Hydrotherapy (released on Vimeo today) is a beautiful short film that captures Laura Owen Sanderson winter swimming in Snowdonia to ease the symptoms of Fibromyalgia – a long-term condition that causes pain throughout the body.
Hydrotherapy succeeds in allowing you into this world – where the cold, nature and water connect with such force that the feeling is quite overwhelming and we are left almost numb and with a real sense of why coldwater swimming outdoors is the perfect remedy for Laura.
Laura sums it up: “Swimming when surrounded by snow capped mountains makes you feel like part of the landscape. Once you have a frog's eye view the wildlife continues with its daily business and you become part of the natural environment, not a spectator.”
Swimming-caps off to Friction Collective who have once again demonstrated their ability to connect very human issues with very natural environments with such poignancy. Question: How long do you make someone swim in freezing temperatures to make a six minute film? Answer: Five days...
You can see the film by clicking the photo – we recommend you watch with a flask of hot coffee!
And here’s a few of the lovely swim spots featured in the film for you to try out!
Cwmorthin Quarry, Tanygrisiau
Llyn Gwynant
Cwm Silyn
Black Waterfall, Maentwrog