At Dawn
It’s 7.30 on a stormy Saturday morning but a group of women are huddled together in a circle on the sand, wrapped up against the chill of February. The sun is rising, hopefully golden, over the Isle of Wight to the East while to the West dark clouds loom, obscuring the Purbecks. Between these weathers, the women breathe in sync guided by Em Huckstep and Elissa Davies who are the organisers of this particularly special gathering. This is At Dawn. Words by Francesca Hughes.
I’m new to the group today and I’m not the only one. There are some regulars, already friends through these gatherings, but Em and Elissa warmly welcome and introduce everyone at the bottom of Gordon’s Zig Zag at Southbourne Beach, and encourage each of us to speak to someone new. This relaxes the group and we all immediately fall into gentle chatter as we make our way onto the sand. Acoustic music plays from a speaker as we settle into our circle and today it is Em who guides the group through a series of breathing techniques - her and Elissa alternate leading sessions. The breathing is cleansing, allowing each of us to hold a space in the early hours of the weekend; a rare chance to pause and be present, phones away, surrounded by the sea and sky and a group of women who already feel like friends.
Primed by the breathing techniques, we all undress from our layers, baring skin to the wind ready to embrace the winter sea. At Dawn is about the gathering, about coming together. The sea swim is an incidental opportunity to jump in and invigorate the body but it is by no means a requirement. The group offers encouragement for those wanting to brave the cold waves, but there are no expectations. Today the water is particularly rough, with large shore dumps churning up pebbles and sand, sending white foam as tall as the women standing before it. With strength in our number, we approach the shoreline together and ease into the sea carefully, chatting between gasps and squeals as the icy water swallows our ankles and splashes up our bodies, each of us going in as far as feels right today. The dark clouds blow over from the West releasing a shower of rain and hail on us and we laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
Having felt the thrill of the cold air and sea - and before all feeling is lost from our extremities - we scramble to dry and dress. But this isn’t when the group disbands. Em and Elissa come equipped with flasks of hot cacao which they share around the group as we re-huddle together, the post-swim camaraderie allowing for conversation to flow easily as we sip our steaming mugs and marvel at what we have already achieved this morning.
At Dawn assembles every three weeks throughout the winter and more regularly in summer to connect through guided breathwork, sea swims and conversations over hot cacao. The gathering is non-denominational and non-dogmatic, but embraces the rituals of communal activity to encourage a sense of kinship and belonging among women of all ages and backgrounds. As well as the regular socials, Em and Elissa host retreats and events that partner with local, sustainable businesses. The smaller groups intentionally allow for intimacy and connection, the feel is open and non-judgemental, safe and encouraging for those less confident in the sea or in new social settings and I notice that Elissa and Em adeptly ensure to fold each woman into the conversations.
“The point of At Dawn is to build friendships, to hold space that helps women make friends,” I learn over coffee and crumpets at Little Perth cafe in Southbourne, where I get to hear more about Em and Elissa’s story. The duo met when Elissa went along to a yoga class taught by Em and they hit it off - both passionate about empowering women through their respective coaching businesses and a shared love of the sea, hiking the Jurassic Coast, community and tattoos. Following a cold swim friend date, the two built a friendship and wanted to give other women the chance to create similar connections. They each know the difficulties of making friends as an adult and between them have years of experience helping and guiding women. Em is a Women’s Business Coach and Yoga Teacher and Elissa is a Life Coach for Women, Breathwork Teacher, and a Special Mission Pilot. Many of the women who come along to At Dawn are going through various transitions - whether new to the area, changing careers, fresh out of a break-up or just trying something new. The group allows for the big and the small conversations and is deliberately set up to foster a sense of belonging and kindle friendships.
At a time of increased global loneliness and social isolation, it is a breath of fresh sea-air to see women dedicated to fostering friendships. Signing up to an At Dawn swim is like setting yourself a play date; a commitment to doing something fun and fulfilling, in community and connection with nature and with each other. If these sound like your people, Em and Elissa will be there to welcome you…at dawn.
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