then clicking on community, then Blog. Unfortunately I can’t send the actual link - but it is on my page! Keep on enjoying the cold 💙

I wrote a blog for orca.com all about winter swimming, my personal journey to it and tips for starting out! It’s has some useful information in there if your starting out on your own cold water journey. There’s so much benefit for our minds body and emotions that cold water gives us, for me it’s the buzz I get after a dip that keeps me going back again and again regardless of how cold it is!!

I hope you enjoy reading it - it’s not that long!! 💙🥶 xx

https://www.orca.com/gb-en/community/blog/20211123/getting-ready-for-winter-swimming/

Returning from a wonderful swim and yoga break in North Devon and reflecting on the amazing transformations that took place for all. The weather played a big part in this - notably the wind! - that proved challenging - but left all the participants with a new found sense of achievement and belief in themselves.

💙 Combining restorative yoga - with the amazing and swimming with , and myself we coached and guided our eager swimmers over the Skern on a blustery Saturday - courage was needed, confidence was boosted and new friendships formed. The second swim gave us near perfect conditions for an amazing adventure down the Torridge estuary - really helping us all embrace the flow of life! Knowing they had found their way through tough conditions the day before gave all our swimmers confidence in their open water swimming to fully relax into themselves and their environment.

💗 Beautiful connections were made and moments of bliss were had, a lot was gained - knowledge of open water swimming and yoga for all participants - but also about ourselves - the transfomative power of sharing a passion and moments in time - together. Embracing the flow of life.

Anyone up for the next one? I know I am - excited already!!! I just need a little rest first!! 😁. Big thanks also to Glyn and his amazing kayak skills - so needed # # and to Skern Activity Centre. 🙏.

Doorstep dipping this morning for our Bristol Active Women initiative aimed at engaging women of colour in movement and activity delivered by the wonderful .

We focussed on relaxing our bodies in the water, floating on our backs, treading water and some freestyle technique all whilst enjoying and making the most of our surroundings, it was green and serene 💚 breathing it all in AND watching kingfishers!! Nature is amazing!

Safety is the number one priority when it comes to enjoying open water. Which is why I support the Drowning Prevention Week.

Throughout 2020 and 2021, millions of young people have missed out on the opportunity to swim, leaving a dramatic gap in school swimming and water safety education. And in communities where participation in swimming and water safety activities is already traditionally low, this worrying gap in knowledge and skills, exacerbated by COVID-19, is even bigger.  

The basic principles of open water safety, combined with knowledge and understanding of the hazards, can increase the enjoyment of open water and significantly reduce the number of incidents that occur each year.

Visit and find out about enjoying the water safely this season.

Repost from Such a huge pleasure to be involved in project engaging women of colour in movement and activity through outdoor swimming. An absolute joy witness crucial inclusivity projects happening now in Bristol. Big up for@your hard work and dedication to make this happen - awesome

Picture repost from I’m a huge advocate of having access to outdoors swim spaces close to where we live, if it’s safe, clean and accessible then why not? What’s your view on this? Join the campaign to make Bristol Harbour a safe, clean place to swim and follow thank you for making this happen and opening the debate

🌱 Nature is the theme for mental health awareness week, which starts today. Our natural outdoor environment - blue spaces, green spaces, are vital for our mental health. They have a positive effect. Taking the time and space for ourselves, connecting with nature, looking at a horizon, listening to the birds sing, immersing in water, lying on the ground, all helps us remember we are connected, part of living grid, part of this planet, part of it’s ecosystem. We are part of the bigger picture. Taking time to remember this helps us come back into balance with ourselves and reminds us that we hold the key to our own lives, our own power.

🌟 Take that moment, take more than that - go seek out an horizon - a sunrise, a beautiful view, a swim spot - take care of yourself - immerse yourself in nature and allow it transform your connection with yourself and the living planet. Nature gives us back a whole lot more than we realise.

Hello, I’m Kiki Watkin, I’m passionate about open water swimming and the founder of Sunday Swim. I am a fully qualified STA Level 2 Open Water Swim Coach, RLSS Beach Lifeguard, I hold the National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC) and am an emergency first aider.

Here’s some background about me and what sessions are on offer to help you continue your own swimming adventure.

From Nationals to Nature.
Endless training sessions in my youth, combined with competing in National championships has given me the technical toolkit from a life aquatic to enable you to have your own exciting open water swim journey. With this solid foundation in my early swimming career, I bring together my love of swimming in open water to my coaching sessions, helping you become a safe, confident and efficient open water swimmer at whatever level you start your adventure at, complete newbie, improver wishing to swim more efficiently or, more experienced swimmer with specific swim goals.

Intro to River, Lake or Sea Swimming.
Aimed at complete newbies to open water - those who can swim in a pool and wish to make the transition to open water safely. You will learn how to stay safe and relax in the water, what to look out for when choosing your swim spot and kit you will need for your swim. You will get time in the water, and some tips that will help your swimming.

1-2-1 Coaching Sessions.
Aimed at those who have experienced open water already and wish to have specific coaching to help improve their efficiency, technique and help them relax in the water. Sessions focus on breathing, body position and propulsion. Helping you get into your flow. They are individually tailored for your specific swimming goals.

In every coaching session the emphasis is on you enjoying your time in the water, having fun, relaxing and taking in your beautiful surroundings, whilst being safe. My aim is to enable you to have your own watery journeys of discovery - who knows where the flow will take you.